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I took Sylvanus Cadwallader's Three Years With Grant along as beach reading material this weekend and found the following account, which was completely new to me:
The investment of Vicksburg and opening of water communications northward was the signal for a large influx of civilians. Sanitary and Christian Commission agents arrived with immense quantities of provisions, clothing and hospital supplies from all the northern cities and states having troops in that department ... With them came also something unheard of before. The Lombard Brothers of Chicago (Julius and Frank) had acquired more than merely local fame in concert singing; and were employed and sent to the army in front of Vicksburg to visit all the headquarters and hospitals (and all regiments so far as practicable), to give free concerts to enliven the monotony of camp life, and to cheer and inspire the troops by their excellent singing. The lines and Camps were made vocal at night for several weeks, and the uproarious encoring and applauding which was always given them, proved how heartily and deeply the soldiers appreciated the entertainment ... These songs were better than rations or medicine to many a poor homesick private, and brought healthy sentiments and inspirations in place of morbid unhealthy ones.
It wasn't Bob Hope and a passel of beautiful girls, but the effect was evidently the same.
Ron Myzie
The investment of Vicksburg and opening of water communications northward was the signal for a large influx of civilians. Sanitary and Christian Commission agents arrived with immense quantities of provisions, clothing and hospital supplies from all the northern cities and states having troops in that department ... With them came also something unheard of before. The Lombard Brothers of Chicago (Julius and Frank) had acquired more than merely local fame in concert singing; and were employed and sent to the army in front of Vicksburg to visit all the headquarters and hospitals (and all regiments so far as practicable), to give free concerts to enliven the monotony of camp life, and to cheer and inspire the troops by their excellent singing. The lines and Camps were made vocal at night for several weeks, and the uproarious encoring and applauding which was always given them, proved how heartily and deeply the soldiers appreciated the entertainment ... These songs were better than rations or medicine to many a poor homesick private, and brought healthy sentiments and inspirations in place of morbid unhealthy ones.
It wasn't Bob Hope and a passel of beautiful girls, but the effect was evidently the same.
Ron Myzie