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Lot 231
Philadelphia Publisher Publishes Broadside Ballad Sung by Minstrel Singer
Description:

Philadelphia Publisher Publishes Broadside Ballad Sung by Minstrel Singer

This broadside ballad includes the lyrics of "Hunkey Boy is Yankee Doodle, or, Whack Row de Dow," as sung by Frank Moran of Carncross & Dixey's Minstrels and Opera Troupe. It was published by Philadelphia song publisher John H. Johnson. The lyrics celebrate Union victories and generals and taunt Confederate leaders.

[CIVIL WAR.] John H. Johnson, Printed Document, Lyrics for "Honkey Boy is Yankee Doodle, or, Whack Row De Dow," ca. 1862. Philadelphia, PA: Johnson. As sung by Frank Moran. 1 p., 6" x 9.75". Expected folds; foxing; small loss at top center, not affecting text; stain at top right and center-right.

Excerpts
"Now white folks all, both great and small, come listen to my song,
I hope that it will please you, and I won't detain you long;
'Tis of our Flag, the nation's brag—the Union and the Constitution,
For the Stars and Stripes shall wave 'till the day of dissolution.
Whack row de dow, a Hunkey boy is Yankee Doodle,
Whack row de dow, how are you, Johnny Bull?"

"There's the Burnside Expedition, it is the nation's pride,
For it has lately struck a blow, which cannot be denied;
For by surprise took Jennings Wise—nothing could be finer,
They took Roanoke and Wilmington—how are you North Carolina?
Whack row de dow, a Hunkey boy is General Burnside,
Whack row de dow, how are you Jennings Wise?"

Historical Background
In American slang, a "hunkey boy" was a good jovial fellow. Johnson's competitor, Alfred W. Auner (1827-1895), also published the same lyrics to "A Hunkey Boy is Yankee Doodle," as sung by Frank Kerns at the Kossuth Concert Saloon.

In 1861, the New York publisher Firth, Pond & Co. released "Whack! Row-de-dow! Or, a Hunkey Boy is Yankee Doodle" as a new song, "sung with immense success by Bryant's Minstrels, also by Mrs. John Wood." It contains slightly different words in five verses. English actress Fanny Herring (1832-1906) wrote the lyrics for Dan Bryant (1833-1875, stage name of Dan O'Neill) and musical director William L. Hobbs (1829-1874) composed the music.

Frank Moran sang this song as a performer with Carncross & Dixey's Minstrels. John L. Carncross (1832-1911) organized the troupe in Philadelphia, and they opened at Sanford's Old Opera House on April 14, 1862. They traveled that summer and reopened in Philadelphia on August 10, 1863. Moran left the troupe in May 1864.

The subject of the fifth verse is Captain Obadiah Jennings Wise (1831-1862), the oldest son of Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise (1806-1876). Educated at the College of William and Mary and Indiana University, O. Jennings Wise served as a diplomat before he became the editor of the Democratic Richmond Enquirer during his father's tenure as governor (1856-1860). The younger Wise was involved in eight duels over two years in defense of his father's honor. He became a captain in the 46th Virginia Infantry at the beginning of the Civil War and served on the North Carolina coast under his father. At the Battle of Roanoke Island in February 1862, the captain was wounded and captured, dying a few days later. His body was returned to Richmond for an elaborate funeral.

John H. Johnson (1824-1902) was a song publisher, stationer, and printer in Philadelphia from the 1850s to the 1880s. He and fellow song publisher A. W. Auner were the most prolific publishers of broadside ballads like this one.

Patrick Francis "Frank" Moran (1826-1898) was born in Ireland and emigrated to Philadelphia around 1830 with his family. In 1846, he first appeared in a circus, singing songs as a black-faced clown. One year later, he joined the Boston Serenaders, a minstrel troupe. He later added playing the banjo to his performances. In 1850, he traveled to California as part of the gold rush. On the voyage, he formed a partnership with Nell Bryant, and they performed in California for a year and then in Australia for nearly four years. Around 1856, he formed his own minstrel troupe in San Francisco. He returned to New York and after handling the finances for Bryant & Mallory's Minstrels, organized Bryant's Minstrels. He performed with various minstrel groups throughout the 1860s in New York and Philadelphia. His last public appearance was in Philadelphia in 1897. He played a prominent role in organizing the Elks fraternal order in Philadelphia.

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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