Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-08-13
STORIES OF OLD SONGS
Marching Through Georgia

Root the famous musician who wrote
The Battle Cry of Freedom" and
other thrilling songs. The near-invalid
drew manuscript; from his pocket
and handed it to the composer who
first glanced at it and then became
deeply interested
Did you write the words" the
professional asked, land do the tune
too?"
yes" the caller feebly admitted
The man was Henry c. Work. a
sickly printer, and the manuscript was
Kingdom Coming" Root then and
there predicted great future for the
song; and his prophecy proved true.
The Chicagoan could see that the
ghostlike individual had genuine tai.
ent: so he encouraged him to keep his
pen active.
The kind advice was not alost. A
few years later Sherman began his
wonderful sweep through the South
to Atlanta where he wheeled his army
about and went on to the sea. This
heroic movement, this dash into the
enemy's domain and definite breaking
away from the commander-in-chief
gripped the emotions of Work and
caused him to seek some way of en-
pressing himself. He picked up the
pen and wrote the soul-stirring pro.
ductiOn of Marching Through
Georgia."
Some biOgraphers say that through
all the years of his boyhood and man
hood Work had retained a most vivid
impression of a fateful moment in the
life Of his father, and that this cpl
sode furnished much of the back
ground for the song. Henry was nine
years old when in Missouri he and
his father met some fugitive slaves
who asked where they could find
free state. Alanson Work told them
how to proceed: he not only did
this but he also gave them money.
Shortly afterward he was arrested and
subsequently sentenced to spend
twelve years of his life at hard labor
within prison walls. He served about
third Of this time before he was
pardoned on the condition that he
would 90 back to his native state OF
Connecticut.
Root declared that the song was
more frequently used during the wa.
than any other that sprang out Of it.
He attributed this fact not to the
excellence Of the lyric nor the music
quality. "Other war songs. like the
Battle Cry Of Freedom" he said,
were for exciting a patriotic feeling
ON going into the war or into battle.
whereas Marching Through Georgia
is glorious remembrance on coming
triumphantly out"
| General Sherman liked the tune
and the words that commemoratej
the movement that practically ended
the war; that is, he liked the melody
until his ears had been so thoroughly
assailed by it that he became virtually
foundered upon it. Like "Mary's
Little Lamb" 1t followed him where
ever he went. His worst ordeal hap
pened in Boston in 1890 at national
encampment of the veterans when
hundred drum-dfe corps with two
hundred and fifty bands passed in
review before him. During seven
hours the strains of Marching Thro-
ugh Georgia" never ended. Finally the
old general vowed he never would
attend another encampment unless
the bands agreed to leave the song OF
the musical menu. Half year after
ward 1t was played at his funeral
wherever I go. not only in my
own country but in Europe" Sherman
once expostulated, "the song pursues.
On one occasion. arriving at Dublin
hotel in a driving rain, was con-
graduating myself that the weather
was such as to preclude the p0ssibil-
ity Of the usual serenade. Drawing
forth my writing materials. I ad.
dressed myself to my long-neglected
correspondence.
Scarcely had ! gotten under way,
however, when the strains Of that
internal tune smote upon my ear. I
sprang up and. hustling into my uni
form. stepped out upon the veranda.
"In the distance a band was az
preaching. followed by a number of
men with guns on their shoulders.
II advanced to the railing and prepared
for the pending ovation. but without
a pause or even a glance toward the
spot where I stood they went Oh
Marching Through Georgia. 1t was
q cunning club, So some one told
me afterward. going to certain place
to shoot at a target"
Work was born in Connecticut, in
1882. Though apprenticed to a
printer, the ambitious boy used his
spare moments in studying harmony.