The National tribune., 1902-06-19
ARMY MUSIC.
Songs That Cheered and Inspired
the Soldiers of the Union.
BY FIRST LIEUT.. LLOYD G. HARRIS, 9TH WIS

BY FIRST LIEUT.. LLOYD G. HARRIS, 9TH WIS.
| No army in this or any other civilized
country is complete without music. The
brass bands, drums. flies. the song and
chorus on the march or by the campfire
are n necessity TO infuse national spirit.
keep the men cheerful. and assist in max
| ing the army q successful one.
At the commencement of the late civil
| war every regiment organized started to
the front keeping step to the inspiring
music of their own brass band. and while
each and every one believed and was
ready to take an oath that their band was
| the best in the army, our men were just
as ready to wager anything from a box
of cigars to a months pay, ratious included,
| that our band. that of the 9th Wis, was,
without exception, the worst of all.
On the march from kalorama to the
camp near Chain Bridge an. able bodied
private of Co. + broke his right leg in n
vigorous effort TO keep step with the dis
NAL music from our band. 1t was seri-
| Gus mistake when the higher powers al
lowed that band to go back from whence
they came" They should have been sent
| to the front to brighten the rebels with
| that one old tune-then followed by Il
charge by the entire brigade
| After year in service, regimental
bands were abolished, and only one al
lowed for each brigade. ] remember how
! mortified we were once on n division re
view. where we were anxious to excel
another regiment of our brigade. We had
! to march to the music of an Indiana band,
! a good one, by the way. but just as we
wheeled into column of division and start
ed to pass the General. with his sCaff, also
n brilliant array of Washington bellies and
citizens, who We're expecting Il great deal
from us. the band struck up an operate
selection, no doubt very elegant for a
grand concert, but fiat failure for march
ing
Our men lost step and those in the
front muttered subducd curses on the rear
| ranks who were stepping on their heels
and trying to climb over their knIpsacks:
the line looked like a rail fence, and our
mild and gentle Licutenant- Colonel. who
was never known to have any vices or use
an oath. lost his temper and was heard
shouting. Blank that blank band" The
must have heard him. for suddenly the
tune changed. the step was taken. and in
perfect time the craci; regiment of the d-
vision passed in review: yet how much
easier it was for the old ID. with their
band playing the only tune their Colonel
allowed them to play. no matter how
grand the review-''Rory O'More." No
opera for them.
It's already many years ago. but there
comes to my memory. clear and distinct.
the songs of olden times. How often. on
the long, weary march. when it seemed as
If our sore and tired limbs almost refused
to, 20 ont was then the full swelling
notes from good band rallied us from
the roadside into line. flag unfurlcd, mus
kcts ut n right shoulder shift gleamin. il
the bright SIN. and the regiment appeared
infused with new life and energy as the
Jauntily marched along. Then. as the
band ceased. n chorus of voices were
heard, and Go. C, The Jayhawks,' would
sing:
80, never mind the weather. but get over
double trouble
For we are hound for the happy land of
Canaan"
When finished, Co. X. despite the rcli
cious warnings of its first Captain. in
stentOrian tones. as ore VOICE would roar:
"Ay name it is Joe Bowers.
III / have q brother Ike
! came fronroid Missouri
Just all the wayofrom Pike
Yes, they sang the many verses of the
famous Zoe bowers" even the seoucl
where Sally had baby and the baby
had red hair" The regiment always cheer
ed that verse.
SONG OF KERR's SKULL CRACKERS
The nationality of Co. ID will not he
questioned when the reader is Informed
that the following song was indorsed BIZ
them:
Here's health to Martin HanncGan's
aunt.
And I'll tell We the reason why:
She eats hpSgSp Shp iS hungry
And drinks bekase she is dhry.
And if ever n man
stopped the course of n can,
Martin Mannegans aunt would cry
Arab. fill mp your glass,
And let the jug PASS,
How dye know but your neiGhbor is dry"
MORE SENTIMENTAL.
In the beautiful songs of German
Vaterland." Co. f excellcd. How often.
when twilight approaches the season that
ever is sacred to song" did ! steal quietly
to their campfire, and, perhaps. partly
concealed by the shadow of friendly
tree. listen to the brave veterans. many of
them from over the sea. as in the bright
hreiight their voices in pure harmony
rang out on the quiet scene:
"Bluc is the flowerct called the forcct-mc-
All. lay it on thy heart, and think of me-
Or in merry tones they gave:
The pope he leads n happy life
lie knows no care of married strife"
But few are left of that happy circle.
who sang the beautiful German songs.
that made the nights seem short and
whiled away many lonely hour
"BENNY HAvENs. or
The favorite song of the day was "Johu
Browns body lies amoldcring in the
grave, but his soul goes marching on" 1t
was song for the Eastern regiments.
while with us. Tramp. tramp, the boys
are marching and Rally around the
flag" were quite popular. Every officer
in our regiment who sang the solo of
Benny Ravens, Or was killed in battle.
Brown was the first, and he died on An
tietam's bloody field. Brave Ticknor. who
fell in the charge at Gettysburg, was the
last who ever sang it. The fatality at
tending it MADE us little superstitious.
and l was among the number who refused
to sing it.
Robinson Crusoe" was the greatest
effort" Of mine in the singing line A brave
old General took offense at it. but before
the war was closed, at dinner in the
Aston House, New York. pledged in wine
we shook hands across the bloody chasm