Lot 345

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Lot 345
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., 8" x 9.25". Expected folds; very good.

Complete Transcript

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

The 2d Battalion of Infantry (old B.L.T. 1798) were ordered to Fort Warren. In April 1861 at that time occupied by a U.S. sergeant. our duty appeared to be cleaning up the Fort, while there; I became Sgt. of Company A; under command of Capt. John C. Whiton. We were in the old wooden Barracks.
One dismal night while on duty in my rounds as Sergt to see that all was quiet, I rambled into the lower story, heard some singing, (almost crying, I thot) it came from two recruits evidently lonesome. I could not catch the words, but the doleful chorus was Gal-o-ry, galoory Hal-le-lu-ya. that was enough for me (member of the Muscl Education Socy Handel & Haydn &c.) rushing up to our non-com room I sang that chorus with some life in it you bet. Say! where did you get it – give us the words &c. John Brown was there, he was a young brother of Lt. Brown of Company B. and just from Scotland, we had a habit of makeing a great deal of fun with him; one of [his] sayings was that he would not stay at the Fort. he was going to be a Soldier in the Army that gave us the first stanza by Lt. Dodd John Brown is going to be a soldier, John Brown is going to be a soldier, John Brown is going to be a Soldier, Good Lord when he marches off to war. Chorus.

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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