Stories of Civil War Songs is the first published
collection of the interesting and authentic background
of the patriotic, sentimental ad sacred songs that were
written or gained prominence and popularity during the
War of 1861-1865. Included in this volume are the stories
of song writers George F. Root (The Battle Cry of Freedom;
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp The Boys Are Marching), Henry Clay
Work (Kingdom Coming; Marching Through Georgia), James S.
Gibbons (We Are Coming, Father Abraham), James R. Randall
(Maryland My Maryland) as well as the histories of the
southern camp-meeting songs that became the Yankee
"Battle Hymn Of the Republic" and the northern minstrel
man's "walk-around," "Dixie," that was adopted by the
Confederates as their own unofficial battle song.
Stories of the haunting love song "Lorena," who was the
sweetheart of the boys on both sides of the Mason-Dixon
line, the favorite hymns of General Robert E. Lee,
General Stonewall Jackson and President Abraham Lincoln,
and the incidents that inspired the writing of the only
gospel hymn that the war years produced, "He Leadeth Me,"
complete this unique and unusual collection, the author's
thirteenth published volume since his first book was
accepted for publication in 1941.
