According to the sources i've found (Mostly other musicians) The tune comes from an old marching song called "Frog in The Well" In most if not all of our wars up to and including the Civil War, Some slaves accompanied their master to war. Though there is no proof for it I would like to think the tune was adapted by one such slave. Whoever he or she was, they would have made a hell of a song plugger. ANd just for your information, it works very well as a march and would likely have been adapted as a work song. Kindest regards, Neil