Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-05-31
"YANKEE DOODLE"
Intere tang Facts About the Origin Of
the Term.

hearts,
Or thine Marsoillaise TO Frances fiery blood;
The good thy anthemed harmony impnrs,
"God save the Qleen," TO EnSlaudS field and
food,
Il homo born blessing, Natures boon and
Arts,
The Same hcart-chcering spirit warning good
To us and ours, where'er we war or WOO.
Thy words and music, Yankee Doodle,--do.
--HaHeck.
The origin of yankee Doodle" is by
no means as clear as American anti
quarians desire. The statement that
the air was composed by DR.. Shack
burgh, in 1855, when the colonial
troops united with the British regu-
lars near Albany, preparatory to the
attack on the French posts of Niagara
and Frontenac, and that it was pro-
duced in derision of the old-fashioned
equipments of the provincial soldiers,
as contrasted with the neat and order
ly appointments of the regulars, was
stated somo years ago in a musical
magazine published in Boston. The
account there given as to the origin of
the song is this: During the attacks
upon the French outposts in 1855, in
America, Governor Shirley, and Gen
eral Jackson, led the force directed
against the enemy lying at Niagara
and Frontenac. In the early part of
June, whilst the troops were stationed
on the banks of the Hudson, near Al
! bany, the descendants of the "Pilgrim
| fathers" locked in from the Eastern
! provinces. Never was seen such a
motley regiment as took up its posi-
/ tion on the left wing of the British
army. The band played music as anti
quated, and outre as their uniforms;
officers and prlvates had adopted regi-
mentals each after his own fashion
one wore flowing wig, while his
neighbor rejoiced in hair cropped
closely to the head; this one had coat
with wonderful long skirts, his fellow
marched without his upper garment;
various as the colors of the rainbow
were the clothes worn by the gallant
band, 1t so happened that there was
a certain DR.. Shackburgh, wit, musician
and surgeon, and one evening after
mess lie produced a tune, Which he
earnestly recommended as we'll
known piece Of military music, to the
officers of the militia. The joke sue
Ceeded, and Yankee Doodle was hailed
with acclamation as to their own
march. This account is somewhat
apocrvphal as there is no song; the
tune in the United States is a march; /;
there are no words to it of national
character. The only words ever af-
fixed to the air in this country, is the
following doggerel quatrain:-
Yankee Doodle came to town
Upon n little pony;
lie stuck feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
1t has been asserted by English
writers, that the air and words Of these
lines are as cid as Cromwells time
The only alteration is in making
yankee Doodle" of what was Nan
! kee Doodle" 1t is asserted that the
tune will be found in the Musical
Antiquities of England, and that
| "Nankee Doodle was intended to ap-
ply to Cromwell, and the other lines
were designed to "allude to his going
into Oxford, with single plume
| fastened in knot called macaroni." :"
The tune was known in New England
before the Revolution, as Lydia Fish
ers Jig" name derived from fam
Gus lady who lived in the reign of
Charles II, and which has been per-
petuated in the following nursery
rhyme
Lucky Locket lost her pocket
Kitty Fisher found il;
Not bit Of money in It,
Only binding round 1t.
The regulars in Boston, in 1885 and
1776 are said to have sung verses to
the same air:
Yankee Doodle came TO town
For to buy ire-lock
We will tar and feather him
And SO will John Hancock.
The manner in which the tune came
to be adopted by the Americans, is
shown in the following letter of the
Rev. w. Misunderstanding the bat
tie of Lexington and Concord, before
| alluded to, he says
"The brigade under Lord Percy
marched out (of Boston) playing, by
way of contempt, yankee Doodle"
Tney were afterwards told that they
had been made to dance it." 1t is
most likely that Yankee Doodle was
originally derived from Holland. A
| ALo follou,;,-. l,,,.lo. L.