Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-06-06

fair to become GEORGE F. ROOT.
permanent heritage OF tho struggle brief
mention may be here made
Opinions will vary as to tho 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 arc assembled. No one
for instance, will deny place of honor to
Tho Battle Cry of Freedom.
1t was one OF several songs written by
George +. Root. 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
80, 1920, and as an evidence of his virility
tho incident may BIO related that as recent
ly ms January Of the present year, at n mil
itary entertainment in Chicago, tho ven
cradle maker of the verse and music, gray
haired, yet alert was called to the stage
and In u strong voice sang his own patri-
otto rallying song At the end OF each
verse he was oheered to tho echo, and not
content with that tho audience took tho
words out of tho mouths of tho army of
singers and joined enthusiastically in tho
chorus.
Tho story has been printed that during
the desperate fight in tho Wilderness, May
., 1864 a Federal command was driven
back in disorder with heavy loss. Ro
forming, it prepared once more to confront
the enemy. At this moment some of the
men of tho Forty fifth Pennsylvania began
to sing
Well rally round the flag, boys, rally once
again.
Tho refrain was taken up by other regi
mcnts In line of battle, and, with recovered
spirits, tho previously disheartened boys
dashed back into the thick of the fight.
Tho original words are as follows
Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys.
Wen 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 forever! Hurrah boys hurrahi
Down with the traitors, up with tho stars.
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
We are springing to the call
OF our brothers gone before.
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
And Wen fill the vacant ranks
With million frccmen 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
OF the Union and tho 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 tho numerous war songs
written by Mr.. Root and which acquired
n 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 coil sit,
Thinking, mother, dear. of you,
And our bright and happy home far away.
And the tears they fill my eyes,
Spite of all that can do,
Though try to cheer my comrades and be gay.
Tramp tramp, tramp, the boys marching:
Cheer up, comrades, they will come,
And beneath the starry flag
We shall breathe the air aeiin
OF the free land in our own beloved home.
In the battle front we stood
When their fierccst charge they made
And they swept Off, hundred men or
more,
But before we reached their lines
They were beaten back, dismaycd
And we heard the cry of vict'ry DER 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
moro.
| In different strain but with n rathos
that endoared the song to thousands ct
| households as we'll as to the boys in camp
| the Same composer wrote.
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, MOTHER
! just hcfor, the BATH, mother
| | am thinking most of you.