An owner of a Chicago music store; George F. Root was one of the most prolific and famous of the Civil War song writers. He dashed off this stirring song after thefailure ofMcClellan 's Peninsula campaign necessitated Lincoln's call for more troops in July 1862. It was first performed that month at a war meeting in Chicago. The composer reported that II at the fourth verse, a thousand voices were
joining in the chorus. " It promptly became one of the Union's most famous and most rousing songs, with over 500, 000 copies being sold during the war. A Union soldier recalled that in 1863, when Union spirits were at low ebb, the song Ilran through the camp like wildfire. The effect was little short of miraculous.
It put as much spirit and cheer into the camp as a splendid victory.

The Battle-Cry of Freedom

Oh we'll rally round the flag,
Boys, we'll rally once again, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom; And we'll rally from the hillside, We'll gather from the plain, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Chorus:

The Union forever,
Hurrah! boys, Hurrah!
Down with the traitor, and up with the star; While we rally round the flag, boys,
We rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Oh we're springing to the call
For three hundred thousands more, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom; And we'll fill the vacant ranks
Of our Brothers gone before, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Chorus

We will welcome to our number
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom; And altho' he may be poor,
He shall never be a slave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Chorus

So we're springing up to the call, From the East and from the West, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom; And we'll hurl the rebel crew
From the land we love the best, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Chorus

George F. Root