Battle Cry of Freedom - 2nd South Carolina String Band
Candlelight Concert Series
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5m 16s
“The “Battle Cry of Freedom” was composed by professional song writer George F. Root for a July 1862 Chicago war rally. The rally was in support of President Abraham Lincoln‘s call for an additional 300,000 volunteers to fill the ranks of the shrinking Union Army. The song was published In 1862 by Root’s own firm Root & Cady of Chicago, and became one of the most popular Northern War songs. It was so popular that the production of 14 printing presses could not keep up with the demand. It has been estimated that approximately 500,000 copies were put in circulation.
Federal soldiers sang “Battle Cry of Freedom “ in camp, on the march and in the most desperate battlefield situations. At Vicksburg a battered Iowa regiment sang it as they struggled to regroup. During the 1864 Wilderness Battle the 45th Pennsylvania began singing it as their regiment was on the verge of defeat from Longstreet’s flank attack. “Soon the entire brigade was singing the defiant song,” wrote William Wiley of the 77th Illinois, “and good order was restored.”
The popularity of the tune extended into the South. “Southron’s Battle Cry of Freedom” was a parody of Root’s song. The lyricist of this version was William H. Barnes. He was the manager of an ensemble of musicians, the “Atlanta Amateurs,” who performed for the benefit of soldiers relief charities. J.C. Schreiner & Son of Macon and Savannah published this version in 1864.”
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