Battle Hymn of the Republic is a famous song, still sung today written by Julia Ward Howe. It was written during the Civil War. Originally it was called “ John Brown’s Body “, but as an inside joke. “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave, his soul is marching on!” the soldiers sang on their way to the battle of the union. This little inside joke among soldiers had a new political meaning to it. Julia Ward Howe, born May 27, 1819- October 17, 1910 was born in New York City. Her mom died while she was young so her aunt had raised her. When her father had died her uncle then raised her. When she married her husband Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, Julia was a poet known as the “Diva”. Their marriage was unstable and filled with arguments over money, politics, power, etc. …show more content…
Samuel was well aware of the suffering the slaves had. But that was not where they Mr and Mrs Howe had issues. He did not like the fact that she was taking role. Samuel wanted her to accept the fact that he was the one to make all the decisions about their lives together. In 1856, her husband was leading antislavery settlers to Kansas. While he was doing all that she wrote poems and plays. Samuel and Julia were both apart of the Sanitary Commision. November 1861, President Lincoln invited them both to Washington. When they visited a Union Army Camp there is where they heard the men singing. James Freeman Clarke saw Julia, he was familiar with her poems and asked her if she could come up with new lyrics to the song. That she did the next morning. After that the new lyrics were replaced and so it was “Battle Hymn of the Republic” was the most well known song of the CIvil