Tide Turns Case 5

Chicago’s Anthems

It was music that encouraged Civil War soldiers – kept them enlisting, marching, believing during difficult campaigns and added a level of triumphant relief at the end of the war. Root and Cady, Chicago’s own prominent song publishers, produced more popular music between 1861 and 1865 than any other American music store.

Two of the biggest hits from Root & Cady are the tunes, “The Battle Cry of Freedom” and “Marching through Georgia.”  “Battle Cry,” composed in haste by George Root, was written in response to President Lincoln’s July 1862 call for 300,000 volunteers to fill the dwindling ranks.  It was a favorite marching song for Lincoln’s soldiers.  “Marching through Georgia,” written by Henry Clay Work and published after the Civil War ended in 1865, depicted hardy soldiers with General William Tecumseh Sherman cheering “Hurrah, hurrah, we bring the jubilee!  Hurrah, Hurrah, the flag that makes you free!”