The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108259   Message #2251739
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
02-Feb-08 - 03:05 PM
Thread Name: Songs of the American Civil War
Subject: RE: Songs of the American Civil War
Many versions of the "Rebel Soldier," including the earliest in print, "The Rebel Prisoner," are included in thread 50984: Rebel Soldier
"The Rebel Prisoner," with verse about Mollie, appeared in F. D. Allan, 1874, "Allan's Lone Star Ballads, A Collection of Southern Patriotic Songs Made During Confederate Times," Burt Franklin, New York.

The story of this little volume is worth repeating. During the occupation following the war, a Major G. W. Smith and Federal soldiers, at Brenham, Texas, burned all of the property of Francis Allan, including the first essay of his volume of ballads. Luckily, Allan persisted, and, in his 'Compiler's Notice,' says, "...at last he has the pleasure of offering his little book to the kind regards of all who may think worthy of consideration and preservation the songs so often "sung around the camp-fires" by companions-in-arms who have "fought their last battle" and "passed over the river" from their sight forever."
On the title page, Allan quotes Montesquieu: "Let me write the Ballads of a Nation and I care not who makes the Laws."

"The Bonny Blue Flag" by Harry Macarthy has more verses, left out of the post by Amos (above), the DT, and thread 33188.
I will add the full version from "Allan's Lone Star Ballads" later today to thread 33188: Bonny Blue Flag"



The reprint by Lenox Hill should be added to any collection of Civil War songs.