Southern Nationalism

I just finished an Early American History class at a local Community College and this is one of the papers I had to write. The professor gave me a 92 A on the paper and I recieved a B in the class.

Southern Nationalism During The Civil War
History 220
Kishwaukee College
April 2008

Nationalism is defined as a devotion to one’s cause. During the Civil War, in the 1860s, the morale of the Confederate soldiers and the citizens of the Confederacy was low. The Union blockade eroded the civilian morale by hitting it economically. Militarily the troops were demoralized from loss of life and the economic hardship as well. Despitethe economic hardships and loss of morale, songs such as “The South” and the “Song ofthe Baltimore Rebels,” were written in order to increase the morale of the army andinfluence Southern Nationalism.

These songs reminded the southerners what they were fighting for: liberty and independence. They believed the right to own property, such as slaves, was at stake. The song “The South” is sort of a rallying call for all slave states to combine forces and standup for their freedoms. “The South, the South, the glorious South, Now calls forth all her men, Let her summons fly from mouth to mouth, To gather stragglers in."

We are also reminded in the song, “The South,” how quickly other southern states responded to the call. “We hear it, and will quick respond, From our homes-our cause, Our fire-sides and families fond, We will uphold Jeff’s laws." They are referring to Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, and their desire to follow him and rally behind him. “With Lee to lead us who’ll despair, Of hanging Lincoln high, As Haman- and to birds of the air, His body soon prey shall fly." They are also reminded of the leadership of General Robert E. Lee. When they thought of Lee they remembered the great victories they have won such as Bull Run.

South Carolina was the first to withdrawal from the Union, and the other southern states soon rallied behind them and followed. “South Carolina leads the van, The South now follows soon, We’ll make the North dance to a man, For Dixie is our tune. Old Maryland will yet be true. We feel and know it well, And Southern breezes soon to you, Our rallying shall tell.’ In this last verse of the song we see that the south was hoping that Maryland, a fellow slave state, would follow them in their example and secede from the union as well.

The “Song of the Baltimore Rebels” encouraged the men of the south to join the army by reminding them of the victory they had at Bull Run. “Let us join the army, let us join the army, Let us join the army, and drive the Hessians home. When we drove them from us our friends down south did say, Be quiet there in Baltimore, and we will name your day. Just open up the Northern gate, down to Washington, And let them bring their biggest crowd, and their biggest gun. Well down they come a rushing, you’d thought the game was up, To see such crowds of Hessians and Yankees all mixed up. They mustered their Grand Army, McDowell had the Lead, And marched off for Manassas, at a moderate speed."

Southerners were motivated because they were not only defending their right to own slaves, but they were also fighting for their homes and families as well since most of the fighting was done on southern soil. The thought of the North burning down their homes and towns was enough to motivate them to fight harder. “For five days they were marching, and burning houses down. But scowled at by the women, while passing through their town." Southerners took great pride in the protection of southern womanhood.

The Southerners were reminded that Confederate Generals Beauregard and Johnson set up a defensive wall of troops eight miles long and how General McDowell could not break through and get a victory. ”The sixth day they made Bull Run, but the gate was shut, For Beauregard and Johnson had their men drawn up. McDowell tried to get through, by using his craft and skill, And for a while his men went at their work with a will. But the Maryland boys were angry, being driven from their homes, Poured hotly on the Hessians and crushed their quaking bones."

The last verse of the song reminded them of the victory they had at Bull Run. The Southerners chased the Yankee soldiers and spectators, who came out to see the battle, back to Washington. “Then commenced the races, the Yankees had the lead, Driving up to Washington at a fearful speed. Leaving their slain and maimed, And Millions worth of property the Dixey boys had gained."

Even though the morale was low in the South we see through these songs, “The South” and “Song of the Baltimore Rebels,” that the Southern States were motivated to join the cause of the Confederacy. The song “The South” reminded them that they were all in this together. “The Song of the Baltimore Rebels” reminded them that they were fighting for their homes and families and protecting them against northern invasion. They were not just fighting for the right to own slaves; they were fighting for what their forefathers had won in the Revolutionary War: liberty and independence.

Bibliography:

“The South,” American Singing, Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Ca. 1800-1880, n.d., Database online. Available from Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.
“The Song of Baltimore,” American Singing, Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Ca. 1800-1880, n.d., Database online. Available from Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.