The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-24

fair to become GEORGE +. ROOT.
permanent heritage of the struggle brief
mention may be here made.
Opinions will vary as to the degree of
their popularity or order of merit, but sew
eral will always retain their old ring and
make the pulse beat faster wherever vet
Grams of the war are assembled. No one,
for instance, will deny place of honor to
1.-THE Battle Cry Of Freedom
1t was one of several songs written by
George +. Root, a composer and publisher
of many other beautiful songs and ballads
prior to 1861, and was first sung by the
celebrated Hutchinson family at mass
meeting in the city of New York. Mr..
Root was born In Sheffield Mass, Aug
30, 1890, and as an evidence of his virility
the incident may be related that as recent
ly as January Of the present year, at mil.
itary entertainment in Chicago, the ven-
cradle maker of tho verse and music, gray
haired, yet alert, was called to the stage
and in strong voice sang his own patri-
otto rallying song. At the end of each
verse he was oheered to the echo and not
content with that the audience took the
words out of the mouths of the army of
singers and joined enthusiastically in the
chorus.
The story has been printed that during
the desperate fight in the Wilderness May
6, 1864, a Federal command was driven
back in disorder with heavy loss. Re.
forming, it prepared once more to confront
the enemy. At this moment some of the
men of the Forty-flfth Pennsylvania began
to sing:
Well rally round the flag boys, rally once
again.
The refrain was taken up by other regi-
ments in line of battle, and, with recovered
spirits, the previously disheartened boys
dashed back into the thick of the fight
The original words are as follows:
Yes, Wen rally round the flag, boys,
Well rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.
We will rally from the hillside,
We will rally from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry OF freedom.
CHORUS
The Union foreveri Hurrah, boys, hurrahi
Down with the traitors, up with the stars,
While we rally round the l2g, boys,
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.
We are springing 20 the call
OF our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry Of freedom,
And we'll fill the vacant ranks
With n million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.
We are marching to the field, boys,
Going to the fight,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
And We'll bear the glorious stars
or the Union and the right,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom.
II we fall amid the fray, boys,
We will face them to the last,
shouting the battle cry Of freedom,
And our comrades brave shall hear Us
AS we are rushing past
Shouting the battle cry Of freedom.
Another OF the numerous war songs
written by Mr.. Root and which acquired
a popularity that has not yet passed away
Is known wherever the English language
Is spoken as
TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, THE BOYS ARE
MARCHING.
In the prison cell sit,
Thinking, mother, dear, Of you,
And our bright and happy home SO far away,
And the tears they fill my ewes
Spite Of all that can do,
Though try to cheer my comrades and BIO gay.
CHORUS.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching; /
Cheer up, comrades, they will come,
And beneath the starry flag
We shall breathe the air again
or the free land in our own beloved home
In the battle front we stood
When their fercest charge they made,
And they swept US off, n hundred men or
more,
But before we reached their lines
They were beaten back, dismayed,
And we heard the cry of vict'ry Ger and DER.
So within the prison cell
We are waiting for the day
That shall come to open wide the iron door,
And the hollow eye grows bright,
And the poor heart almost gay,
As we think of seeing home and friends once
more.
In different strain, but with pathos
that endeared the song to thousands of
as we'll as to tho boys In camp,
the same composer wrote:
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, MOTHER.
Just before the battle, mother,
am thinking most Of you,