The Heart of Secession

Well then, I'm off into the piney woods.

First Impressions

This weekend saw the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Olustee, Florida. (An AAR of Saturday's tactical will be following shortly.) The time was spent largely with a contingent of the Southeastern Coalition of Authentic Reenactors (SCAR) known as the Salt River Rifles. I've followed the movements of the SRR and SCAR for some time now, and it was a pleasure to finally get to meet the members of these elite groups in person.

Apparently I made a good impression on them as well, for I've been invited by their commanding officer to join their ranks, effective immediately. This doesn't interfere with my primary unit affiliation, Company A of the 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but rather provides an outlet for authentic reenacting to supplement the mainstream/progressive actions of my band of brothers from the Land of Lincoln.

I think I've got a good impression in mind for these groups, as well: a Southern Unionist, who has left his home and love upon the outbreak of hostilities to fight for preservation of the union. I'd like to get a thorough first-person portrayal for this one going soon.

I know, I'm a dork for the hobby, but if you're reading this blog, you probably have some interest in it as well.

There's a yellow rose in Georgia
That I am gonna see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier only me
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

Oh the Chattahoochee's flowing
And the starry skies are bright
She walks along the river
In the quiet summer night
I know that she remembers
When we parted long ago
I promised to come back again
And not to leave her so

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

Well my feet are shod and ready
And my heart is full of light
I'm going back to Georgia
To give the Rebs a fight
You may talk about your McClellan
And sing of General Meade
But Uncle Billy Sherman's gonna show you can't secede

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

The Battle Cry of Freedom

No, I'm not talking about James McPherson's masterful work (though, if you really wanted me to, I wouldn't mind doing that at all). No, I'm talking about the song, that glorious marching song used by both armies during the war. I've been around reenactors a while, and I always noticed that whoever is singing it, the lyrics are always slightly different. So, enter the Google.

Turns out there are many "official" versions (if you believe the Internet) of the song. Most have some common theme - usually the chorus - though I've found one or two that are vastly different.

So, using a mental Venn diagram of the whole combined works, I've put together this rather long composite of all the versions I've found of the Federal version of the song. It's a lot to remember, but it shouldn't be impossible - anyone who's recalled all the words to "Marching on to Richmond" while slogging their way through dense underbrush or tramping along country lanes should have no problem with the new words to a familiar melody.

Or maybe you all knew this already, and I'm just preaching to the choir. Either way...here ya go.

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plains,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We are springing to the call
of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll fill the vacant ranks
With a million free men more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And although they may be poor
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We are marching to the field, boys, we’re going to the fight
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we bear the glorious stars for the Union and the right
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We will raise the rebel host, boys, with fearless heart and true
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we’ll show what Uncle Sam has for loyal boys to do
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

If we fall amid the fray, boys, we’ll face them to the last
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And our comrades brave shall hear us as they go rushing past
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Yes, for liberty and union we’re springing to the fight
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And the victory shall be ours for we’re rising in our might
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

One day, hopefully soon, I'll put up a similar composition for the Confederate version of the song. Until then, my secesh friends will have to wait it out, or sing to the tune of the Union.

Ghosts of Shiloh

Jim Butler of the Salt River Rifles recently put out a request for any neutral-voiced individuals who wished to try their hand at narrating some voice-overs on a documentary covering the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh (alternatively the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee). Well, I've been told a more than a few times that I should be some sort of voice actor, so I decided to give it a shot.

After emailing Jim, he asked me to record and send him this quote from the 11th Iowa:

“The calm was first broken by the sound of gunshots far in the distance. Soon began the "blood curdling sounds", so one soldier thought, of the "long roll." In a little while several cannon shots passed over the camps, followed by others that plowed up the ground and tore through the tents. Trees were splintered nearby, and a shell struck a horse in the hind leg, mangling it's hoof.”

This done, I sent it on it's way, expecting nothing. However, lo and behold, my audition was successful, and I've now somehow netted myself a credited job on this documentary, and likely others in the future.

Next, I've got to take care of some quotes from both the 8th Illinois, as well as from General John McClernand. And I have to admit, this is kinda exciting.

During the Battle of Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862, four cobbled-together Confederate corps (designated the Army of Mississippi) launched a dawn attack on General Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared Army of the Tennessee. The attack succeeded to great effect throughout April 6, despite considerable confusion on the part of the southern commanders. This confusion was compounded, no doubt, by the death of Albert Sidney Johnston before the Confederate victory could be fully exploited.

The Federals rallied, finally holding their ground even as their backs were pressed against the Tennessee River. During the night, a reinforcement army under General God Carlos Buell arrived, replenishing the ranks with fresh troops. This infusing of new blood allowed for an early morning Federal counterattack that reclaimed the ground lost the day before to the Confederates.

During the battle, General John McClernand commanded a division under Grant that was attacked by Leonidas Polk's corps; of note is Polk's order of battle in this assault - he commanded a division led by Benjamin Cheatham. Cheatham, like Patrick Cleburne, was one of the south's most tenacious commanders, and it is of little doubt that this fiery subordinate did a great deal to push McClernand's division back toward Pittsburg Landing.


Confederate General Benjamin Cheatham would become known as one of the South's greatest fighters

At the landing, McClernand held the center of the newly established defensive line - a line that existed, some would argue, solely due to the delaying, sacrificial stand made by Benjamin Prentiss' division at a spot later known as the Hornet's Nest for the ferocity of the fire there. Prentiss aside, the new line held until the next morning, when the counterattack began and secured a victory for the Union.


In the coming months, Union General John A. McClernand would become one of Grant's greatest rivals as he strove to eclipse the latter's rise to glory

Shiloh is most known for its statistics and its repercussions. The battle - the first truly pitched fight of the war, and one fought entirely by green troops - resulted in more casualties than the War of Independence, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War combined: 23,746 men fell killed, wounded, or captured in the two day engagement. The battle also cemented the close relationship Grant would have with his subordinate William T. Sherman for the rest of the war. Despite the terrible attack that April morning, both men kept their heads and, together, planned the defensive stand and counterattack that would finally repel the Confederate army.

Though the Union prevailed at Shiloh, the initial unpreparedness that characterized the Army of the Tennessee led to calls for Grant's removal from command. After facing so many setbacks in the East, however, President Abraham Lincoln famously replied to the detractors, "I can't spare this man. He fights."

And fight he did.

January 21, 1824

Um...

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
~Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section I

"I do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of President of the United States faithfully, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States [so help me God]."

~President Barack H. Obama (and Chief Justice John Roberts), 1/20/09



Why does part of me feel that this could be a problem?

Remember the Good, the Bad, and the inaccurate

This Sunday has ranked alright as far as Sundays go. After sleeping in a bit (too long), I turn to AMC and find that 2004's The Alamo is on.

What a piece of work. Sure, there is the usual Hollywood dramatizing that plagues all historical films (while poignantly beautiful, I'm disinclined to believe that Crockett's fiddle harmonized so well with Santa Anna's army band), but nevertheless the controllable minutiae of 1836 soldiering seems to have been captured quite well. The weapons and clothing is authentic (a bare minimum), and the characters not only speak the vernacular (a definite plus), but also go so far as to appear to have even forgone showering to further portray accurate, day-to-day life in the era (a five-star commitment to authenticity). This film is a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the Texan War of Independence, and for those who prefer not to scrimp on the details, it's sure to please as well. Pay extra attention to Dennis Quaid's role as Sam Houston: if that's not Houston, I don't know what is.

After The Alamo came Sergio Leone's classic The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Having never seen this, I decided to leave the classic western on. It's still on, actually (Eastwood is in a whole mess of trouble in the New Mexico desert). But that's not the point. A short while ago there was a good bit of talk and show regarding Sibley's New Mexico campaign of 1862. Canby is also referenced frequently.

I have never seen such a poor showing of reenactor quality as was just displayed in this film. Granted, reenacting was just blossoming into a hobby when this film was made (1966), but still, I can almost see the zippers on the Confederate sergeant's trousers. The dialogue is nearly as atrocious ("Carson? He's with the 3rd." The 3rd? the 3rd what?), and the props are the very definition of farby (If there wasn't a Reb private with a tin, flask-shaped canteen over his soldier, I'm goin' to hell).

Sure, Leone touches on the harsh New Mexico climate that characterized the Confederate retreat, "Sibley's retreating this way...and Canby's line is moving this way...but neither side will go in here [indicating the desert]". But that's pretty much where this historical accuracy ends.

Like I said, the film's still playing, so perhaps things will improve. If I happen to notice, I'll let you know.

(EDIT: "Down with General Grant! Hurrah for General Lee!"...in early 1862 Grant was securing the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and Lee was advising Jeff Davis prior to taking command of the Army of Northern Virginia. OK, that's awful.)

Next up, a discussion on why Tom Cruise's character in The Last Samurai is introduced as "the hero of Gettysburg" while "The Bonnie Blue Flag" plays...ugh.