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Lot 251
"John Brown's Body" Author Provides Original Lyrics of Union Marching Song Probably Unique!
Description:

Massachusetts Veteran Provides Original Lyrics of Union Marching Song "John Brown's Body"

This important manuscript addresses the origin of the Civil War's most popular marching song, "John Brown's Body." Written by Henry J. Hallgreen in the early twentieth century, this manuscript provides the original lyrics for the "John Brown Song" as they were created by a group of soldiers in the Massachusetts militia. Serving as the sergeant of the guard one night in the Spring of 1861 at Fort Warren in Boston, Hallgreen heard an old camp meeting tune and its familiar chorus of "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah." He rushed back to the non-commissioned officers' barracks and there he and other officers began writing lyrics for a new song, which in part poked fun at a young Scottish recruit who shared the name of the famous abolitionist martyr John Brown.

[CIVIL WAR.] Henry J. Hallgreen, Autograph Document, ca. 1910-1915. 1 p., 8" x 9". Expected folds; small tear on fold; very good.

Complete Transcript
The John Brown Song of Fort Warren 1861.

John Brown's going to be a soldier, John Brown's going to be a soldier, Yes he's going to be a real Soldier man; When he goes marching on.

John Brown's going to join the Army, John Brown's going to join the army, [John Brown's going] to be a soldier; Good Lord! when he goes marching on.
Chorus: Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory &c when he goes [marching on.]

They will fill him up with bullets, and with mouldy old hard tack,
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " "
When he goes marching on. Glory, Glory Hallelujah &c. When he goes marching on.

We will hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " " when we go marching on.
Chorus: Glory &c.

And We'll feed him on the apples 'till he gets the diarrhea
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " "
Then we go marching on, Chorus: Glory &c when we go marching on.

Ellsworth's body lies mould'ring in the grave
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " "
But his soul is marching on. Chorus: Glory, Glory Hallelujah &c.

Now three rousing cheers for the Union
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " "
And we'll go marching on.
Chorus: Glory, Glory Hallelujah when we go marching on.

Some of the singers: Sgt. Hallgreen Niebuhr Lt. Dodd Lt. Cushing & Lt Handy – Warren Davis, Greenleaf and others

Dodd
His pet lambs will meet him on the way
" " " " " " " "
" " " " " " " "
When they go marching on.

Historical Background
The tune for "John Brown's Body" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" originated in religious camp meetings of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as "Say, Brothers, Will You Meet Us." In this environment of oral teaching and learning, the original lyrics changed and adapted in patterns common to folk music. The "Glory, glory, hallelujah" chorus developed out of the oral camp meeting tradition developed sometime between 1808 and the 1850s.

Although most agreed that the song originated in the spring of 1861, other people have falsely claimed to have composed the song, including William Steffe, Thomas Brigham Bishop, and others. In an article in the December 1889 issue of The New England Magazine, George Kimball, a member of the 2nd Battalion of Infantry of the Massachusetts Militia, supported Hallgreen's assertion that the song originated from that unit at Fort Warren, and he mentioned Hallgreen among nine others who were "among the early singers and promoters of the work of composition," including the Scottish soldier, John Brown.

Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) wrote more refined and spiritual lyrics for the tune in November 1861 and first published them as "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862.

Henry J. Hallgreen (1832-1927) was born in New York City to parents who immigrated from England. By 1855, he was a salesman in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 1857, Hallgreen married Mary Ann Holden (1835-1913), with whom he had five children. Hallgreen was a member of the Handel and Hayden Society in Boston, founded in 1815 to promote the performance of sacred music. In the spring of 1861, Hallgreen served as a lieutenant in the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Massachusetts militia, known as the "Tiger Battalion," which had garrison duty at Fort Warren in Boston. In October 1862, Hallgreen received a commission as captain of Company A of the 43rd Massachusetts Infantry and served until July 1863, when he was mustered out with his company. After his military service, Hallgreen returned to Chelsea, where he worked as a stationer.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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