Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05
DIXIE AND THE UNION ARMY.
Old Soldiers Who Often Heard It Played
Confederate Testimony.

Confederate Testimony.
The communications published by TIE STAR
from Joel G. Floyd, stating that in his four
years service in the Union army he never
heard Union band play 'Dixie" has called
out testimony on the other side. II. P. n,
" no served in battery H. first R. 1. L. A., writes;
Comrade Floyd says he never heard Dixie"
played by our bands during the war-even
during the four years that he was in the Union
army. For one I cannot imagine where he
could have been, or with what army he served
through these four years Of service. For GER
tainly i, and other old soldiers with whom I
have spoken about old war scenes, all agree
In the FIRST place the tune Was Of northern
origin. The confederate bands only adopted
it: then we took it up. even as our
forefathers took up Yankee Doodle, !"
in the old revolutionary times The British
played Yankee Doodle in contempt for
army took it up, and, as it we're, flung it back
at them. Our forefathers were not put down
by any such methods; indeed they picked up
the opprobrious tune and reproduced 1t with
effect And so the boys in blue from 1861 to
1865 played Dixie" They had a right to it.
The southern army had Incorporated it,
but that made no difference with them; they
cast it back at them with powerful effect.
Again, where was Comrade Floyd all those
four years? for certainly this tune was played
by our bands quito as often as was John
Brown" and Yankee Doodle"
A member Of the famous confederate Stone
wall brigade writes:
"Mr Joel G. Floyd certainly did not belong
to the Army OF the Potomac or. if so, he is no
judge OF music. 1 have lain in camp on very
many occasions and been lulled to sleep by the
tune of Dixie, az played by the bands Of the
Union army across the river. Prof. Turner.
leader of our brigade band, invariably played
Hail Columbia or some other national air in re-
sponse to the Union bands rendition Of Dixie
or Bonnie Blue Flag These musical duela
presumably 50 by the rank and file of the Union
army"
Dixie" appears not only to have been
played by the Union bands, but words set to
the music of "Dixie" were sung by the
Union soldiers, if the testimony OF q collection
published in 1864 OF songs sung by the Union
soldiers is to be believed. This collection was
published by Putnam and edited by Frank
Moore. 1t contains the following:
DIXIE.
By. T. u. COOLEY.
Away down south, where grows the cotton,
'ScveDty-six seems quite forgotten:
Ear away, faI away, lar away, Dixie LAND,
And men, with rebel shout and thunder,
Tear our good old nag usunder.
Far away, far away, far away, Dixie land. '
Then were bound for the land of Dixie,
Hurrahl hurrahi
In Dixie land wen take our stand,
And plant our nag in Dixie
Away, away, away down south in Dixie,
Away, away, away down south In Dixie.
That nag-the focmen quailed before il,
When our patriot fathers bore It,
Far away, far away, far away. Dixie land
And battle lcid3 are shrtned in story,
Where its folds were bathed in glory,
lar away, far away, far away, Dixie land.
Chorus.
And now, when traitor-hands assail 1t,
Staunch defenders ne'er shall fail IL;
Far away. far away. far away, Dixie land.
Nor from its glorious constellation
Stars he plucked by pirate nation;
Far away, far away, FAR away, Dixie land.
Chorus.
Undimmed shall noat that starry banner,
Over Charleston and savannah,
Far away, isr away, fur away. Dixie land.
And Bunker Hill and Pensacola
Own alike its mission holy
Far away, far away, far away. Dixie land.
Then sound the marchi We pledge devotion
Far away, far away, far away, Dixie land.
! Till every traitor In the nation
Gains hamans eles alton,
| Far away. far away, far away, Dixie land.
| Chorus.
Yes, sound the marchl Our northern freemen
Turn not back for man or demon,
| Far away, far away, Tar away, Dixie land
Until once more our banner glorious,
Waves Ger Dixie land victorious.
Far away. far away. far away. Dixie land
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