Whether you call it the Civil War, the War of the Rebellion, the War Between the States, the War for Southern Independence, or the War of Northern Aggression, that cataclysmic event created the holiday first known as Decoration Day.
There were times during the conflict when women decorated the graves of deceased soldiers in Virginia, Georgia and Pennsylvania in an organized manner. But the first real Decoration Day occurred in 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. Union prisoners of war had been interned at the Charleston Race Course, and many had been interred there also. On May 1, 1865, a group of white teachers, white missionaries, black ministers and freed blacks cleaned up the graves, landscaped the grounds and built a ceremonial arch for the fallen. Today that location is known as Hampton Park. On May 30, 1868, similar ceremonies were observed in the North. This spread, and by 1870, the establishment of 73 national cemeteries turned Decoration Day into a political and religious event.
In 1967, federal law turned Decoration Day into Memorial Day, and in 1971 the current three-day weekend custom replaced May 30.
Music was a constant during the Late Unpleasantness Between the States. It was played at the camps, during the battles and at home. When Gen. George Pickett started his famous charge at Gettysburg, Confederate military bands played martial airs as his troops started the mile long trek across the fields to Gen. George Meade’s Union troops. (My instructor at Fort Gordon in 1971 referred to Pickett’s group as a “brigade gaggle”.) As they straggled back to the Confederate lines, the same bands played “Nearer My God to Thee”, an Anglican Low Church hymn.
Each side in that conflict had its own tunes and anthems. There were also popular songs of the day, sung in both camps, most of which were written by Stephen Foster whom I profiled several months ago.
First, I’d like to start with a piece that is modern. It was written by Jay Ungar in 1982 and has the melancholy sound of the Scots-Irish ballads of the era. It’s best known as the theme from Ken Burns’ documentary “The Civil War”. Pull out your handkerchief for this one.
Jay Ungar, Molly Mason & the Family Band: “Ashokan Farewell”
Wow! Now THAT’S a project! Look forward to some quality wallerin’ later! :)
Thank you for your musical tribute of the civil war Prof.
Haunting music...but very interesting to listen to. And I love Nearer My God To Thee