Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-03-27

from the Clnclnnatl enquirer, as 1t
is something of the long ago that
stirred the minds and hearts of many
Southerner during the days of the
sixties. 1t will no doubt be read
with interest by your readers.
Respectfully,
3. S. Roggs.
Sturgia, KY, March 9.-Thc song
for which John Uri Lloyd, the
author, offered fifty dollars, is printed
herewith probably for the first time,
1t was composed during the civil
war and was circulated by word of
mouth among the soldiers of the
Confederacy until it became almost
battle song. Prof. Lloyd, it was
understood, wished to use it in one
of his books.
DR.. Lloyd was standing among
others in front of a country grocery
in Florence, Ky, (Stringtown), on a
morning in 1862, waiting to see a
body of Morgan's Cavalry come up
the pike, and as these daring cav
alters rode by he heard them gayly
singing song called "The Home
spun Dress" But his memory after
ward could recall but the first stanza
Exhaustive research among literature
all over the country failed to dis.
cover it, and as last resort he offered
reward.
The song has never been in print
but the words are found in full in a
manuscript entitled "Kentucky Cav
alters in Dixie" by George Dallas
Musgrove, of Carrollton, Ky.
The morning on which Prof. Llovd
heard the song was when Morgan
and his men were in advance OF
Bragg's army, which was entering
Kentucky from Tennessee to strike
Buell., who was racing for Louisville
AT the same time part of Kirby
Smiths army was coming through
Cumberland Gap to strike the Fed.
erals under Gen. "Bull" N elson at
Richmond. After the battle Of Rich
mond these forces joined NIorgan's
Cavalry at Lexington, whence they
advanced division to Covington to
threaten Cincinnati 1t was this diyi-
sion that DR.. Lloyd saw pass "String-
town" In a few days Bragg also
reached Lexington, thence moved. to
Frankfort and took possession of the
city, where, in the presence of 10000
Confederatcs, Richard IIawcs was
installed Governor. But the "Gov.
ernor" had hardly taken the oath ol
office before the advance guard oil
BuelPs rehabilitated army swept in
view up the kentucky River to the
bridge, and Bragg and the "Govcr-
nor" retired to Lexington. 1t was
said that Hawes was Governor lust
one hour by the town clock. Shortly
afterward took place the bloody bat.
tie of Perryville on October 8.
While Morgan's forces were a,
Lexington an impromptu ball was
given in honor of the men, the ladies
appearing in dresses Of homespun
A young lieutenant, an Alabamian
named Harrison, found inspiration il
the fact to write the words, and Miss
Earle, an accomplished musician
present, improvised the air and sang
it with piano accompaniment. Th,
song spread rapidly, and was takeI
up by the whole army and sung OF
the march and in camp throughout
the whole South Young Harrison
fell at Perryville. Following are tn.
words:
THE HOMESPUN DRESS.
a DIME GIRL's SONG.
Oh, yes, I am Southern girl,
And glory in the name;
boast of it with greater pride
Than glittcring wealth or fame;
l envy not the Northern girl
Her robes beauty rare,
Though diamonds deck her snowy nccl
And pearls bestud her hair
Chorus
Hnrroli br,robt
For the Sunny South, so dear,
Three cheers for the homes pun dress
The Southern ladies wcar
Now, Northern goods are out of date,
And. since Old Abc's blockade,
We Southern girls can be content
With goods that's Southern made;
We send our swecthcarts to the war,
But, girls. nc'cr you mind
Your soldier.love will not forget
The girl ho loft behind.
The Southern lands glorious land,
And has a glorious cause;
Then cheer, three cheers for Southcrl
rights
And for the Southern boys!
We scOrn to wear Il bit OF silk,
A bit of Northern lace,
But make our homcspun dresses up
And wear them with grace.
And now, young man, word to you,
If you would win the fair,
Go to the field where honor lies
And win your lady there.
Rcmcmbcr that our brightest smiles
Arc for tho true and brave,