Today I was looking at some of the documents in my possession from my family during the Civil War, and I discovered an original hand written letter to my 2X great grandfather, James C. Vinsonhaler who served in Company E, 34th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. The letter was written by an Edward C. Burnell, with the exact words of this song with the exception of the words "Pikes Peak" instead of California or Wisconsin. He signed the letter "written by Edward C. Burnell September 19, 1865, Colorado Territory, for James Vinsonhaler. Was he simply writing the words to a song down to give to my great great grandfather, or did he write the original song?
Thanks, Kim Townsend Spangrude
kimspangrude@mac.com