The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-21

<AiILio1Sh III carly yOuln Emmett
learned the printers trade, he soon
followed his benz as an :mpersonator OF
negro characters. He made up for the
parts Of aged colored men with great
perfection, and sung his songs to the
accompaniment of a banjo, which he
played himself. He became the pioneer
in negro minstrelcy, and won much ap-
plause in Great Britain, where his COM
pany played, after notable successes in
cities of the east.
An anecdote, illustrating President
Lincoln'S fondneSs for Dixie was af-
ten told in the years Immediately fol-
lowing the war. He had returned from
a trip to Richmond, and a considerable
company Of people had called at the
White House, accompanied with a band,
to serenade him and to congratulate
him on the close Of the war. He made
a brief speech of thanks n then con-
Guided:
Il see you have a band with you. i
should like to hear it play Dixie" ]
have consulted the attorney general,
who is here by my side, and he is of
the opinion that Dixie" belongs TO US.
Now play it."
The thrilling selection was played by
the band and cheer on cheer followe1
from the audience in the historic man
sion on that memorable occasion.
There is still another version of
oS SoH0 ~
der" the words of which are:
Away down South in de fields of cotton,
Cinnamon seed and sandy bottomi
Look away! Look away!
Look away. Look away!
Den way down South in de fields OF cotton.
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Look away!
CHORUS.
Den | wish 1 was in Dixie's land,
0k-Oht Oh-Oht
In pixies iand I'll take my stand,
And live and die in Dixie's land;
Away down South in Dixie.
Pork and cabbage in de pot,
Look away, &c. f.
Vinegar put right on red beet,
1t makes them always fit to eat;
Look away. &c.
REBEL COMPLIMENT TO BANKS.
The C~onfederates had a song entitled
Banks Sk~edaddle," which VIII be re-
called by some who lived during the
civil wal period. It's FIRST stanza was:
You know the Federal Gen. Banks
Who came through Louisiana with his forty
His object was to execute abolition law,
With as mongrel a horde of soldiers as creation
There we're irish and English, and Spanish and
Dutch,
And negroes and YANKEES and many more such;
All u III DiuC anu hhC
But such a skedaddle you never did see!
CHORUS.
Doodle, doodle. Yankee doodle. doodle de;
o such a skedaddle you never did see!
Miss Mollie E. Moore is the author Of
a Confederate song, sung to the air OF
ION the March," and entitled Hoods
Old Brigade" which starts off:
Twas midnight when we built our fires
We marched at h~alf-past three!
We know not when our march shall end.
Nor care-we follow Lee!
The starlight CLEANS on many a crest,
And many a wen-tired blade
This handful marching on the left
This line is our brigade!
The Southerners were extremely fond
of haunting the Yankees for their fail
ure to reach Richmond, and that senti-
ment cropped out in numerous songs,
One was the Song of Hooker's Picket
which came out in February, 1868. Two
of the opening anZaS Were:
I'm nation tired of being hired
To fight for a shillin' a dav:
Richmond to gain I'll have to strain,
And travel some other way
All night 1 sit In straw that's wet
Ketchen heas and other critters;
The boys down East are at a feast
With gals, doughnuts, and ~fr1tters.
Another song in similar vein and
very long vas dedicated by the John.
MES to General A. E. Burnside, and
called: Richmond is d Hard Road to
Travel" 1t begins:
woulu you like to hear my song, I'm afraid it,
rather long,
OF famous ION to INT double trouble
OF the half dozen trips and half a dozen slips,
And the very latest bursting Of the bubble?
'Tis pretty hard to sing. and like a round, round
ring,
'Tis a dreadful knotty puzzle to unravel;
Though all the papers swore, when We touched
Virginia's shore,
That Richmond was a hard road to travel.
SONS OF SOUTH AWAKE TO
GLORY"
There were at least two versions OF
the MarSeillaiSe sung in Southern
armies, the one known as The Texan
Ma~rseillaise," the latter beginning:
Sons of the South awake to glory,
A thousand voices bid you rise,
Your children. wives. and grandsires, hoary.
Gaze On you now with I -ustins eyes;
Your country every strong ann calling,
To meet the hireling NortheIn band
That comes to desolate the land
With fire and blood and scenes appalling:
To arms. to arms, ye brave;
TIL avenging sword unsheath!
March on! March on All hearts resolved on
victory or death,
March on March on! All hearts resolved on
victory or DEATH
TI,~ ~ Ill.,