Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-05-23
MTSIC OF THE WAR.
SOUL STIRRING SONGS THAT IN
SPIRED THE SOLDIERS.
SENTIMENTAL. HUMOROUS AND PATRI-
oTIC-AUTHoRs OF 1.-THE BAT
- OF FREEDOM" AND
OTHER FAMOUS SONGS.

The songs of a nation are among the
most enduring of it's memories, and in
time of war are the most potent OF its
moral influences. Frenchmen are moved
by 1.-The Marseillaise,' Germans are
aroused to fighting enthusiasm by "Ihe
Watch on the Rhine" Englishmen have
marcLsd to battle singing "Rule Brit
ania'' and God Save the Queen and
we have all read how "Annie Laurie be-
gun bv sentinel on his post, swept IN
grand chorus through the British camp
in front of Sevastopol. The favorite OF
the Italian IS known as 1.-THE Garlbaldlan
HYMN" while we Americans recognize
the Hottest and purest patriotism in the
stirring measures of our own "Star
Spangled Banner"
Nevertheless it is noteworthy that no
great war song ever has been written by
great poet Its melody and verse have
been rather the inspired product OF ferVld
patriotism than Of the studied efforts OF
genius. During the first three years OF
the late war thousands OF verses were
composed by earnest men and women IN
both he north and south, but how lew
among these winged messengers OF the
brain survive! There were lyrics that
timed the march to battle, war slogans
that rang out like the inspiring rat-a-tat
of a drum and elegies that recited the
virtues of the hero dead, yet the memory
of most Of them passed away with the
generation that saw their birth. OF
those that have fingered longest and bid
fair to become a permanent heritage OF
the struggle brief mention made be here
made.
Opinions will vary as to he degree of
their popularity or order of merit, but
several will always retain their old ring
and make the pulse beat faster wherever
veterans 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 r. root, a composer and publisher
of many other beautiful songs and bal
lads prior to 1861, and was first sung by
the celebrated Hutchinson family at a
mass meeting in the city OF New York.
Mr. Root was born in Sheffield, Mass,
Aug. 80, 1920, and as an evidence of his
virility the incident may be related that
IS recently as January of the present
year, at military entertainment in Chi
cago, the venerable maker of the verse
and music, gray haired, yet alert, was
called to the stage and in a strong voice
sang his own patriotic rallying song. At
the end of each verse he was cheered to
the eche, 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, federal command was
driven back in disorder with heavy loss.
Reforming, 1t prepared once more to con-
front the enemy. At this moment some
of the men OF the Forty-fifth Pennsyl-
vania began to sing
Wen rally round the flag. boys, rally once
again.
The refrain was taken up by her regi-
ments in line OF battle, and, with recov-
cred spirits, the previously disheartened
boys dashed back into the thick of the
fight. The original words are as fol-
lows:
Va, x-a,, ra,,x wound ,be fat,- hoys
wo,I1 ~, o.at,
shouting the battle cry of freedom.
We will rally from the hillside,
We will rally from the plain,
0A'0''''s WV
Inc mon forever. hurran, poys' nuii"H
DoN "''' ''', 'i"''o' . up " IN ,"o 9'-9
A-,le !" t'''' -ou''N' '"N ''o ~ >
i'aiiS ouee "s"'H' s...,
'ii'u'i"s 'ii0 O"'''' u - -
We are springing to the call
OF our brothers gone before,
shouting the battle cry of freedom,
W. " - i'l '''N
~" q .i-i'''on 40