"The Yellow Rose Of Texas"
Ballad of Emily West Morgan Composed by Unknown Artist - circa 1836 Synthesized by Charles R. Glasgow

"The Yellow Rose of Texas", a Civil War song was written for the soldiers commanded by General John Bell Hood. Verse 4 below, refers to his victories when put in command of the Confederate Texas Brigade. [Verse 1] There's a yellow rose in Texas, that I am going to see. No other soldier knows her, no soldier, only me. She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart. And if I ever find her, we never more shall part. [Chorus] She's the sweetest rose of color, this soldier ever knew. Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew. You may talk about your dearest May, and sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas beats the belles of Tennessee. [Verse 2] Where the Rio Grande is flowin' and the starry skies are bright, She walks along the river in the quiet summer night. She thinks, if I remember, when we parted long ago, I promised to come back again and not to leave her so. [Repeat Chorus] [Verse 3] Oh, now I'm going to find her, for my heart is full of woe, And we'll sing the song together, that we sang so long ago. We'll play the banjo gaily, and we'll sing the songs of yore, And the Yellow Rose of Texas shall be mine forever more. [Repeat Chorus] [Verse 4] Oh, now I'm headed southward, for my heart is full of woe. I'm going back to Georgia, to find my Uncle Joe. You may talk about your Beauregard, and sing of Bobby Lee, But the gallant Hood of Texas, he played hell in Tennessee! [Repeat Chorus]

General Hood    After graduating from West Point, John Bell Hood served under Colonel Robert E. Lee in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Texas, getting rapid promotions because of his bravery in combat. Following the issuance of the Proclamation of Insurrection, Hood resigned his commission in 1861 and joined the Confederate forces as First Lieutenant of Cavalry. In May of 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General and was put in command of the Texas Brigade. He saw battle at Seven Days, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Arriving from Virginia with James Longstreet to fight the battle of Chickamauga, Hood led the charge that routed the Union line and forced Rosecrans to flee. President Jefferson Davis, a former cavalry officer in the US Regiment of Dragoons, promoted Hood to Commander of the Army of the Tennessee on 17 July, 1864. Author's Note: Texas is steeped in history and legend. Texas history is a requirement for graduation from public school and should be required of any persons moving here. It gives one a sense of the reason that Texans are proud to be known as "Texans". History sometimes becomes clouded with legend and folklore, but that only enriches the experience. This is no more evident than in the legend of "The Yellow Rose of Texas". Emily Morgan was reported to have been a mulatto slave belonging to a wealthyTexas land owner during the time of the Texas Revolution. After Santa Anna and the Mexican army defeated the Texas army at the Alamo and at Goliad, they pushed their way eastward intent on crushing the rebellious Texans. They moved as far east as the swampy bogs around what is now the San Jacinto River and the Houston Ship Channel. Santa Anna had set up camp on along the banks of the river. The Texas army, under the leadership of General Sam Houston, attacked the Mexican army during siesta time. With the river at their backs cutting off any hope of escape, the Texas army defeated the Mexican army with little effort. Santa Anna was reported to have been in his tent "enjoying the company" of Emily Morgan. The resulting rout was a miracle by military standards as the Texas army was severely outnumbered. Without the direction of the Santa Anna, the Mexican Army was defeated, marking the end of Santa Anna's rule in Texas, and effectively creating the Republic of Texas. Since the day that Emily Morgan effectively distracted Santa Anna, she has been immortalized in legend and song as "The Yellow Rose of Texas ... the sweetest little rosebud, that Texas ever knew". "Days' End"

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