National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-23
THE FIRST NEGRO SONG.
WHO FIRST PERSoNATED THE NEGR
I'm THE STAGEa


ON THE STAGE?
The interview with Mr.. Sam. S. Sanford on
'Old-Time Minstrelsy," first published in THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has attracted wide at
tention, and has been extensively copied by our
exchanges. A correspondent Of the Louisville
Commercial contributes the following scrap of
history in relation to the first impersonation Of
the negro on the mimic stage:
An article entitled "Old-T Time Minstrelsy,n the
result Of an interview with Sam. S. Sanford,
Well-knoWn pereonator Of negro character, which
is being widely copied contains an indirect asser
the black man on the stage, and 70 correct this
little scrap of history would thank you to give
place to this communication.
The victory Of Perry on Lake Erie, over the
British feet under Barclay, on the 18th Of Sep
tembeI, 1s13,was concentrated by song, which,
though not Of the first order Of poetical merit was
exceedingly popular, and when year and a day
after that event the battle Of Plattsburg and
Lake Champlain nearly annihilated the invading
the enthusiasm Of the Americans was almost
boundless. The news Of the tWo-fold victory
spread like Wildfre, and the song, "Perry's Vic
tory" was revived and became more popular than
ever.
stock actor on the boards at Albany, N. Y,
familiarity known as HPot-pie Herbert, catching
the spirit Of the times, wrote and sung at the AZ
bany theatre the song entitled "McDonough's
Victory" in the character of negro. 1t was
eminently successful, and so good a card that it
was repeated nightly for several weeks. Its fame
spread, and only a short time elapsed before Her
bert had a call from the Park theatre and ac-
cepted an engagement, and subsequently ap-
peared in Baltimore and other large cities in his
selEmade role Of negro singer.
A gentleman, still living, has given me q copy
of the song as sung by Herbert, which subiofn.
The air to which the words were written con.
trasted strangely with the rollcking character of
the words, and the pure negro idiOm OF the song
rendered its character peculiarly droll while the
sentiment touched the hearts Of the rejoicing null
titude and made both the song and the singer i'm
mensely popular:
BATTLE OF PLATTSBURG.
CAir-BOyne Wdter)
Back side AIb'ny stand Lake ChampIain,
One little pom half full o. water:
Platteburg oar. too, close pom dc main,
Town small, he grow bigger do hereafter.
On Lake Champlain Unkle sam he set he boat,
An Massa Marlborough he sail 'em,
Gin'ral MacOmb make PlattCbuTg he home
Wild de army who courage nebber fail ZEN.
On de 'lebenth day o. seppetember-
In eighteen hunder an fourteen,
GARDENER PTObose, wild he British sojer,
Cum to Platteburg tea-party cOurtin',
An he boat cum too, aTter Unkle sam boat,
MassA 'DOnOugh look sharp out a winder;
Gin raj haCOmb-ah! he always a home
Cotch fire too jis like a finder.
Bang! bang! bang! den de cannons gin to roar
In Platteburg an all about dat quarter;
Gubener PrebOse try he han upon de sho',
While he boat take he luck upon de water.
Broke he heart, broke he shin, stove he cabin in;
Ginerel MacOmb start old PrObOse home
fought my soul den muss die a-lafin'.
Probose scare so he lef' all benin,
Powder. ball, cannon, teapot, an kittle;
Some he COtch a cOle-he trouble in he mine,
Cause he eat so much raw an cole wittle.
Unkle Sam berry sorry, to be sure, for he pain;
Hope he nuss heselfup, well an hearty;
GineTel MacOmb an Massa DOnOugh home
When h. notion for annuder t a-party
Yours, &c, G. z. HASKINs.