Music of The Era

I thought it was interesting to look up some songs of the war era...

Union Dixie http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/songs/union-dixie.html
Away down South in the land of traitors, Rattlesnakes and alligators, Right away, come away, right away, come away. Where cotton's king and men are chattels, Union boys will win the battles, Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then we'll all go down to Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

I wish I was in Baltimore, I'd make Secession traitors roar, Right away, come away, right away, come away. We'll put the traitors all to rout. I'll bet my boots we'll whip them out, Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then they'll wish they were in Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

Oh, may our Stars and Stripes still wave Forever o'er the free and brave, Right away, come away, right away, come away. And let our motto ever be -- "For Union and for Liberty!" Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then they'll wish they were in Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

Shiloh's Hill http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/confederate/songs/shilohsg.html

Come all ye valiant soldiers -- a story I will tellAbout the bloody battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.It was an awful struggle and will cause your blood to chill; It was the famous battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.'

Twas on the sixth of April, just at the break of day; The drums and fifes were playing for us to march away.The feeling of that hour I do remember still,When first my feet were tromping on the top of Shiloh Hill.

About the hour of sunrise the battle it began; Before the day was ended, we fought 'em hand to hand.The horrors of that field did my heart with anguish fill For the wounded and the dying that lay on Shiloh Hill.

There were men from every nation laid on those bloody plains, Fathers, sons, and brothers were numbered with the slain, That has caused so many homes with deep mourning to be filled,All from the bloody battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.

The wounded men were crying for help from everywhere, While others who were dying were offering God their prayer,"Protect my wife and children if it is Thy holy will!"Such were the prayers I heard that night on Shiloh Hill.

And early the next morning we were called to arms again, Unmindful of the wounded and unuseful to the slain; The struggle was renewed again, and ten thousand men were killed;This was the second conflict of the famous Shiloh Hill.

The battle it raged on, though dead and dying menLay thick all o'er the ground, on the hill and on the glen; And from their deadly wounds, the blood ran like a rill; Such were the mournful sights that I saw on Shiloh Hill.

Before the day was ended, the battle ceased to roar,And thousands of brave soldiers had fell to rise no more; They left their vacant ranks for some other ones to fill, And now their mouldering bodies all lie on Shiloh Hill.

And now my song is ended about those bloody plains;I hope the sight by mortal man may ne'er be seen again!But I pray to God, the Saviour, "If consistent with Thy will,To save the souls of all who fell on bloody Shiloh Hill."

Camp Pratt, Farmington Maine

Camp Pratt May 2-4th 2008

Well, for me preparation for Camp Pratt started several days before the event. In April, I purchased a tent from birthday money (Thank you Dad!). So I needed to make tent poles. My Hubby cut them for me (Thank You Honey) and I needed to paint them. Off I went to the paint store and wanted brown paint...Who Knew??? there were so many shades of brown to choose from: Seal brown, Sand, Taupe...All I wanted was mud brown. Thank goodness they had that!

Camp Pratt, My tent's the second from the Right

So I packed the car Friday night and headed for Farmington, Maine at 6:30 Saturday morning. It was misting in Berlin, drizzling in Rumford and continued to do so all weekend!

They southern gentleman were kind enough to set up my tent for me and cart my belongings into camp.

And they cook too! Capt Mike made ribs using his special recipe. Though it was kind of creepy how he treated them with such love.

After a camp fire dinner, they gentleman were kind enough to let me and Miss Sara fire the guns at the Union picket line. It was so much fun trying the guns.

The evening was spent chatting at the camp fire. I headed to the local inn until morning returning to the cold, muddy camp for breakfast and clean up.

So are you saying...Miss Deb, it rained all weekend, how could that be fun? Cause those southern gentleman can keep you entertained with their stories, impersonations and jokes!