Samantha Arroyo
American Music Project
How did music help grow support for the union and confederacy during the Civil War?
Context of the Music
In the military, the music was used to give orders on the battlefield while in the camps music helped keep the soldiers morals high
Compare and Contrast
The support system from the civil war and vietnam war is very different. Both sides of the civil war had songs that supported their sides (as shown below) however during vietnam music artist focused on the either being conservative or the hippy movement not many songs were about vietnam with the exception of Goodnight Saigon
Roots of the Music
On the battlefield, different instruments including bugles, drums, and fifles were played to give out marching orders or sometimes simply to help raiser the morale of one's fellow soldiers. In camp, music was a distraction from the bloodshed, helping the soldiers deal with homesickness and boredom. Soldiers of both sides often engaged in recreation with musical instruments, and when the opposing armies were near each other, sometimes the bands from both sides of the conflict played against each other on the night before a battle
Songs
Confederacy Song
In this song it talks about how soldiers just want to go home
Confederate Song - I Wish I Was In Dixie Land (with lyrics)
Confederacy Song
This song displays how the confederacy is unwilling to give up.
I am a Rebel Soldier (John D. Hale Band)
Confederacy Song
This song acknowledges that the confederacy lost however they are still unwilling to change.
I'm a Good Ol' Rebel
Union Song
This song shows pride when the union soldiers return home, they receive community support.
Civil War Songs - Union - When Johnny comes marching home (Mitch Miller Chorus)
Union Song
This song referred to when the Union captured Savannah, Georgia
Marching through Georgia (Civil war song)
Union Song
This was one of the songs the Union band played on the battlefield.
Union Battle Cry of Freedom, High Quality
Interesting Facts
- Band members often helped surgeons in the back of the battlefield