U.S.A.'s 'Civil War Songs'

Subject: RE: U.S.A.'s 'Civil War Songs'
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Aug 23 - 10:38 AM

I haven't read the entire thread, but the earliest possible reference I can find to the hymn is in an ad in The [Philadelphia] Press, Jan. 5, 1859:

"SAY, BROTHERS, WILL YOU MEET US?--THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL BANNER for January, Part 8d, containing the Music and Words of this beautiful Union Hymn, is now ready. Price at the counter, One Cent per Copy or 50 Cents per Hundred.

"Published and for sale by

"THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION
                                        1122 CHESTNUT Street"

The hymn was apparently new. John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry took place ten months later, on Oct. 17-18. he was executed on Dec. 2.

San Francisco Evening Bulletin, June 26, 1862:

"ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION

"...between 1,000 and 2,000 children of the various Sunday Schools...

"When the report ended, the girls sang to the tune of 'John Brown':

    Say, brothers, will you meet us,
    Say, brothers, will you meet us
    Say, brothers, will you meet us,
       In Canaan's happy shore.

and the boys replied:

    By the grace of God we'll meet you,
    By the grace of God we'll meet you,
    By the grace of God we'll meet you,
       Where parting is no more.

then all in full chorus:

    Glory, glory, hallelujah,
    Glory, glory, hallelujah,
    Glory, glory, hallelujah,
         For ever, evermore.

"Although to tell the truth, the majority of voices drowned the 'For ever, evermore,' with 'Our souls are a-marching on.'"

Subject: RE: U.S.A.'s 'Civil War Songs'
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Aug 23 - 12:37 PM

The story of "Say, Bummers...?" seems not to have been in print before 1883 in the Harrisburg (Pa.) Telegraph (Apr. 17). The column was widely reprinted in papers afterward.

I've found no earlier reference to it. The story, as related by Maj. O. C. Bosbyshell, a Civil War veteran and Coiner United States Mint, seems plausible. He notes, however, that Steffe was responsible only for the tune.

If true, the hymn should have been written, if not by Steffe, by someone closely connected to the Charleston, S.C., fire company.

I admit, though, that I'm a little skeptical of the story. Why would a well-known composer of Christian hymns be so ready to write an air to "a series of verses, the chorus of which ran, 'Say, bummers, will you meet us?'"

I'm not sure if any of the verses have ever appeared.

Otherwise, the following hymn appears anonymously in H. D. Allen's "Harp of Eden" (1850), regrettably without a tune:

                      MARCH AROUND JERUSALEM

My brother, will you meet me
On that delightful shore?
My brother, will you meet me,
Where parting is no more?

[Cho.]:

Then we'll march around Jerusalem,
Then we'll march around Jerusalem,
Then we'll march round Jerusalem,
When we arrive at home.


The following verses are identical except for the substitution of
"O, Sister," "O, Leader," "O, Preacher," "O, Classmate," "Young Convert," "O, Mourner," "Backslider," "O, Sinner." The final stanza has, "Yes, bless the Lord, I'll meet you."

Subject: RE: U.S.A.'s 'Civil War Songs'
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Aug 23 - 04:12 PM

Here's the tune of "We'll March Around Jerusalem" as printed in 1868:


https://hymnary.org/hymn/RCCR1868/358

Not much like "JBB."