The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
AN OLD WAR SONG.
And How II Was Originally introduced into tie
Ar.1y
[E-on De Brai,.era Llllnn.l 7riauns.

Iron dbe Brainerd (Afian.) 7ri5u1,sl
IA the whirly-gig Of tine jog around sin
galar freaks and "reminiscences. The engage
ment OF Allea's Spectacular combination for
Hartley hall, the past week, furnished an
Illustration in presenting an old war friend
Mr. Edwin Wight, the advance manager. Mr.
Wight is husband Of the then young girl who
Ia q Nashville tbeater, IL 1862 first sang TO a
soldier audience the song, . When this Cruel
War Is Over, which instantly spread like wild
fire Through the army, and was echoed and re-
echoed from campfire TO home ireside. 1t
even nOw is full Of tenderness and power. The
following is the story OF how the song was first
introduced by Mrs. Wight:
Ar. Wight was young printer on the Nash
vile Banner the then organ OF now Governor
Harris, and the rampant secession paper of
Nashville. de was al his case IN the Office the
day that Tennessee passed the ordinance of
secession, and when be went in after tea his
hrst take OF copy was a page of the ordi-
nance lie and other Union bows refused to
Eet IL, and lett the Office and the city, escaping
b. the last train TO Louisville before the block
ace When the command Of General O. NJ
Mitchell re-Occupied Nashville In March
lS62.-at the head Of one Of whose regiments
she writer OF this had the honor of beating the
aruIn, one Of the first regiments marching into
TIE rebel citT,-Alr. Wight was IN the band of
returning refugees. With that rare ability
peculiar t. printers Of turning hand at any
thing, he returned as a variety actor at the old
then ncw-theater on Summer street. and here
ono Of the lady "stars was the present Mrs.
Wight
The Song and dance and the pathetic were
BIZ. Aights best hold, !" and SO also did a. Miss
Annie" Of the bills incline TO the serio-conlic.
IN fact, as Mr. Wight tells It she wouldn't do
anything else The manager insisted that the
large soldier audieDce,-and who that was in
nashville during any of the "sieges" don't
remember how soldiers attended theaters ?
They had reduced rates and certain gallery
privileges eguailed only By those accorded the
deIni-monde and the nipgegs!"
We'll. the manager wanted " Miss Annie % to
sing something pathetic She refused The next
might he tried again, and she wouldn't change
her song. The next day at rehearsal he handed
her song just received from a Northern
dealer saying that would be Just the thing.
She locked at il and saw that ii was When
this Cruel War is Over, words and music bv
FRANK y. Converse, Ellnira, \. Y. she de-
cllced She wouldn't sing it. The manager
ordered II. and ordered her fined SO a night
until she did sing II. The FIRST NIGHT she again
Tsiiiscai and the lihe was imposed, but the next
sic tried il, and Tie effect was eleetricalI Tho
soldiers nearly stamped and pounded the GAL
lery down, again and again insisting uDon
hearing u over. II went 10 dozen cams that
night, alld thence through the army ike ali
The old songs spread when once started.
subsequently the lady introduced many
ether OF tie rapidly produced songs Of camp
and nome, lJiil zone wiki equal power pcrhaIs.
as When this Cruel War is over
MRS. Night now lives ID their comfortable
home ~ Chicago, having left the stare. MIR.
Wight is as r&cg and versatile as twenty wears
ago, when he was iead.ng banjoist. sonq
and dance man, " and III the changes known L
the art.