"Battle-Cry Of Freedom"  
Civil War Campaign Song
Composed by George F. Root - 1862
Adapted by Composer H. L. Schreiner and Lyricist W. H. Barnes



Dragoon
Dragoon
Legacy Of Present Troopers

Constituted on 02 March 1833 in the Regular Army, the Regiment of Dragoons became one of two existing, active, Cavalry Regiment units to have served in the Civil War. On 03 August 1861, the First Regiment of Dragoons, under the command of Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, was redesignated as the 1st Cavalry Regiment and along with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, redesignated as the 5th Cavalry Regiment, rode out of Texas to become part of the forces of the United States Union - the Army of the Potomac. Participating in 17 major campaigns in the period of August 1861 to April 1865, the 1st Cavalry Regiment amassed an impressive battle field record while nurturing the careers of two officers who became Union Army Generals - David Hunter and Philip St. George Cooke.

"Battle-Cry of Freedom" a patriotic song, written in 1862 by American composer George F. Root (1825 - 1895) during the Civil War advocating the cause of the Union became so popular that composer H. L. Schreiner and lyricist W. H. Barnes adapted it for the Confederate States of America. The Union version was later used as the campaign song for the Lincoln-Johnson ticket in the 1864 presidential election. The song became so popular that the music publisher at one time had 14 printing presses going at one time and still could not keep up with demand. It is estimated that over 700,000 copies of this song were put in circulation.

There are two sets of lyrics, a Union and a Confederate version. This is notable, because their citizens were enemies but sang the same patriotic song.

USA Slouch Hat

Lyrics (Union version)

VERSE 1

Yes we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom,
We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

CHORUS

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star;
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

VERSE 2

We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll fill our vacant ranks with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

CHORUS

VERSE 3

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

CHORUS

VERSE 4

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

CHORUS

VERSE 5 (For the 1864 Election)

For Lincoln and Johnson, hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the rebellion and on with the war,
While we rally round the cause, boys, we'll rally in our might,
Singing the holy cause of freemen.

CHORUS

CSA Slouch Hat

Lyrics (Confederate version)

VERSE 1

Our flag is proudly floating on the land and on the main,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Beneath it oft we've conquered, and we'll conquer oft again!
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

CHORUS

Our Dixie forever! She's never at a loss!
Down with the eagle and up with the cross!(albatross)
We'll rally 'round the bonny flag, we'll rally once again,
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!

VERSE 2

Our gallant boys have marched to the rolling of the drums.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
And the leaders in charge cry out, "Come, boys, come!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--

VERSE 3

They have laid down their lives on the bloody battle field.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Their motto is resistance -- "To tyrants we'll not yield!"
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--

CHORUS

VERSE 4

While our boys have responded and to the fields have gone.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!
Our noble women also have aided them at home.
Shout, shout the battle cry of Freedom!--

CHORUS

"Days' End"






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Copyright © 1996, Cavalry Outpost Publications ® and Trooper Wm. H. Boudreau, "F" Troop, 8th Cavalry Regiment (1946 - 1947). All rights to this body of work are reserved and are not in the public domain, or as noted in the bibliography. Reproduction, or transfer by electronic means, of the History of the 1st Cavalry Division, the subordinate units or any internal element, is not permitted without prior authorization. Readers are encouraged to link to any of the pages of this Web site, provided that proper acknowledgment attributing to the source of the data is made. The information or content of the material contained herein is subject to change without notice.

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