Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-07-31
Union war Song. and Rebels.

A day or so after Lees surrender in
April, 1868, writes contributor to the
Century, l left our ship at Dutch Gap"
in the James River, for run to Rich
mond, where was Joined by the ships
surgeon, the paymaster, and one of the
junior officers. After doing" Rich
mond pretty thoroughly we went in the
evening TO my room for dinner. Din.
ner being over and the events of the day
recounted, the doctor, who was fine
player, opened the piano, saying:
Boys, we've got our old quartet here;
lets have a sing" AS the house oppo-
site was occupied by paroled Confeder-
ate officers. no patriotic songs were
sung. soon the lady of the house hand
e5 :ne this note:
Compliments of General -- and
staff. Win the gentlemen kindly allow
us TO come over and hear them sing7"
OF course we consented, and they came
As the General entered the room rec
ognized instantly the face and figure of
one who stood second only to Lee or
Jackson, in the whole Confederacy
After introductions and the usual inter
change of civilitieS. we sang for them
glees and college songs, until at last
the General said: Excuse me, gentle
men, you sing delightfully."-, but what
we want to hear is your army songs"
Then we gave them the army songs
with JUNCTION, the Battle Hymn of the
| IE.i., a
Were Coming, Father Abraham, .
Tramp. Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are
Marching" through the whole cata-
CORY, to the Star-SpangleG Banner, +"
to which many a foot beat time rs
If it had never stepped to any but the
music of the Union"-and closed our
concert with Rally Round the Flag,
Boys" When the applause had sub
sided, tail Sue- Hooking fellow in ma
| ior's uniform exclaimed: Gentlemen.
if we'd had your songs we'd have licked
you olt of your boots. Who couldn't
have marched or fought with such
songs? While we had nothing, abso.
lutely nothing. except a bastard Mar
seillaise, the 'Bonny Blue Flag, and
! Dixie which We're nothing but jigs
| Maryland, My Maryland was splen-
| did song, but the tune, old IaurigeF
HOratius' was about as inspiring as the
| Dead March in Saul while every one
| of these Yankee songs is fun Of march
ing and fighting spirit" Then turning
! 10 the General he said: Il never shall
forget the first time | heard Rally
Round the Flag Twas a nasty night
during the Seven Days Fight and il
remember rightly it was raining.
was on picket, when, just before taps,
some fellow on the other side struck vi
that song and others Joined In tn,
chorus until it seemed to me the Who'll,
Yankee army was singing. Tom B.
who was with me, sung out, 'Goot
Heavens, Cap. what are those fellow.
made of, anyway? Here we've licked
'em six days running, and now on tn,
eve of the seventh they're singing
Rally Round the Flag am MOI
naturally superstitioas. but l tell yor
that song sounded to me like the 'knel
of doom, and my heart went down int
my boots: and though I've tried to dt
my duty it has been uphill fight witt
me ever since that night.
The little company of Union singer.
and Confederate auditors. after pleas
ant and interesting interchange oi
| stories of army experiences, ther
| separated. and as the General SHOOT
hands at parting. he said to me: We'll
the time may come when we can al
sing the Star Spangled Banner again.
| have not seen him since.