Confederate and Union
Civil War Song Lyrics


Confederate Civil War Song Lyrics

I Wish I Was In Dixie
Bonnie Blue Flag
Lorena
Goober Peas
Yellow Rose of Texas
Good OL Rebel
God Save The South
Riding A Raid
Dixie, The Land of King Cotton
The Southern Wagon

Union Civil War Song Lyrics

Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Just Before the Battle
Battle Cry of Freedom
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Marching Through Georgia
All the Pretty Little Horses
Drums Of War

The story of the Civil War can be told entirely through the music of the time. Both sides sang songs about every aspect of the conflict. Music has long been important in the lives of all people. The Civil War soldiers and civilians were not exceptions. The average soldier had a lot of time on his hands. A favorite pastime was singing. Music gave soldiers a way to express their emotions and experiences. They sang in camp and on marches. There were songs for entertainment, to lift morale, to give courage and to remind them of their loved ones at home.

The night before the Battle of Stones River, after the bands had finished their usual evening serenade, Federal bands struck up slowly and softly �Home Sweet Home.� As the notes came through the stillness of the night, soldiers of both sides were wondering what tomorrow would bring: each soldier wondering if he would be wounded, or die, or if he would ever see home again. Then a Confederate band joined, and then another, until all the bands of each army were playing �Home Sweet Home.� This continued for some time until the bands one by one ceased playing and the sweet music faded away into the night.

Though the nation was bitterly divided, it was during this period that a distinctive national melodic style emerged. There was little difference in the music of the North and South. Most music was a mixture of foreign folk songs, gospel tunes, minstrel songs and Black spirituals. Identical melodies with different lyrics (parodies) could be heard on both sides. Copyright laws were different than they are today and those that existed were often ignored once the country divided.

There was no way to record and store sound during the Civil War. New songs were often learned by purchasing sheet music and singing it over and over again. Sheet music was as popular as CDs and tapes are today. A typical piece of sheet music in the 19 th century was two, four, or six-page booklets. Illustrated front covers were prevalent by mid century and the back page often contained advertisements. A song introduced by an attractive picture could make the music all the more interesting to the customer. Many times music was purchased because it had a battle scene, General or beauti�ful woman on its cover.


click to enlarge

Civil War Songbook
The Civil War Songbook
This collection of "War Between the States" music has been the standard one in the re-enacting circuit for many years now. The sheet music is published just as it was originally and it contains some of the best known classic songs.




Civil War Music CDs

Civil War MP3


Listen
Download and Copy

Just Before The Battle

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Stonewall Jackson's Way


I Wish I Was In Dixie


Good Ol' Rebel


Civil War Music History
American Civil War Exhibits
Women in the Civil War
Ships and Naval Battles
Civil War Picture Album
Recipes of the Civil War


American Civil War CDs
Songs of the Civil War
Tennessee Ernie Ford
1. Stonewall Jackson's Way
2. Lorena
3. Riding A Raid
4. Maryland, My Maryland
5. Goober Peas
6. I Can Whip The Scoundrel
7. Bonnie Blue Flag
8. Vailant Conscript
9. Rebel Soldier
10. Southern Wagon
11. Fight Of The Doodles
12. Dixie
13. Army Of The Free
14. Virginia's Bloody Soul
15. Marching Song (Of The First Arkansas Negro Regiment)
16. Why And The Wherefore
17. Vacant Chair
18. Fall Of Charleston
19. New York Volunteer
20. Faded Coat Of Blue
21. Marching Through Georgia
22. Just Before The Battle, Mother
23. Girl I Left Behind Me
24. Union Dixie
Civil War Classics
1. The Girl I Left Behind Me/Waiting for the Federals
2. Lorena
3. Cumberland Gap
4. Hard Times
5. The Yellow Rose of Texas
6. Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
7. Hard Crackers
8. Marching Through Georgia
9. Hit's of the 60's (Kingdom Coming/Battle Cry of Freedom/Dixie/Battle Hymn of the Republic)
10. The Faded Coat of Blue
11. President Lincoln's Hornpipe
12. Fisher's Hornpipe/Leather Britches/Bill Cheatham
13. Ashokan Farewell
Folk Songs of the Civil War
1. First Shot
2. Shiloh
3. Antietam
4. Stonewall's Brigade
5. Jeb's Black Horse Brigade
6. Gettysburg Recalled
7. V.M.I.'s Gallant Hour
8. Battle of Atlanta
9. Virginia's Heritage
10. Confederate Flag
11. Lee's Command
12. Appomattox


Young Reader Book Titles

Unconditional Surrender
U. S. Grant and the Civil War

This is the best juvenile biography on Ulysses S. Grant by a wide margin. Marrin has done an excellent job in introducing Grant to a young audience. I highly recommend it.

Civil War Weapons
Weapons and Strategies of the Civil War
For grades 3-6 which packs 48 pages with color photos and 30 links providing quality Internet sites for more research. Chapter notes, a bibliography and an index round out information and assure not just accuracy, but constant updates to research information.
Ballad of the Civil War young reader book
A Ballad of the Civil War
A wonderful chapter book for children that should help them to appreciate the fact that some people could not defend a person's right to own other people and to understand that sad era that ended in the "brothers' war." It has four chapters with a prologue and a closing author's note. The conversations that Tom has with the household slave "Uncle Roger" provide some unique insight into the dilemma that slaves faced in the antebellum South
Fields of Fury young reader book
Fields of Fury
The American Civil War

Written for young readers a stirring account of the greatest conflict to happen on our nation's soil, the Civil War, bringing to life the tragic struggle that divided not only a nation, but also friends and family. well-organized, well-executed, kid-friendly history of the Civil War was a brilliant idea if there ever was one. It's difficult to imagine anyone doing a better job than McPherson at breaking down this complex, interrelated series of events.

Civil War Video Games
History Channel Secret Missions
History Channel Civil War
Secret Missions

There are about a half-dozen different small arms types, but the Henry is the best for rapid repeating fire and least reloading. The shotgun they give you is useless: you must aim spot-on to affect an enemy, so why not just use the rifle? Grenades are useful at times.
Age Of Rifles
Wargame Construction
Age of Rifles 1846 - 1905

Game lets you design and play turn-based strategic battles. You can create scenarios betwen years 1846 and 1905. You have complete control over all the units, and can customize their firepower, movement points, strength, aggressiveness, etc. Supports 1 or 2 players
Nation Divided
History Channel
Civil War A Nation Divided

Rally the troops and organize a counterattack -- Your strategic decision and talent as a commander will decide if the Union is preserved or if Dixie wins its independence
Sid Meiers
Sid Meier's Civil War Collection
Take command of either Confederate or Union troops and command them to attack from the trees, rally around the general, or do any number of other realistic military actions. The AI reacts to your commands as if it was a real Civil War general, and offers infinite replayability. The random-scenario generator provides endless variations on the battles
Civil War Nurse Barbie
Civil War Nurse Barbie

Part of the American Stories Collection.
Cavalry Sabre
Cavalry Saber
This fine replica is 39 inches overall and features a highly polished 33 inch carbon steel blade. Its leather wrapped handle fits the hand perfectly and sports decorative brass accents and a shiny brass pommel.
Civil War Revolver Pistol
Civil War Model 1851 Naval Pistol
Engraved Silver Tone / Gold Tone Finish and Wooden Grips - Replica of Revolver Used by Both USA / Union and CSA / Confederate Forces
Enfield Rifle
1860 Enfield Civil War Musketoon
This piece is a full-size non-firing reproduction of the rifle used in the Civil War. The body is made of European hardwood

 

Source:
National Park Service

Gettysburg National Military Park