WHO WROTE THE LYRICS TO JOHN BROWNS SONG?—The most likely explanation is that the words originated in the minds of Union soldiers, and that various authors later captured them in writing. Among those who are credited as being the originator of the words is the current subject of my navy research, Henry Howard Brownell (pictured here). Hailed as the Battle Laureate during the Civil War, he is all but forgotten today, and those who do remember him are dismissive of his work as crude and romantic. The claim to his authorship of the original John Brown lyrics is noted in this circa 1864 document published by the Supervisory Committee for Recruiting Colored Regiments. This copy is part of the collections of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 12:18:59 +0000
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