i Sam Hilt, wrote the Ranger fight song while re-encting Rev War bicenntennil with 64th Reg't of foot, Light infantry Compny. due to passage of time, I forget the individuls nme, but suspect 2nd version ws written by a member of the 64th Grenadier Company. I hd had no contact with the folk revivl, though during civil War centennil i re-eacted with 18th Mississippi volunteers; service songs were sung by prticipnts. My served in vietnam, two tours, with the 173rd Abn Bde, and had no contact with folk revival until 1976 when i arrived back in austrlia.
Aside from limited contact in school; my knowledge of folk music at that stge; really, no knowledge of folk song, AS folk song; ws through participation in two traditional societies, military and Penna dutch (Lancaster Co., Penna). My particiption in military society continues; nd research hs led to collection nd analysis of service songs in 7 books in 12 volumes, unpublished, and most songs not heard even within militry society, as some of the songs were written by, and sung within linited community of squad/section (10-12 men, or platoon (20-40 men). Mny sonmgs sung during and originting during the English civiol Wr, 1640's are still sung in Anglo-Celtic militry, nd some songs long pre-dting ECW are still sung.
SW Hilt
1247A Mogo Rd Wollar, 2850, NSW
Australia
61 02 6373-4257