Old Abner

[LadyReb]

“Jeff Davis was a gentleman, Jeff Davis was no fool,
Jeff Davis rode a dapple gray and Abe Lincoln rode a mule.
So lay 10 dollars down, or 20 if you choose,
For I can whup the Yankee that stole old Abner’s shoes.
…The Yankees came to Baldwin, they came upon the rear,
They thought they’d find old Abner, but old Abner was not there.”

Does anyone know who old Abner might be?

[Danny]

Re: Old Abner

Lady Reb (Evelyn) -

I had thought it was referring to Union Gen' l Abner Doubleday, commander of forces protecting Pennsylvania (the shoe factory in Gettysburg area) as the Rebs invaded north (see attached txt). But in reading the lyrics (see below) it's more likely some other battle in a Southern state, where a confederate Gen't "Old Abner" was being chased by Union forces coming up from behind (through a Town named Baldwin). "Old Abner" escaped but in haste may have had to "leave his shoes" to the Yankees. Someone here will enlighten us.

the lyrics:

I CAN WHIP THE SCOUNDREL

The Yankees came to Baldwin; they came up in the rear;
They thought they'd find old Abner, but old Abner was not there.

Chorus
So lay ten dollars down, or twenty if you choose,
For I can whip the scoundrel that stole old Abner's shoes.

Jeff Davis was a gentleman, Abe Lincoln was a fool.
Jeff Davis rode a dapple gray, Abe Lincoln rode a mule.

The Yankees took me prisoner, they used me rough, it's true;
They took from me my knapsack, and stole my blankets too.

The Yankees took me prisoner, and if I can get parole,
I'll go right back and fight them, I will, upon my soul.

- Dan Wykes

p.s. Supposedly this was used with the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me" but I just can't make that work - try it yourself. Wayne Erbsen uses different music for it.

p.s. (There is a Baldwin, PA but the the Yankees would have come from there, not to there for the Gettysburg battle. It's not that close to Gettysburg anyway).

[H. L. Hanger]

Re: Old Abner

During the CW centennial, Tenessee Ernie Ford included a version of this song in the Southern album which is now available on CD. Did an outstanding job, especially on "Flight of the Doodles" as well "Year of Jubilo" on the Union record.

J