of the
Civil War
|
Share the sorrows and frolics
of Civil War soldiers and
civilians. Join in the laughter
and sentimental recollections
of their leisure hours.
|
The discovery of a packet full of sheets of lined paper, yellowed with age, and covered with sloping script in faded ink opened a window on the past for Judy Cook. As she read them she heard the voices of her great-great-grandparents, Gilbert & Esther Claflin, writing to each other during their months of separation during the Civil War. He was a 40 year old farmer in Oconomowoc, WI when he was drafted. The letters they exchanged provide fascinating insight into camp life and middle America of the 1860's.
An entertaining and informative mix of ballads, songs and stories of The Civil War and mid-19th century America.
Excerpts from Civil War letters of Judy's family introduce many of the songs.
Program is typically one hour, but may be longer or shorter to suit your needs.
Multi-Media Option
For multi-media programs Judy dresses in 1860's style costume
and/or accompanies her songs with projected images.
Program selections include:
Monitor and the Merrimac: rousing broadside ballad with a catchy
chorus written shortly after the famous battle of the early iron sided vessels.
Greencastle Jenny: heartwarming song of a true incident on General Pickett's march to Gettysburg.
Hard Crackers Come Again No More: parody of a favorite Stephen Foster song written by the first Iowa Regiment in 1862.
Lorena: romantic song of unrequited love - a favorite with both Union and Confederate soldiers.
* Historical Societies * Arts Centers *
* Festivals * Folk Clubs*
* Museums * Concert Series *
* Libraries * House Concerts*
* Singing was one of the soldiers' favorite ways to pass time.
* There were more than 10,000 soldiers serving in the Union Army that were under the age of eighteen.
* Foot soldiers used a line from a popular song "Here's Your Mule" to taunt cavalry - sometimes to the point of fistfights.