Sometimes the patriotism of such a gathering would be wrought up so intensely by waving banners, martial and vocal music, and burning eloquence, that a town's quota would be filled in less than an hour. It needed only the first man to step forward, put down his name, be patted on the back, placed upon the platform, and cheered to the echo as the hero of the hour, when a second, a third, a fourth would follow, and at last a perfect stampede set in to sign the enlistment roll, and a frenzy of enthusiasm would take possession of the meeting. The complete intoxication of such excitement, like intoxication from liquor, left some of its victims on the following day, especially if the fathers of families, with the sober second thought to wrestle with; but Pride, that tyrannical master, rarely let them turn back. John D. Billings, Hardtack and Coffee, or The Unwritten Story of Army Life (Boston, etc., 1888), 34-41 passim. 85. War Songs (1861-1864) BY NORTHERN POETS The Civil War was a people's war; and the camp, the march, the public meetings at home, and even the hospital were enlivened by patriotic songs. The northern songs given below include some often sung, chiefly of little poetic value, and one of less popularity but more literary merit. For southern songs, see No. 91 below. — Bibliography as in No. 84 above. A. "JOHN BROWN'S BODY" (ANONYMOUS) JOHN BROWN'S body lies a-mould'ring in the grave, He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord! WE He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord! John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back. Now for the Union let's give three rousing cheers, Hip, hip, hip, hip, Hurrah! B. "THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE" BY JAMES SLOAN GIBBONS E are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more, We leave our ploughs and workshops, our wives and children dear, We dare not look behind us, but steadfastly before: We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more! If you look across the hilltops that meet the northern sky, If you look all up our valleys where the growing harvests shine, You have called us, and we're coming, by Richmond's bloody tide Six hundred thousand loyal men and true have gone before: U P with the Flag of the Stripes and the Stars! Gather together from plough and from loom! Hark to the signal!— the music of wars Brothers unite rouse in your might, For Justice and Freedom, for God and the Right! Down with the foe to the Land and the Laws ! Marching together, our country to save, God shall be with us to strengthen our cause, Brothers unite-rouse in your might, For Justice and Freedom, for God and the Right! Flag of the Free! under thee we will fight, Shoulder to shoulder, our face to the foe; Death to all traitors, and God for the Right! March, march, march, march! Freemen unite rouse in your might, For Justice and Freedom, for God and the Right! Land of the Free- that our fathers of old, Give us thy blessing, as brave and as bold, Conquer or fall! Hark to the call: - Chain of the slave we have suffered so long — Hark! for God hears us, as echoes our song, Justice and Freedom for one and for all! Workmen arise! There is work for us now; Ours the red ledger for bayonet pen; Sword be our hammer, and cannon our plough; Freemen we fight, roused in our might, For Justice and Freedom, for God and the Right! 7ES, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom, YES We will rally from the hill-side, we'll gather from the plain, Chorus.-The Union forever, hurrah! boys, hurrah, Down with the traitor, up with the star, While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before, And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more, Chorus. We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true, and brave, And altho' they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave, So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West, And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom. Chorus. From reprints in Lyrics of Loyalty (edited by Frank Moore, New York, 1864), 78; American War Ballads and Lyrics (edited by George Cary Eggleston, New York, etc., [1889]), II, 160, 271, 275. 86. The Rough Side of Campaigning (1862) BY MAJOR WILDER DWIGHT Dwight, a member of a prominent Massachusetts family, is a good example of the young volunteer officers of good birth and college education who were numerous in both armies during the war. - Bibliography of the campaign: J. C. Ropes, Story of the Civil War, II, vii-xii; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 210. SCE CAMP NEAR EDINBURG, April 9, 1862. CENE, camp, snowing and raining, and blowing angrily; Time, Tuesday morning. The Major Second Massachusetts Regiment enters his tent, shaking the dripping oil-skin cap and India-rubber clothing. He discovers John, his John, surnamed Strong i' the arm, or Armstrong, digging a hole within the damp tent to receive some coals from the hickory fire that is trying to blaze without. John (loquitur). Sogering is queer business, sir. M. Yes, John. J. But it's hard, too, sir, on them that follers it. M. Yes, John. J. It's asy for them as sits to home, sir, by the fire, and talks about sogers and victories, very fine and asy like. It's little they know of the raal work, sir. M. Yes, John. J. 'T would n't be quite the same, sir, if they was out here theirselves trying to warm theirselves at a hole in the ground, sir. M. No, John. Then the coals are brought on, and a feeble comfort is attained. The woods are heavy without with snow and ice. In the afternoon I visit the pickets, and spend a chilly and wearisome day. This morning is again like yesterday. who has shown himself a trump in our recent exigencies, but who has certain eccentricities of manner and speech, came to breakfast this morning, rubbing his hands and saying, "You would n't hardly know that this was the South if you did n't keep looking on the map, would you? hey? What say?" Since I wrote the above I have spent two hours in the hail-storm visiting pickets. This, then, is an invasion of the South, query? ... |