Civil War Hijinks

We tell the story of camp life and leisure during the Civil War through excerpts of family letters,songs of the Civil War, and projected images. Gilbert was Judy’s great-great-grandfather, a Wisconsin farmer, drafted at age 40, and stationed in Western KY. His wife Esther and their two teen aged sons kept the small farm going. The songs and tunes include both well-known and unfamiliar gems. The themes are timeless: joy and sorrow, humor, courage and love. Each song and tune helps to tell the story. The story is told in the words of the people of the day: the writers of the songs and Gilbert and Esther. The audience is transported to the days of the Civil War in a very personal, eye-witness experience. The letters between Judy's great-great-grandparents are in her book A Quiet Corner of the War (University of Wisconsin Press).

Recordings are Copyright Judy Cook and free for your personal use.

Audio from WOBC

Video from Hijinks 720

Higher resolution versions of all recordings are available for presentation. Contact Judy for permission and files.

15 Songs

Title	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Arms of Abraham	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Aunt Jemima's Plaster	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Blue Tail Fly	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Brass Mounted Army	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Captain With His Whiskers, The	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Girl I Left Behind Me (Tune)	Source		Recordings
Good Times in the Army Boys	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Hurrah For Mary	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Irish Jaunting Car	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Just Before the Battle, Mother	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Say, Brothers, Will You Meet Us	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Skedaddling Song	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
Song of Jokes	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
The Valiant Conscript	Source	Lyrics	Recordings
We'll Fight for Uncle Abe	Source	Lyrics	Recordings