"Battle Cry of Freedom," an autograph manuscript for the first verse and chorus, signed by Root, and dated in Chicago, Feb. 1891.

[Chicago: 1891]. 4to. 11 lines of manuscript on a plain sheet of writing paper. Accompanied by a cabinet photograph of Root, a bust-length portrait, 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches, mounted on heavier stock, an ink identifying "Root" written in the extreme lower edge of the print. The autograph in full: "Yes, we'll rally round the flag boys, / we'll rally once again, / Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom! / We'll rally from the hill-side, / we'll gather from the plain, / Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom! / Cho. The Union Forever! Hurrah boys, hurrah! / Down with the traitor Up with the star! / While we rally round the flag boys / rally once again / Shouting the Battle-cry of Freedom!! / Geo. F. Root. / Chicago Feb 1891." Both autograph and photograph are very good. Small spots at each corner of the sheet, perhaps signs it was once mounted, small typed Roman numeral on verso, some wrinkling in the blank lower margin. (9783). Item #61471

Root originally wrote this song in 1862, as the Civil War heated up. "The music for [Root's] most important Civil War song, 'The Battle Cry of Freedom,' which reportedly sold between 500,000 and 700,000 copies in all forms, came to him as he was relaxing on a couch ... Lincoln had recently issued a call for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years. The words 'Yes we'll rally round the flag boys ...' came to his mind, with the stirring music, and the next morning he wrote down both. Within a very short time the work was performed at a citizens' war rally on July 23 [1862] and by the fourth verse thousands joined in, singing the easy-to-remember phrases, so evocative of the call-and-response patterns of the popular hymns that had so long stirred camp-meeting worshipers and lunch-hour revival celebrants. Orders for the song poured in from dealers around the country" (Russell Sajek "American Popular Music and Its Business: The First Hundred Years," pp. 234-235; NY: Oxford U. Press, 1988).

Price: $1,500.00

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