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“The Battle-Cry of Freedom” is probably his most famous piece. As a young adult, he played organ in church and taught music at an institute for young ladies. By the time he was 13, he boasted that he could play as many instruments as his age. George Frederick Root (1820-1895) was born in Massachusetts and died in Maine. Since Laura Ingalls Wilder only quotes the chorus, it’s impossible to know which version Pa sang. Root himself wrote two sets of verses for his tune: one for use as a civilian rallying song and another as a battle song.
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“The Battle-Cry of Freedom” spread to both Union and Confederate troops, the Southern men needing to change only a few words to suit their cause. So we’re singing 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. Root realized that there was need of a song that soldiers could “carry with them” into battle, and no sooner had he finished the song than he was asked to compose a song to sing at a war meeting in Chicago. And altho’ he may be poor he shall never be a slave, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom. What Pa calls “We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys!” was what Union troops knew as “The Battle-Cry of Freedom,” written by George Frederick Root in 1862. He played “Dixie Land,” and “We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys!” - On the Banks of Plum Creek, Chapter 26, “Grasshopper Eggs” He played for a long time in the twilight, while Laura and Mary sat close to him and Ma rocked Carrie near by. Little House on the Prairie, Chapter 26, “Going Out” The fiddle began to play a marching tune, and Pa’s clear voice was singing like a deep-toned bell….