The story bears repeating, even in a brief essay such as this. What did music mean to the soldiers? There are many stories, but perhaps the most iconic occurred years after war’s end. Wrote Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at Appomattox, “On our part not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum not a cheer, nor word nor whisper of vain-glorying, nor motion of man standing again at the order, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead!”
Then, silence became the most dramatic sound of all. A few soldiers wrote that music affected the outcome of the war itself. Some music steeled men for combat other music stirred longings for peace and hearth. On the fronts, music supported marching soldiers as they sang away fear and exhaustion. At home, parlor room music-making was infused with the conflicting emotions of fear and pride, loss and relief. Virtuosos tuned their concert repertoire to fit public sentiment. Raw would-be instrumentalists flocked to enlistment centers. The Civil War affected American musical life at every level. “So strong you thump, O terrible drums-so loud you bugles blow.” Always, music bound people together, helped them move forward, and helped them to remember. Away from the front, bands entertained in city streets and parks, orchestras and choirs filled concert halls, and sentimental songs enlivened parlors. By day, the stern commands of drums and bugles pierced battlefields. In the evenings, songs of home and faith floated across military encampments. Northerners and Southerners sang the same songs, Confederate and Union armies sometimes marched to the same melodies. Music flowed freely across political boundaries and army lines. African-American musical and dance styles had been parodied by blackface minstrels since the 1830s, but it was not until the Civil War that most Northern whites began to have direct contact with, and take serious notice of, the real music of African Americans. Through escaped slaves reaching the North or through northern soldiers operating in the South, white northerners were exposed to African-American music, especially the spirituals like “Go Down Moses”. And as for African American music, the Civil War emancipated it. Aware that soldiers would remember melodies but might forget words, publishers printed dozens of songsters, books of lyrics alone. “The men who wore the blue, and the butternut Rebs who opposed them, more than American fighters of any period, deserve to be called singing soldiers,” observed historian Bell Irvin Wiley. Songs from the British Isles that pre-dated the war were also popular including “Home Sweet Home” and “Annie Laurie”. Near the war’s end songs reflected optimism and “Marching Through Georgia” is one of the more memorable of these. In the war’s middle years themes of death, often without glory permeated newly composed songs, though most of those are not memorable. Anti-war songs like “Tenting on the Old Camp Ground”, “Weeping, Sad and Lonely” and “When This Cruel War is Over” were popular. In terms of songs “Dixie” “The Bonnie Blue Flag” “Maryland! My Maryland” are among the most famous from the south and “Battle Cry of Freedom” from the North. Piano scores were published in great quantity and which not much of the music was memorable, the cover art was often remarkable. In terms of commerce music publishing thrived during the war in both North and South. Choral societies and outdoor band music continued to thrive, also linking their offering to the war. Classical music entertainers continued to offer concerts and operas with many musical events linked to the war. Nisbet of the 66th Georgia wrote in his memoirs of a Confederate cornet player along the Kennesaw Mountain line who was much appreciated by the Yankees. Confederate soldiers gathered on a bridge on the Rappahannock River to listen to a Union band before the Battle of Fredericksburg. Military band music consisted of full-scale brass and percussion ensembles which gave concerts in camp and at various functions but also played during battle to inspire the men. Military field music consisted of fifers buglers and drummers who were responsible for transmitting orders as well as playing to encourage or inspire soldiers. Military bands were active throughout the war.
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