It's a bit late, considering the duration of this thread, but if anyone wants to know about the background of "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye", and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" Jon Lighter has recently published a thorough and a very well researched study of the origins of both songs. It's the first of a series of "Occasional Papers on Folklore" (CAMSCO Music) and is titled "The Best Anti-war Song Ever Written"
$9.95 (+$2.50 S&H)