The Emerald - Irish Songs of the Civil War Part 2

Perhaps the  most requested  thing  Civil War soldiers asked for in their letters home  were  "Songsters" - small pocket sized books that featured the lyrics of  popular songs of the day (and only the lyrics - there was no written music in the songsters). 

I recently attended a lecture/zoom presentation by Dr. Catherine Bateson on the Irish Music of the civil war.    In her  research she estimated that over 200 Irish Songs were published during the war years (and possibly many more) out of the over 11,000 pieces of sheet music that were produced during the conflict.

During the Zoom presentation I had asked if she was aware of any songsters that specifically were for the Irish and featured Irish Music,  but she was unable to answer due to many questions and time constraints.   But a fellow attendee directed me to one that he was aware of - "The  Emerald Book of Irish Melodies."   

  

Published in 1863 by Dick and Fitzgerald of New York and sold for only thirty cents a copy it was readily available to the public and the soldiers of the North.     There is no listed author so likely the publisher collected many popular songs of the day.   

The book contains over 100 songs -  the  "Sentimental, Comic, Convivial, Political, and Patriotic songs of Erinia".    It's divided into two sections, with the comic songs taking up the entirety of part 2.    Some of the songs tell what tune goes with the song,  but most don't - leaving it to the singer to use popular tunes of the day as the melody.  Melodies from traditional Irish songs such as "Roisin the Bow" and "The Irish Jaunting Car" were used in many of the songs of the time.  

The book also contained over 30 pages of ad's for other songsters and books published by Dick and Fitzgerald.   There were  a few other Irish themed songsters advertised - " The Charles O'Malley Irish Songster", "Fred Mays Comic Irish Songster", and "The Frisky Irish Songster" are a few examples.    

There were also ads for Songsters by the popular Minstrels of the day - Christy's, Billy Birch's, and Bryants - as well as one for "The Little Mac Songster" to cash in on the popularity of General George McClellan among the Union Soldiers - he was also a favorite of the members of the Irish Brigade.   

General George McClellan 

The book titles advertised present  some interesting slices of 1860's  everyday life.    Some of the titles that caught my eye - "The Manufacture of Liquors, Wine, and Cordials",   "The Daring Deeds of Good and Bad Women"  (wish I could find that one) ,   "The Hangman of Newgate",  "Barney Riordan, or the Adventures of a Bashful Irishman",  "The Perfect Gentleman",  "The Ladies Manual of Fancy Work",  "Courtship Made Easy" and what I'm sure was a classic "Blunders in Behavior Corrected" (bet this would be useful by today's politicians).    Most of these could be ordered by mail for less than a dollar a copy.

But back to the songs - a treasure trove  with traditional classics like "Molly Bawn", "The Exile of Erin", "Kathleen Mavourneen", and "The Irish Jaunting Car" - along with many long forgotten songs like "The Land of Potatoes", "Dorans Ass",  and "The Wake of Teddy the Tiller".   

It will take a while to read them all -  which will keep me busy during the pandemic - and I may perhaps add a tune to a few to try and revive them.

In  many of the forgotten songs I found some golden nuggets of verse - here's one of my favorites from the song "Good Morrow to your Nightcap".  ( A  precursor to the session tune of similar name?)

Last Night, A Little Bowsy

With Whisky, Ale, and Cider

I asked young Betty Blowsy

To let me sit beside her

Her anger rose, as sour as sloes*

The little gipsy cocked her nose

So here I rid away to bid

Good morrow to your Nightcap

*Sloes are the bitter fruit of the blackthorn and used to make Sloe Gin 

 

Civil War Songs and the Irish

Part 1

 

“These Days will be remembered by America’s loyal sons,

If it hadn’t been for Irishmen, what would your Union done?

Hand to hand we fought them, out in the blazing sun

Stripped to the pants we did advance, at the Battle of Bull Run”

Prior to the first shots of the Civil War, the Irish in America were a favorite butt of many a joke that poked fun at them as an inferior race.   “Paddy” and “Mick” were pictured in song as lazy, stupid, drunken idiots from many stage performers and examples of this abound in the sheet music of the 1850’s - the era of "No Irish Need Apply".       

The above song, a folk verse from the 1860’s,  shows that the tide was turning in the culture.  This music of the Civil War featuring  the Irish Brigade and the Fighting 69th would play a big part in  making these stereotypes diminish and eventually disappear.

Dr. Catherine Bateson has done extensive studies on the music of the Civil War that featured the Irish.   Her graduate thesis focused on the  sentiments of Irish American Civil War songs and music. She studied the way in which Irish singing culture influenced American musical culture in the mid-nineteenth century and how song was used to express the wartime experiences of the Irish diaspora in America.

It was interesting to learn from her work that there were over 100 songs written during the war that featured the Irish Brigade, the 69th, or its famous Generals Michael Corcoran and Thomas Meagher.    

Dr. Bateson also speculated that this music from the Civil War is how Irish Music became “Americanized” much in the same way that the war experience of the Irish was critical to their assimilation into American Society   Take the “Gallant Sons of Erin” - one of the first of the era to show the Irish as brave:

“You, Soldiers brave, pray pay attention: gentle folks, grand condescention,

While in this song I will make mention of the sons of Erin;

Whose brave behavior do excel what pen can write or tongue can tell

The Sixty-Ninth, you know well, are gallant sons of Erin.

"Gallant Sons of Erin" goes on to give a fairly accurate account of the history of the 69th and features its famous leader Michael Corcoran.  This is one of many in this canon of music written during the war – others of note include “Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade”,  “Corcoran’s Ball”,  “The Irish Volunteer”,  “The Boys of the Irish Brigade” , “The War Song of the 69th” (Sheet cover shown above),  and the “Battle of Bull Run”.   

Music was the CNN of the day in the 1800’s as the stages of all the major cities featured many types of performances.    Minstrels were in their heyday, but many singers and groups like the Hutchinson Family also attracted large audiences to the music halls.     They sang topical songs of the day that told stories of the war and those fighting it.     Music of the war was quite popular.   

The power of song also made these messages memorable and helped to form the opinions of the listeners.   Plus, the wide distribution of sheet music put these songs into the homes of thousands of Northern families where  nightly entertainments featuring song were common.   

These songs portrayed  the Irish as brave soldiers -  loyal to the Union cause and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the Union.    They certainly had the  effect of changing the  perception and acceptance of the Irish by the American people.

Perhaps the best example of the attitude towards the Irish coming full circle was a song performed by a popular singer of the day - Joe English (a pause for irony).   He wrote the song “Paddy and the No-Nothings” that featured this verse:

“The President called on the land for an Army,

And straightway to arms each patriot flew

And they found that the men that they had scorned and slighted

The Irish Brigade to the Union was true”

Michael Corcoran - Irish American Hero

 

Colonel Michael Corcoran, commander of the Fighting 69th at the First Battle of Bull Run,  was well known and highly regarded by the Irish of NY.     He was a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, and hoped his military experience in the war would help later in Ireland's fight for freedom .    His actions at Bull Run, protecting the retreat of the Union Army, were praised by the NY Newspapers.    But he became one of  the first prisoners of war in the conflict. 

He kept a journal of his year in captivity, which is a very revealing account of not only his experience, but of the lives and experiences of those he encountered.   His account, “The Captivity of General Corcoran” was published in 1862 shortly after his release. 

His valor at Bull Run was documented by a member of the 69th, David Power Conyngham, who published a book shortly after the war “The Irish Brigade and It’s Campaigns”   In it he describes how Corcoran rallied the 69th while the most of the Union Army had panicked and was retreating.    His decision to stand firm protected the retreat and may have saved the life of many a Union Soldier.   

Conyngham writes “Colonel Corcoran formed the remnant of his forces into a kind of square to meet a charge of cavalry, which they repulsed.    As they gained the road they were again charged on, and Colonel Corcoran was wounded through the leg.   Colonel Corcoran was everywhere conspicuous, cheering on and rallying the troops; even when wounded he checked the rebel advance with his little band, and disdained to leave the field until he was captured at his post of honor.”

Corcoran's book starts with the transfer of the 600 captives from the battlefield to Richmond.   He was well aware that the Confederates had no idea what to do with the prisoners.   Many of the soldiers thought they would be torn apart by mobs of angry rebels.   That was not the case.   They were kept in a tobacco warehouse and became a curiosity to the citizens of Richmond as he describes  “Many distinguished persons of Southern birth and proclivities visited our quarters, and behaved, as a general rule, in the best manner…”

Of their captors Corcoran states  “We were provided with refreshments by the Major in charge, to whom, for his considerate care and attention to our wants, we felt it to be our duty as well as pleasure to pass a vote of thanks.”

When they were settled in Richmond, they were allowed to form "The Richmond Prison Association, whose purpose was to help them kill the time.     He notes - “We debated, sang, told stories, played cards, …. leaped ran races, wrestled and in short, were most successful in accomplishing our object.”

They were allowed to read Northern Newspapers, and Corcoran was amused to read that he had been placed in irons for refusing to answer roll call.    He writes “Not only was this entirely untrue, but there never was the slightest foundation for it.”

Corcoran was transferred to Charleston, and on the way nearly killed by a citizen who he had been arguing with on the Railroad platform, but was saved by a young lady who stepped between them long enough for the guards to intercede and remove his assailant.  The incident made  a great  illustrations in his book.

 

While in Charleston prison, Corcoran describes how they used music to keep up their morale and provoke their captors.   It became very common for both sides to weaponize their music like this during the war, and this may have been one of the first times it happened.  

 Corcoran writes:

“At 4 o'clock P. M. , we had a concert among ourselves , at which we were honored by the audience of several Confederate officers , who seemed highly delighted with the performance , until , in grand strains , we gave them “ Hail Columbia . ”   At this their countenances rather fell , and they seemed to wish themselves away.   Desiring to give them a full dose of Union melody , we immediately, upon the conclusion of the song , struck up , “ Columbia , the Gem of the Ocean." 

“This forced one or two of them to excuse themselves very suddenly on important duties , and , by the time that we got to the middle verse of “ The Star Spangled Banner , ” only a solitary one of them remained ; and I had heard hints thrown out that he was not thought to be fully loyal to the rebel government .   Thus his desire to listen to the good old song was accounted for .    I have often heard of Satan getting into agony when the sound of a church - bell struck upon his ear ; but I doubt if the old gentleman ever feared the ringing of a church - bell worse than a rebel fears the stirring notes of “ The Star Spangled Banner . ”

During his imprisonment, Rebel Privateers of the ship Savannah were captured, and sentenced to be hung for piracy.   In retaliation, the Confederate government advised that they would hang and equal number of Union prisoners of war.    The Rebels  felt the Savannah was engaged in war, not piracy.   Lots were drawn in prison, and Corcoran was one of the unlucky ones to receive the death sentence.    Fortunately for him both sides backed off and he was released in a prisoner exchange, which was common in the early years of the war.

Anxious to resume the fight, Corcoran gave up a lucrative position as Harbormaster of NY Harbor to rejoin the 69th.     He returned to cheering crowds in New York City and started recruiting for the brigade that would be known as Corcoran’s Irish Legion.

    

He would not live to see the end of the war.    He went for a ride to check picket lines on a horse borrowed from his friend, Thomas Francis Meagher.   The horse suddenly got startled and he was thrown off.   He was a skilled horseman, but he had been feeling unwell for several days.      Corcoran fractured his skull and died at the age of 36 on December 22nd.    

Conyngham, in his history of the Brigade, wrote on the passing of Corcoran: 

“Thus died, in the prime of manhood, as brave a soldier and as sterling an Irishman as ever lived. He was a loss to America, for his name and reputation were talismanic to collect his countryman to his standard. "

"He was a loss to Ireland, for the dearest wish of his heart was to live to strike for her independence; and from his experience as a soldier, his wisdom as a general, and his prudence and foresight as a man, who knows what he would have accomplished had he lived?”

Michael Corcoran - the First Commander of the Fighting 69th and his song

 A recent book by Timothy Egan on Thomas Francis Meagher (which is an excellent read btw) was titled "The Immortal Irishman".   If the title were not already used, I would have titled this article, and a few to follow on Michael Corcoran the same.   If not for a freak accident which killed him in 1863, he might have been the most well known and beloved of all the Irish who fought for the Union Army.   

Corcoran was born in Carrowkeel, Ballymote - son of an officer in the British Army married to an Irishwoman. At the age of 19, he joined the revenue police in Donegal where his job was to bust illegal poitín stills.  While in Tir Conaill he joined the Ribbonmen - a secret society dedicated to protecting Catholic and tenant rights.  In 1849, Corcoran may have been forced to leave  Ireland because of his involvement in that secret society.   He  sailed for America, and got a job as a clerk in Hibernian House, in New York City,  and married the owner's niece, Mary Heaney. 

Corcoran was instrumental in the founding of the Fenian Brotherhood in the US in the 1850's, and his interest in forming the 69th NY Militia rose from his strong political beliefs. He and many other members of the Brotherhood believed that by forming Militia groups in the US, they were  aiding Ireland in its fight for freedom.   

During these times the Brotherhood in Ireland was very close to the Fenians in the US.  They thought that their objective, a free Irish State, would be accomplished by developing  a strong military presence in the US that could ultimately be used against England.  It's interesting to speculate how the Fenian Raids of 1866 and beyond would have turned out if a seasoned and sensible commander like Corcoran had survived the Civil War.  

Corcoran was the first commander of the 69th, and  achieved fame in the Irish Community in NY and throughout the US for his refusal to allow the 69th to march in a parade honoring the visiting Prince of Wales.  “Although I am a citizen of America, I am a native of Ireland,” Corcoran said. “In the Prince of Wales I recognize the representative of my country’s oppressors.”   

When the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, he was under Court martial.   His indiscretion was quickly forgiven as Lincoln called for soldiers to fight the war, and the 69th was eager to put an end to the Southern insurrection to show their loyalty to the US and their military prowess.    He proudly led the 69th as they marched down Broadway on their way to Washington to join the fray, cheered on by thousands, marching to traditional Irish tunes such as the Minstrel Boy.

Corcoran was captured at the First Battle of Bull Run, and during his capture he kept a journal of his imprisonment.   It was published in 1862,  It's an interesting read, and considering he was under an order of execution, amazing that he could keep a journal.   He was held for a year, and released in a prisoner exchange.   

Because of his celebrity, he was the topic of news and speculation as the folks  in NY City were very interested in hearing of his imprisonment and well-being.   So naturally a song was written and published during those times.  (I have yet to find the name of the author)  This was to be sung to the tune "The Union Cockade".  Enjoy.

                   Richmond Jail

     (Dedicated to Michael Corcoran of the Irish Brigade.)

This southern rebellion has raised a mighty fuss,

And before it ends I fear it will make things a great deal worse,

With Stonewall Jackson at their head they threaten us to whale,

And every man they take from us to lodge in Richmond Jail.

Chorus: come boys, come I know you ain't afraid,

We'll go down to rebeldom with Corcoran's Brigade.

That traitor old Jeff Davis thinks that we are near whipped,

But we'll show him that like Lawrence we will not give up the ship,

John Bull with intervention thinks our gallant boys to scare,

But he'll soon find out we can't be beat or sent to Richmond Jail. 

Chorus

Foremost among all others the 69th did go,

To meet their southern foemen in response to Lincolns call,

The gallant Corcoran at their head as they marched down Broadway,

Not thinking then how soon he'd be locked up in Richmond Jail. 

Chorus

That ever memorable day of the battle of Bull Run,

Bold Corcoran was in the field and showed the rebels fun,

Protecting our army's rear mid cannonball like hail,

Twas then that he was taken boys and lodged in Richmond Jail.

Chorus

It was while this in bondage they offered him parole,

But he nobly did refuse it saying I would not sell my soul,

Your parole of honor you may keep I'd rather much remain,

Yes and rather die than take it to get out of Richmond Jail.

Chorus

At length, the glorious day came on which he did return,

And many a gallant Irish heart with noble ardour burned,

They flew unto his standard and swore they would not fail,

To avenge his foul imprisonment way down in Richmond Jail.

Chorus

Soon this gallant Irish corps to rebeldom will go,

To confront with man and musket Stonewall Jackson's rabid horde,

At the point of the bayonet for which they are so famed,

Once more he'll go to Richmond boys but not to Richmond Jail.

Chorus

Then give me your attention I'm about to end my song,

The few words I've to say to you will not detain you long,

When next they meet our Corcoran the rebels raid will quail,

And skedaddle back to Richmond from that man of Richmond Jail.  

In next months article we'll take a look inside his journal and share his thoughts, observations, and insights - and the ironic circumstances of his untimely end.  

Father William Corby - the Fighting Irish Priest

One of the more interesting Irishmen who served in the Civil War was Father William Corby. Corby’s father Daniel emigrated from County Offaly in the early 1800s. Father Corby was a priest at Notre Dame University when the war broke out. He describes his decision to volunteer his services to the Irish Brigade as a result of his patriotic zeal and his desire “to give salvation to those destined to fall” in battle. In his book Memoirs of Chaplain Life he describes his feelings as he took a train from Chicago to New York to meet the soldiers he would serve with, “It was much like getting married. We made the engagement for better or worse, for richer or poorer, till death do us part.”

At that time Father Corby did not know how many partings he would endure, how many dying men he would comfort, or how many wounded he would tend to. His book is one of the best first-person accounts of the everyday life of the soldiers in the Civil War that I have read. He knew some of the great personalities of the era, as well as hundreds of common soldiers.

Although he served in the 88th regiment, he was quite impressed with another regiment of the Irish Brigade, the Fighting 69th. His description of Thomas Francis Meagher, commander of the 69th – “He had a superior intellect, a liberal education, was a fine classical writer, and a born orator. He was very witty but more inclined to humor; was fond of witty or humorous persons and admired those who possessed those gifts. He was a great lover of his native land, and passionately opposed to its enemies; strong in his faith, which he never concealed, but on the contrary, published it above board; and where ever he went he made himself known as a Catholic and an Irishman”.

In the 1860s in America, it was a bold position to take as discrimination raged against both Irish and Catholics. Corby also met personally with President Lincoln during the war. He was asked by the soldiers to plead for clemency for a popular member of the regiment who was court-martialed for abandoning his post, getting drunk, and committing a serious crime. The soldier was sentenced to death. He describes approaching the White House – “I felt like a fresh blushing Lieutenant”. He writes that Lincoln was “a very tender-hearted man” and he told the president he was leaving the man’s life in his hands. Lincoln responded, “Chaplain see here! I will pardon him if General Meade will.” Unfortunately, the generals in the field felt Lincoln was too kindhearted in pardoning so many, and Meade refused to overturn the court-martial. When Father Corby returned to camp, he gave communion to the condemned man and comforted him up to the time of his execution.

Corby is probably most famous for his giving absolution to the Irish Brigade before they entered the battle of Gettysburg, and there is a statue there of him in the spot where it occurred. From Colonel St. Clair Mulholland – “There are yet a few minutes to spare and the time is occupied by one of the most impressive religious ceremonies I have ever witnessed. The Irish Brigade stood in a column of regiments, closed in Mass. The chaplain of the brigade, Rev. William Corby, proposed to give a general absolution to all the men before going into the fight. This was perhaps the first time it was ever witnessed on this Continent. Father Corby stood on a large rock in front of the brigade. He explained that each one could receive the benefit of absolution by making a sincere act of contrition and firmly resolving to embrace the first opportunity to confess his sins. As he closed his address every man, Catholic and non-Catholic fell on his knees as Father Corby pronounced the words of absolution.”

As this was occurring the soldiers could hear the sounds of the nearby battle as it raged close by. Corby intended the absolution to cover all the fighting men, north and south. He knew many of those who were kneeling before him were soon to die or suffer serious wounds on the battlefield. He had been with the brigade when it was 3,000 strong and at Gettysburg the unit was down to 530 men. Of the men in the brigade Father Corby absolved that day, 27 were killed, 109 were wounded, and 62 were listed as missing.

Father Corby’s recollections were famous and appear in many historical accounts of the Civil War, past and present. After the war, Corby returned to Notre Dame where he served two terms as its president. During his tenure, the school grew, admitted more students, and added the School of Law. It may also be that the name the “Fighting Irish” came about because of the priest who served as chaplain of the Irish Brigade. 

His Gettysburg statue was duplicated for Notre Dame University and is located outside Corby Hall.    There the football crazy students have been known to call him “fair catch Corby”.

Setting the Stage

The music and history of the Civil War have been one of my passions since my college days. Recently, along with my musical partner Amanda Straney, I’ve put together a program we call “Soldiers Joy” — a musical and oral history of the North, South, and Irish in the Civil War. We have a program for each, which includes readings from letters and diaries, newspaper accounts, and our playing of the music of the era. Amanda sings and plays fiddle, while I sing and play guitar and banjo.

Researching and writing the programs for Soldiers Joy allows me to do a deep dive into the stories of the men and women who fought and served via their letters, journals, and newspaper accounts – history as told by their voices. It has led me down many rabbit holes. One of those is the role the Irish played in the war, not only in the many contributions to the music of the era but to the major role they played in the battles and the many, many stories that deserve a retelling. Most of what we uncover is next to impossible to recount in our typical one-hour presentation. So I’ve decided to write a series of articles from our efforts.

To set the stage – the 1860 US Census showed that 1,611,304 people were listed as Irish, out of an official total of 31,443,322. Most of these were recent arrivals as a result of the famine years and a general lack of work for the young men in Ireland during the 1840s and 1850s. The census noted that just over 740,000 Irish Immigrants arrived in the country between 1850 and 1860. The census also showed that about 60% of the Immigrant population were males.

 

There are different estimates of how many Irish fought in the war. The generally accepted number is about 150,000 on the Union, and 20,000 for the Confederacy. Just over 18% of the Irish immigrants fought in the war, compared to about 10% of the general male population! 

Consider that this was the time of the “Know-Nothing Party” in the northern states, whose platform was anti-immigration, anti-Catholic, and fueled the No Irish Need Apply attitude of business establishments in the Northern States. And yet the Irish turned out like no other to volunteer their services.

The Irish were there at the beginning. The only fatality of the US Marines when they ended John Brown’s raid in October 1859 at the Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, VA, was an Irishman. Luke Quinn, of Brooklyn, a 24-year-old veteran of four years of service, was shot as he was one of the first marines who entered the Arsenal.

The first soldier killed in action was an Irishman as well, private Daniel Hough, a farmer who emigrated from Tipperary.  A ten year Army veteran when the war began, he was stationed at Ft. Sumpter when the shooting started.   It was an accidental death, his cannon exploding as they were intending to fire a salute to the flag as the garrison lowered its colors in surrender.  

A Southern Irishman, Patrick Cleburne from county Cork, was one of only six Irish born Confederate Generals. He was known as the Stonewall of the west. In 1864, sensing that the cause of the Confederacy was lost, he made the recommendation to Richmond that slaves be allowed to fight in exchange for their freedom. The recommendation never saw the light of day and was only made known after the war’s end.

And the Irish were there at the end. Major James O’Beirne, who served throughout the war and was wounded in battle, was Provost Marshall of the District of Columbia in 1865. He was in charge of Lincoln’s deathbed and decided who had access to the room. He also was put in charge of the effort to capture the assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

These are just a few examples of the many stories of the Irish in the Civil War that deserve a retelling. I’ll be sharing them with you in the months to come. And we hope you will join us in the future when Soldiers Joy presents one of our musical programs at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley.

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