The Rebel Yell: The Seething Blast of an Imaginary Hell

Essential Civil War Curriculom ^ | 07/15/2015 | Richard G. Williams, Jr.

[Davy Buck]

“Then arose that do or die expression, that maniacal maelstrom of sound; that penetrating, rasping, shrieking, blood curdling noise that could be heard for miles and whose volume reached the heavens such an expression as never yet came from the throats of sane men, but from men whom the seething blast of an imaginary hell would not check while the sound lasted.” ~ Confederate Colonel Keller Anderson of Kentucky's Orphan Brigade

There are few aspects of the Civil War which have been engrained in American culture and remembrance more than the Confederate soldiers’ Rebel Yell . . ."

[vetvetdoug]

The National Archives has recordings of Confederate Soldiers giving the Rebel Yell. IMO it sounds much like the end of the Muslim war cry without the reference to the pagan deity, Allah.

[skeeter]

Its hard to imagine waiting for whatever is making that sound to get to your position.

[skeeter]

IMO it sounds much like the end of the Muslim war cry without the reference to the pagan deity, Allah.

And without the sounds the gunfire and explosions that convert the muslim war cry into whimpers for mercy.

[Islander7]

Yee Haw!!

[Boowhoknew]

Perhaps, if this is available in my area, I will replace the Maker’s Mark brand with Rebel Yell

[Noumenon]

or this. Play that at 120 db and aim it at the muzzies.

[kalee]

Do they still make that?

[4yearlurker]

I saw a short film from circa 1930,(I think on TCM) where old,long bearded Confederate soldiers were gathered at a event and each one stepped up to the mic and gave their Rebel Yell. A high piercing Indian sounding whoop.

[Timber Rattler]

The real thing...

Rare Footage of Civil War Veterans Doing the Rebel Yell

[sten]

for those that’d like to hear it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jSqt39vFM

[ponygirl]

It's a really guttural yell that comes from the bottom of your chest and if you can make it ragged, even better. Best attempted when drunk. I remember it as a "hheeeeeeee-hewwwww!" Or sometimes finished with a yipping "hip-hip-hip!"

Funny story...when I was in high school down south, my mom gave me permission to have a party on the back of our acreage with a bonfire. "And I don't know anything about it." (This would have never happened if my father had been home.) My grandmother was visiting from the west coast and they stayed in the house. The next morning, my grandmother said to me, "What on earth was all that hollering? Sounded like a bunch of demons out in that field. What were they doing?" "Grandma, that was the rebel yell you were hearing." "Is that what that was? I've never heard anything like that in my life!"

[odawg]

“IMO it sounds much like the end of the Muslim war cry without the reference to the pagan deity, Allah.”

Couldn’t wait to link up what is an aspect of Southern heritage to something having to do with Islamic demons?

[x]

[Georgia Girl 2]

I grew up with the rebel yell. In college I mostly dated and had good friends in the Southern fraternities and its definitely a fearsome cry when a bunch of people are doing it at the same time. :-)

[ponygirl]

Um, NOT. The Muslim war cry is shrieking and babbling.

I was told the rebel yell originated from a Tuscarora war cry. It evolved into a cross between a war cry and a hog call and can be quite complex.

This is closer, but it's the celebratory rebel yell popularized by Dukes of Hazzard, not the war cry: Bo Duke Rebel Yell. But the way he rags out the "yaaaahh..." and makes it warble, plus the beginning of the "huh" in "hooo" that comes from deep in the chest...that's what I'm trying to describe.

[ponygirl]

LOL... Brings back some good memories, doesn't it? All the guys would be drinking and trying to out do each other...and every time they started up, the dogs would all start barking! And of course, every time someone put on AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long" the response was a raucous chorus of rebel yells.

My dad could do a pretty good rebel yell, but his turkey gobble was spot-on hilarious. This reminds me...I need to record him doing these if he still can. Takes a strong pair of lungs!

[Islander7]

Yep.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Rebel Yell by Peter Soloman

This also show how it would have sounded with a group of Rebels sounding the yell.

[wardaddy]

Makers Mark is gay literally but good quality always has been

Rebel Yell is inexpensive and medium quality

In fact Some claim its best bottom shelf brand at 13 bucks a bottle