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The Influence Of Music In The Civil War

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Music also motivated men before they entered the mayhem of battle. Armies would march to the heroic rhythms of drums and often of brass bands. For example, at the Battle of Gettysburg, George Pickett and his men made their charge to the sounds of “The Bonnie Blue Flag.” At the same time, the Union troops who were waiting on the Seminary Ridge were listening to “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Walch). The soldiers would also sing songs when they obtained victory such as “Marching Through Georgia.” When soldiers from the North and South marched off to war, they took with them a love of song that transcended the political and philosophical divide between them (“Music of the 1860's”). Besides being used for military operations, music was also an important part of the soldiers’ lives in camp. Music would pass the time, entertain and comfort, bring back memories of home and family, and strengthen bonds between comrades as well as help forge new ones. In Lincoln and the Music of the Civil War, Kenneth A. Bernard wrote, “In camp and hospital they sang -- sentimental songs and ballads, comic songs, and patriotic numbers… The songs were better than rations or medicine.” The soldiers would …show more content…
The fear and tedium of sieges were eased by nightly band concerts, and wind bands would sometimes be on the battlefield playing music to cheer the troops up. (“Music of the 1860's”). Brass bands were extremely popular during the war. Originating in the mid-1830s, the brass band was a product of the development of new kinds of keys on horned instruments. These bands played during recruitment campaigns, and celebrated soldiers’ departures and their return home. They also accompanied marches and drills as well as the soldiers march into battle. A “Rogue's March” would be played whenever a soldier was executed or discharged for desertion or insubordination (“Civil War:

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