Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-06
OLD WAR SONGS.
War Of the Rebellion Brought Many Pa
$40 trotic Efforts. i.

left over from the last war that viii
probably answer all purposes during
the coming little affair with Spain. There
is a history connected with almost every
war song that has been written, though
it may not be known
During the Civil war the songs for
the Union We're legion. Almost every
poet felt called on to contribute some
thing toward the war songs of the day.
While many of them did not outlive the
first edition, even if they ever appeared,
there were also many that will live as
long as the republic.
The first war song written during the
Rebellion was The First Gun Is Fired;
May God Protect the Right, by George
f. Root of Chicago. 1t never became
popular. This was in 1861. But the
next one he wrote was an inspiration.
He was one afternoon lying down, after
having read President Lincoln's cal
for troops. and the words and music OF
The Battle Cry of Freedom formed
themselves in his mind The next
morning he composed that wonderful
rallying song, which is said to have
been the most popular of the many
written during the war 1t was first
published by Root & Cady. William
Lewis. who was with them at the time
says that Oliver Ditson gave an order
for 5000 copies, and in short time an
other order for 10000 copies. followed
by third for 20, 900 and finally an order
for 30, 900 copies.
This was from one house. What the
number sold to all the music stores in
the country was it would be impossible
to tell, but the sales doubtless reached
up into the millions, and it is still being
sold by nearly every music house in the
United States. With a little change il
can be made to do good duty on the
present occasion. Mr.. Lewis states
that the ink was hardly dry when the
Hubbard brothers, those famous sing
ers of war songs, called at the office fol
a war song to sing that evening at a
rally. The Battle Cry of Freedom
was handed them. That night before
the meeting was over, more than a
thousand voices We're Joining in the
refrain. There is some question as to
which was the more popular. The Bat
tie Cry of Freedom" OF Tramp. Tramp,
Tramp, the Boys are Marching" COM
posed by the same author 1t is said
that the English afterWard set music
TO the words of the former to suit the
occasion, and sang it during the Abys-
Snian war.
Another immensely popular song was
When This Cruel War Is Over" by
Henry Tucker. followed closely by
'Tenting on the old Camp Ground" by
Walter kittridge. One of the most
thrilling songs of the war was March
ing Through Georgia" by Henry c.
Work, who also wrote Kingdom Com
ing, "Ba bylon Is Fallen" Wake Nico-
demus," Ring the Bell, Watchman,' -
"A Thousand Years. etc.
Just after the surrender of Lee n
number of Union officers were singing
glee and college songs in their rooms
in Richmond. They very CONSIDERABLY
RETAINED from singing patriotic songs
because the house opposite was occu-
pied by paroled confederate officers.
Soon the landlady brought in a note
from the confederates. asking permission
to come over and hear the singing OF
course it was granted. and they were de-
lighted with the songs. Excuse me. gen
tiemen, sand the confederate officer in
charge. but we would like TO hear some
of your war songs. The Union officers
then gave them with an JUNCTION THE
Battle Cry OF Freedom the Battle
Hymn of the Republic" and on through
he list to the Star Spangied Banner. -
the confederates keeping time as if they
mad always marched to the music of the
Union. When the applause from the
gray uniformed veterans had subsidized A
confederate major said: Gentlemen if
we'd h" your songs wed have whipped
N"II
| march and fight with such songs? We
had nothing except bastard "Marseil-
laise, the Bonnie Blue Flag and Dix
ie;' all jigs and nothing more" Turning
to the confederate general he said: u
shall never forget the first time | heard
Rally Round the Flag. 1t was on a mas
" night during the seven days battle of
the wilderness. | was on picket when
just before taps some fellow on the 9th
er side struck up that song: soon others
Joined in the chorus, till it seemed the
whole yankee army was singing One of
our men sang out Good heavens what
are those fellows made of? Here we've
licked them six days running, and on the
seventh they're singing Rally Round the
Flag | am not superstitous, but ten
you that song sounded like the kncll of
doom, and my heart went down into nv
boots
When the singing was over. the confed-
| crate general shook hands with his en-
tertainers and said. "Well the time may
come when we can all sing The Star
Spangled Banner together.
1t has come and the blue and the gray
can march shoulder to shout Ter to the
! music of that famous song.
| Comparatively few people know the or
! isin of Dixie" many thinking that il
| was written in the South as a southern
| war song. This is Il mistake If was
| composed, words and music, back in the
early fifties by Dan D. Emmett. the ac-
| tor. as a walk around for Bryant's
| MINISTRIES. Emmct had Travelled in the
South with a circus and had heard the
performers speak of the country south of
| Mason and DiXon's line as Dixie land .
| During the autumn when tenting was
| getting a little too cool he had often
heard them wish they were in Dixie land
and that Is The way the song got its
name.
| THE Bonnie Blue Flag" was COMPOSED
| by an Irish comedian named Harry Nc
| Carthy and sung for the first time bv hi,
| sister, Miss Marian Mccarthy, in a New
Orleans theater. 1t is said that Ben Rui :
| lor when in command of the CITY issued
| an order timing every one. 50 that sans.
| the song; that he had the publisher ar
! rested and fined $500 and DESTROYED an the
! sheet music.
| MY Maryland" was one of the most
| beautltul war poems Of the South but il
| could never be set to catchy music II
| WAS written by james r. Randall a ma
| tive Of Baltimore. He was professor or
| English literature in Poydras college
Louisiana. III 1861, when he read of tkn