Library of Congress MUSIC OF THE CIVIL WAR BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEASObjectives
To provide teachers with an introductory history of music during the Civil War era, as well as activity ideas for students to explore songs and lyrics from the Civil War period in order to contemplate the various soldiers’ emotions when in camp, on campaign, and in battle. Students will explore a soldier’s experience throughout the war and examine the transformation of a soldier’s life as demonstrated in the music created.
Civil War Music: An Overview Music is a powerful art with the ability to convey complex emotions, tell incredible stories, and inspire actions. During the American Civil War (1861-1865) music served many purposes, from entertaining soldiers in camp to relaying orders on the battlefield. When soldiers marched away from home in 1861 they did so to rousing patriotic songs, and when they returned in 1865 they sang popular ballads that lamented the war years.
Music was critical to American society during the 19th century and popular styles influenced sweeping trends, reflecting changes in American institutions before, during, and after the war. In the mid-19th century accessibility of published music and affordable instruments flourished. During the antebellum era instruments such as home pianos brought sweet melodies into private parlors across the nation. In addition, songbooks appeared in mass print and continued as staples of popular culture for the remainder of the century. According to one study, upwards of 5,000 books were published annually during the 1850’s. One popular book called, “The Sacred Harp” popularized a revolutionary process of teaching music to those unfamiliar with notation. “The Sacred Harp,” utilized a shape note system where note heads took on various shapes and represented different pitches. This “a cappella” (voice only) style became wildly popular in rural areas and created a distinctly American sound. Focused on religious songs, ‘The Sacred Harp” books remained a popular musical choice for various communities, church congregations, and soldiers during the Civil War era. In particular, members of the 10th Georgia Infantry who fought at Gettysburg near the famed Wheatfield recalled learning “Sacred Harp” melodies in 1862. Often, music during the antebellum era not only served to entertain but to enlighten. Social activism from abolitionism (anti-slavery) to the temperance movement (anti-alcohol) utilized music to spread their platforms across the country. One famed antebellum song titled “John Brown’s Body,” appeared on the eve of the American civil War and told of the abolitionist and his unsuccessful raid against a Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in October 1859. The melody of the song came from an older American piece titled “Say Brothers, Will you meet us on Canaan’s happy shore.” After the raid however, new lyrics were added to describe the tensions between North and South over slavery. Like John Brown’s Body, many songs of the era involved rewriting traditional songs with new lyrics to fit the sentiments of the audience being targeted. When the Civil War began in 1861, music helped awaken the nation and stir the sentiments of citizens in both the North and South. Patriotic songs rang from newly published pages and theorized the rise and fall of a new Confederacy made of Southern States that supported the institution of slavery. In the North, soldiers marched to war singing new patriotic songs such as “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” that told of defeating the southern traitors and preserving the union. In the south, music such as the “Bonnie Blue Flag” encouraged southern states to rally and fight for their shared “heritage.” Once the regiments marched from their hometowns and the celebrations ceased, newly enlisted soldiers discovered that music continued to play a critical role in their military life. At their camp of instruction, every activity from sleeping to eating was announced by a specific music call that echoed through the camp alerting the men to their duties. Often this music came from drums, fifes, and bugles played by designated musicians of the regiment who learned calls from military manuals for each branch of the army. These musicians also played field music passed from previous generations and other militaries worldwide. One popular piece titled, “The Girl I left Behind Me,” was an old English marching song that told of a soldier’s distress at leaving his loved ones behind. Each designated musician had a role to play either for communication or for improving moral. While on the march, soldiers galloped in step to the sound of regimental bands posted at the head of a column andtasked with keeping the men motivated or marching at an acceptable pace. Regimental bands often included brass instruments with bells that faced rearward to project their music to the marching troops. In camp, fife, drums, and bugles utilized specific calls to announce important events like assemblies. On the battlefield, the shrill sound of bugles cut through the noise of gunfire to relay orders over vast distances. Meanwhile, other musicians like drummers and fifers put down their instruments and picked up stretchers to carry the wounded off of the firing line. At Gettysburg, musicians of the 150th Pennsylvania ran a terrifying gauntlet multiple times to retrieve wounded from the front while dodging exploding artillery shells and confederate musket balls. Aside from official military roles music also played an important part in the life of many soldiers through the songs they created and sang while in service. Plagued by the dullness of camp life soldiers passed the time by entertaining themselves with games and music. Musical performances and sing-alongs put on by both outside groups and the soldiers themselves functioned to raise moral. In both armies the distribution of newly published songbooks fueled entertainment but the soldiers took particular enjoyment in creating their own lyrics to popular melodies. Often these songs mocked military service and offered humor filled relief for the battle hardened men. While songs of duty and patriotism encouraged soldiers to enlist at the beginning of the war, the conflict extended into a long and bloody contest that transformed the tone of popular music. By the middle of the war, popular music turned from inspiration to sad ballads about homesickness, slain friends, and war weariness. Songs such as the highly popular “Home Sweet Home” were at times banned from camps due to the morale-damaging lyrics and tone. By early 1865 as the war came closer to an end, popular styles again shifted. In Confederate armies, songs of destruction, war weariness, and bitterness permeated the ranks while union soldiers turned to triumphant ballads of victory. One such example came at the close of the war in 1865 with the song “Marching Through Georgia.” Filled with descriptions of William T. Sherman’s destructive campaign through the Deep South, the song was incredibly despised in southern states but highly popular worldwide. Following the war’s conclusion in 1865 new problems concerning reunification now faced the nation. For many survivors the legacy of the war haunted their memories for the remainder of their lives, and the implications of its conclusion still impact us today. The same can be said of the legacy left by music created during the Civil War era. Although popular styles continued evolving in the post-war era, the music of the war played a key role in reunion and reconciliation. Veteran’s reunions often included music written from the period, and even today songs such as Dixie Land, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and others remain staples of American culture… remnants of a terror filled period in our shared history. 
Library of Congress The Bonnie Blue Flag Dixie The Girl I left Behind Me Yankee Doodle Star Spangled Banner (1861 Arrangement) John Brown’s Body Maryland My Maryland Frog in the Well Battle Cry of Freedom Southern Battle Cry of Freedom Goober Peas The Battle Hymn of the Republic All quiet Along the Potomac Tonight Just Before the Battle Mother Tenting on the Old Camp Ground When Johnny Comes Marching Home Tramp! Tramp! Marching through Georgia Good Bye, Old Glory Activity #1As the American Civil War raged across the United States, the tone and focus of music changed to reflect the nature of the war. Play a portion of each song listed below for the students (without providing lyric sheets). Have students analyze the music and its tone.Then, ask them to explain what stands out about each song, what emotions each conveys. Have the students guess the chronological order, from beginning to middle to end of war, of the songs based on the tone of the music. Finally, show them the lyrics of the songs to see if this supports or changes their original order. Songs for this activity: Tenting Tonight Good Bye, Old Glory Union Dixie Lyrics: Tenting On The Old Camp Ground: "We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground "Give us a song to cheer ""Our weary hearts, a song of home "And friends we love so dear "Many are the hearts that are weary tonight "Wishing for the war to cease "Many are the hearts that are looking for the right "To see the dawn of peace "Tenting tonight, tenting tonight, tenting on the old camp ground" Good Bye Old Glory "Four weary years of toil and blood, "With loyal hearts and true, "By field and fortress plain and flood, "We've fought the rebel crew, "But Victory is ours at last, "The mighty work is through, "Sound drums and bugles loud and fast, "This is our last tattoo. "Farewell farewell to march and fight, "Hard tack a fond adiew. "Good bye "Old Glory" for tonight, "We doff the army blue." Union Dixie "Away down South in the land of traitors "Rattlesnakes and alligators "Right away, come away, right away, come away. "Where cotton’s king and men are chattels, "Union boys will win the battles, "Right away, come away, right away, come away. "Then we’ll all go down to Dixie, away, away, "Each Dixie boy must understand "That he must mind his uncle Sam, "Away, away, And we’ll all go down to Dixie Away, away, "And we’ll all go down to Dixie." Activity 2:
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Last updated: September 23, 2025