“Pvt. Willie Duck-worth, a black soldier on detached service with Fort Slocum's Provisional Training Center, sang out the first-ever rendition of Sound-off, Sound-off; 1-2; Sound-off; 3-4; Count cadence; 1-2-3-4; 1-2 -- 3-4. Other soldiers in the formation joined in and their dragging feet picked up momentum
Cadence was used in the Civil War and history tells us even the Roman shoulders marched to cadence so what is wtih Pvt. Duckwork being the first?
Many armies sang while marching, but according to legend the first actual cadence was the Duckworth Jodie.
Steve