-- Stonewall Jackson as he lay dying.
Southern States Secede
Secession
fever hit the South after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The
South considered Lincoln's Republican party victory in the 1860
presidential election as a sign that the North was now going to end the
"peculiar institution" of slavery. For the South, the time of talk and
compromise had ended. In December, 1860 South Carolina became the first
state to secede from the Union. Secession of the rest of the states that
would make up the Confederate States of America occurred in two waves.
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The Battle Cry of Freedom
George Frederick Root, aka G. Friedrich Wurzel, (1820-1895) wrote the very popular Civil War song "The Battle Cry of Freedom" after President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers in 1862.
The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star;
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
George Frederick Root  |
Root was a prolific patriotic composer, eventually writing over 200 songs. His "The Battle Cry of Freedom" was arguably the most popular of his many compositions. Other well-known and classic Civil War songs by Root are; "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" (The Prisoner’s Hope), “The Vacant Chair,” and "Just before the Battle, Mother." |
"The Battle Cry of Freedom" performed by Tom Roush.
From Tom Roush regarding his performance of "The Battle Cry of Freedom":
“This song is dedicated to the colored regiments and common foot soldiers that served in the Union army during the Civil War. Unlike the Generals and officers, these souls were the unsung heroes who never got much credit for winning the war. Many of them only served as cannon fodder to incompetent officers. George Root, the songs composer, also wrote ‘Just Before the Battle, Mother’. I am playing a violin in this recording that actually came from his music store in Chicago in the 1870′s. This Civil War era song and others can be found on my new CD ‘The Blue -The Gray, and Somewhere In Between.’ which is now available.“– Tom Roush
Visit The Music of Tom Roush Web site for more of his Civil War music.
"The Battle Cry of Freedom" has two versions of lyrics, one for the Union and one for the Confederacy.
"The Battle Cry of Freedom" Lyrics – Union version
Yes we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
(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,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
We are springing to the call with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
Chorus
We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although he may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
Chorus
So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
Chorus
"The Battle Cry of Freedom" Lyrics – Confederate version.
Our flag is proudly floating on the land and on the main,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Beneath it oft we've conquered, and we'll conquer oft again!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
(Chorus)
Our Dixie forever! She's never at a loss!
Down with the eagle and up with the cross!
We'll rally 'round the bonny flag, we'll rally once again,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our gallant boys have marched to the rolling of the drums.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
And the leaders in charge cry out, "Come, boys, come!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--
Chorus
They have laid down their lives on the bloody battle field.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance -- "To tyrants we'll not yield!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--
Chorus
While our boys have responded and to the fields have gone.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our noble women also have aided them at home.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--
Chorus
Suggested Posts to Learn More...
- Civil War Veterans
- Slavery
- Civil War Army Organization and Order of Rank
- The Sullivan Ballou Letter
- Acoustic Shadow
- West Virginia Becomes a State
- Civil War Casualties
- The Confederate States of America
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