Singing on the march or before battle?

[Longbranch 1]

Re: Singing on the march or before battle?

Not sure about singing it, but "Pop Goes the Weasel" was immensely popular on both sides. :) A South Carolinian, after hearing it played wrote, "I have never heard or seen such a time before. The noise of the men was deafening. I felt at the time that I could whip a whole brigade of the enemy myself."

Kevin Ellis.
26thNC

[TMS]

Re: Singing on the march or before battle?

I don't have book here with me to make a page reference, but if memory serves, in Francis Augustín O’Reilly's book; "The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock" he writes that as Humphreys's troops were pulling back off the attack up Marye's Heights (they were the last assault that day), they were singing as they went back through town. I think the fact that these troops, although relatively green, were singing after taking part in one of the most infamous assaults of the war, speaks a good deal about the propensity for the Soldier at the end of 1862 to sing. I also think it's hard for our tewentyfirst century minds to wrap around the idea that those men could see what they saw that day, and march away singing.

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: Singing on the march or before battle?

Page 411:

The division commander covered Allabach's retreat personally with the 123rd and 155th Pennsylvania. Humphreys again exuded bravado. The general rode behind the rear guard, crooning the song "I Will Be Fat and Greasy Still." Disbelieving Federals wondered at Humphreys and then joined in. The two regiments sang with their division leader "in thundering tones" as they retired. Critical Confederates reported that they sent the Yankees "actually howling back to their beaten comrades."

Apparently, they did not sing well.

[TMS]

Re: Singing on the march or before battle?

Thank you, Eric, you beat me to the reference. That is the one I was referring to. As to their melodic abilities, I regretfully must inform our readers that the US Army still has not instituted vocal training into the core of common tasks. I have total faith in the fighting abilities of my current command, but less faith in their abilities to carry a tune in a bucket, love them as I do.

I did just realize that this string of commentary also reminds me of one of the lines from my favorite Civil War film (despite it's historical inaccuracies), Alverez Kelly;
Kelly: "Well, if the Colonel would keep after the men to make sure they sing on key..."
Rossiter: "You know, you're beginning to boor me, Mr. Kelly"
Kelly: "To the point of refusing my services?"
Secretary Harrison: "Mr. Kelly, I'd give you the Richmond Symphony...if they weren't already in the Army."

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Singing on the march or before battle?

I can only imagine a long column of soldiers singing Bingo or Pop Goes the Weasel!