So, this song does appear to (possibly) have roots in the civil war. However, I do not find it in any of the standard civil war songs collections. So, if we play it at a big July 4 re-enactment (in our authentic garb of course), are purists likely to get bunchied up? Being pacifist types from Quaker schooling, we do not re-enact soldiers...we are civilian abolitionists, so the song fits (if the rumoured origins are correct). Plus it's just a nice tune (and dumb easy in the key of G on the banjo - my favorite benefit).