The National tribune., 1906-01-25
Songs OF the Civil War-WhO Composed
Them.

During the civil war, whenever the
opposing hosts lay encamped near each
other, Federal and Confederate bands
at night time made a practice of vying
with each other in tossing back and
forth, alternately, their favorite melo-
dies, until. finally, at TAPS" Northern
ers and Southerners, friend and foe.
settled down to q joint rendering Of
Paines exquisite air of Home, Sweet
Home"
The army songs which sprang into
existence then, although lacking in
many of the requirements Of musical
composition, in spite of adverse criti-
cism, enjoyed a wonderful popularity
over and over again ever since in all
English-speaking lands
1t Is to be regretted that the names
of the composers Of these famous
lyrics, although deserving Of q better
fate, are fast passing into oblivion.
off-hand, the man who wrote Dixie"
or John Browns Body" To recall to
mind the names Of the authors Of q few
Of these immortal songs Is our present
purpose.
maryland, My Maryland" the most
melodious and inspiring Of all the songs
sung by the followers Of the Lost
Cause" was composed by Jas. r. Ran
dali.
Marching Through Georgia" which
will be sung and played as long as the
Republic survives, was composed by
Henry Clay Work, born in Middletown,
Conn, 1882: died at Hartford, 1884.
He also composed Kingdom COMM"
Babylon is Fallen" "Nicodemus the
Slave" my Grandfather's Clock"
Lilly Dale" and Father, Dear Father,
Come Home With Me Now" Work pos
as musical skill, and was the inventor
Of knitting-machine, a walking doll,
and rotary engine.
I'm Dixie's Land" was composed in
New York, in 1859, by Daniel Emmett,
principal member Of Bryant's Min
strels.
"John Browns Body Lies Moulder-
ing in the Grave" was written by Chas.
Hall, Of Charleston, Mass.
Walter Kittridge, born in Merrimack,
N. H., 1882, died July, 1905, was
drafted into the Federal Army in 1862.
Before going to the front he wrote, in a
few minutes, both the words and music
Of 'Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
This song at first was refused publica-
ton, but later on became immensely
popular, its sale reaching into the hum
dred thousands. 1t is still in demand.
''The Bonnie Blue Flag" was written
in 1852 by Mrs. Annie Chambers
by Henry Mccarthy. 1t was first sung
in 1862 at a Varieties Theater in New
Orleans.
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" and "Bat-
tie Cry of Freedom" were composed by
Geo. F. Root.
as is well known, was written by Julia
Ward Howe under the inspiration Of a
visit to the Army Of the Potomac while
lying in Winter quarters.
II have seen Him in the watch-flres
Of hundred circling camps
M. Finch; "Bivouac Of the Dead" by
Theodore O'Hara; "Sheridan's Ride"
by T. Buchanan Read; Somebody's
Darling" by c. H. Osborn; "The Con-
quered Banner" was composed by
Father Ryan; 1--WE are coming. Father
Johnny Comes Marching Home" by
Patrick S. Gilmore.
"Who Will Care for Mother Now"
and when This Cruel War Is Over"
were written by Charles Carroll Saw
yer.
'All Quiet Along the Potomac was
composed by Mrs. Ethel Lynne Beers,
lineal descendant Of John Elliot,
apostle to the Indians
Music had a wonderfully revivffyfng
effect upon soldiers when wornout from
long marching, and SO when the men
were ready to drop from exhaustion.
the drummer boys were ordered to
sound their liveliest "rub-a-dub-dub-
dub"
brass band doing duty with my
regiment was frequently called upon to
play on the firing line: notably at the
battle Of Cold Harbor. Va, June 1864.
The musicians never fiinched and kept
on playing. though the Confederate
bullets rafting among their instru-
ments furnished anything but a pleas
ing accompaniment ]. N.
Flint, 1st N. Y. Dragons, San Fran
cisco, Cal.