Lyr Req: Beauregard's Retreat from Shiloh

Subject: Beauregard's Retreat/Civil War Song
From: sheba
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 08:49 PM

A friend today asked if I had heard the song "Beauregard's Retreat." He had heard this song on a recording many years back. The singer on the recording was backed by piano accompaniment which represented the sounds of the battle. (He said it is not an Ives piece!). Any leads to the lyrics, composer or sheet music? Is this the right title

Subject: RE: Beauregard's Retreat/Civil War Song
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 10:06 AM

Could it be Bonaparte's Retreat? There are several versions, including one with lyrics by Glenn Campbell (I haven't heard it, so don't know if it includes battle sounds).

Subject: RE: Beauregard's Retreat/Civil War Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 10:38 AM

Full title is "Beauregard's Retreat from Shiloh" Available to purchase at CD Now. No luck on lyrics on the web yet. Yahoo had a site that said I could listen to the album, but it played me some kind of idiot noise instead. Will keep looking.

Subject: RE: Beauregard's Retreat/Civil War Song
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 11:58 AM

Sorcha (et al.) Anything avaiolable at CDNOW is available at CAMSCO at a comparable (often lower) price.And Mudcat gets a cut on CAMSCO sales.

Subject: RE: Beauregard's Retreat/Civil War Song
From: sheba
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 09:13 PM

Thank you everyone for the search. I'm looking on the web, too. Now I have the full title...maybe more luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Beauregard's Retreat from Shiloh
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Nov 11 - 11:29 AM

I have listened to this piece on Spotify. It isn't really a song; it's a 7-minute piano piece with spoken prose narration. Near the end, a choir sings the word "Hallelujah!" repeatedly; that's the only singing. Below is a partial transcription, to give you the flavor of it:


BEAUREGARD'S RETREAT FROM SHILOH
ARRANGED WITH A RUNNING ACCOMPANIMENT BY SKEDADDLES.
As recited by Tony Randall, with pianist Lawrence Skrobacs on "Songs of the Civil War" (1976)

Beauregard's march.
Beauregard marches from his entrenchments at Corinth.
Beauregard expects to reach our lines in time to attack our army on Saturday, April 5th, 1862.
Beauregard's men, however, are unused to marching.
A severe rainstorm on the night of the fourth drenches his troops in bivouac.
Beauregard reaches the intersection of the roads from Pittsburg and Hamburg on Saturday evening.
The assembly.
The word of command.
The assembly call of the National troops.
To arms!
The response of the enemy in the distance.
The prayer of the National soldiers.
Previous to the fight, the National troops offer up an invocation to the God of Hosts, for strength to defend the right and scatter the enemies of the Union.
The signal gun!
Forward skirmishers by the right flank!
The attack!
[Etc.]

*
Copies of the sheet music are held by The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill., and the Boston Athenaeum. No composer is named in the catalog entries of those libraries; I assume "Skedaddles" is the pseudonym of the composer.