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Lot 303
Massachusetts Veteran Claims Authorship of Union Marching Song "John Brown's Body"
Description:

Massachusetts Veteran Claims Authorship of Union Marching Song "John Brown's Body"

This important document 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 explains that he was the sergeant of the guard one night in the Spring of 1861 at Fort Warren in Boston, when he 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., 7.25" x 9". Expected folds; some wrinkles on the right side; very good.

Complete Transcript
The True History of the John Brown Song,
By Henry J. Hallgreen, Serjeant at the Fort Warren in April 1861.

April 1861 the 2d Battalion of Infantry 3 Companys (A, B & C. were ordered for Garrison duty at Fort Warren. We found a U.S. Sergt in possession. while at the fort I was warrated Sgt. of Co. A under Capt John C. Whiton. most of us were quartered in the old wooden Barracks. Now for the story!
One dismal night while making my rounds as serjt of the Guard to see that every thing was quiet; I rambled into the lower story, there I heard some one singing (almost crying, I thougt). It came from two recruits in a dark corner, evidently lonesome and unacqainted with any of us. I did not catch the words but the doleful chorus sounded thus: Ga-loory, Ga loo-ree Hal-le-lu-yah. That was enough for me, (an old member of the Handel & Haydn Society) Rushing up to our Non-com room I sung that chorus with some life in it you bet. Say where did you get it; give us the words et cetera!!! Now it happened that our John Brown come up; he was a young brother of Lieut. Brown of Co. B. and just from Scotland; we had a way of getting considerable fun out of him; he had a way of saying he would’nt stay at the fort, he was going to war and be a soldier. (He had us that time) in the Army. That occured to Lieut. Dodd; pointing to J. B. – see first stanza
"John Brown is going to be a soldier," John Brown is going to be a soldier," 3d time end’g Good Lord! when he goes marching on." Chorus: Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, etc. Then by Sgt. Laughton "John Brown's Knapsack will be strapped upon his back / J. B. &c repeat when he goes marching on.
Then by Sgt. Hallgreen, "And they will fill it up with bullets and with mouldy old hardtack, when he goes tramping along. Chorus. Then by Lieut Danl Handy: Ellsworth’s Body lies

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, several people have 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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