Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-13
A GREAT WAR SONG.
How "weu Rally Round the Flag" Game
to he Written.

to he Written.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
During a late year 1 read an account Of the
visit OF company Of confederate officers TO
the Union officers quartered opposite them
They went at the. invitation Of the blues in
response to the often expressed interest they
had shown in the singing Of our war songs.
and IN order TO listen 10 our war music 10 bet
ter advantage. At the close Of the perform
ance one of them exclaimed mo wonder Won
fellows fought so, with such music TO inspire
YOU
That recalled to mind the story Of the writ
ing OF one OF our most popular war songs
one which has taken it's place TO STAY with the
grand old melodies given this nation by the
revolution.
1t was told by the author, and this is how /,
came to be related:
A musical convention was in progress in
Anamosa. Iowa. conducted by Prof. Geo. p.
Root, assisted by his young son, Fred W. Root
then just entering upon his musical career.
During the exercises. which consisted almost
entirely of singing. he accustomed 20 vary
them by remarks upon musical subjects and by
piano numbers by his son. Late one cloudy
afternoon, during one Of these pauses a request
was made that the professor sing Rally Round
the Flag for some soldiers present. In COM
pliance he gave out the page where the music
was TO be found, and AZ we sat waiting 10 sing
il with him spoke OBTAINING word 20 the
pianist and stood with his eyes bent upon the
floor and pulled his mustache, lost in thought.
Looking up at the waiting audience he said:
my friends, before we sing tins song LET me
tell you little about how it came to be writ
ten.
During the war my health was much i'm
paired, SO much SO that was debarred from
business and required entire freedom from
care and anxiety. IL Was the cause Of a great
deal of regret to me that at such q time l
should be laid aside. 1 wanted 10 help my
country in her hour of peril and need. l
wanted to aid her in that time OF distress.
What could do? Even business was inter-
dicted! L seemed helpless, possessing the
heart but not the hand TO serve heri During
the TIME that an urgent call for more men
being made felt especially depressed by the
fact. and on one particular night retired 20 find
that sleep had forsaken my pillow, leaving me
TO dwell sadly and restlessly upon my power
lessness.
After awhile thought Of the mass meeting
| to recruit volunteers held that evening and
| the suggestion came, Il might write a song for
and wrote IL out The next evening the gles
club sang il at the meeting and large
| number of men volunteered
Il reioiced and thanked God that had been
permitted to give TO the people q song which
should inspire them 20 do SO. saw then
thanked God, my friends that I was able TO
| serve my country by stirring up the patriotism
of her sons, but in all my professional life 4
have never been 50 moved as when later read
an account of that Iowa regiment which, dur
ing those dreadful days OF the battle before
yicksburg, went into the fight nine hundred
strong and came out Of il only three four
hundred, but, clinging 20 their soiled and
tattered banner, were singing: Yes, well
rally round the flag, boys, well rally once
again.
al felt then that did not know what thank
fulness was before. To have furnished those
men, wounded and bleeding, song which
should cheer and sustain them through such an
experience was indeed a very great Joy 10
mel felt had surely served my country:
/" his voice faltered. He paused long enough
TO allow an excited voice at the rear Of the room
TO exclaim: Professor, one of those very men is
here-Mr. Baumgardner. He lost his right arm
in that very battle.
For moment the transition from that bat
tlefield and Its bleeding, singing actofs was
startling.
Then came his response. Reaching out his
hand he replied: "Come this way, my friend;
come here" stir followed, while we held our
breaths as young fellow walked mp the aisle
and upon the platform 70 be grasped in a hearty
handshake, the professor enchanting: God
bless your And they stood silent while the
tears coursed down the soldiers cheeks and
many jewel glistened on those Of the audience.
After tive hundred excited voices had Joined
in the inspiring song we returned 20 the work
of the afternoon, but the picture was ours for
lifetime and the melody Of those words, II
thanked God that L was permitef'-that was
his emphasis-mingles with that Of his many
other songs and seems q part Of that reverent,
genial courtly gentleman whose manners and
music gave q charm to other Of our early days
Like q seal upon this story 10 another and
later picture. We were attending joyful re-
union Of the third regiment, Iowa volunteers, az
Cedar Falls. Iowa, where this story retold
This exclamation came from q member of COM
pany X: "Yes, thats the song we boys sang July
~ marching through the streets Of Atlanta, Ga,
on our way 70 Andersonville. That's when We
fetched up! And we sAng 1t good" he added
with kindling eyes.
HELEN WHITING TAooAnr