McClellan Poetry: Marching Along

SUNDAY | Well, here we are a day late with summer laziness in full bloom.

One of the most popular McClellan songs of the Civil War - "Marching Along" - is a bit of a mystery. I have been unable to find an audio file of the music, nor can I find the date of publication.

It's a marching song by that giant of 19th Century sacred music, William B. Bradbury, which is what makes this so odd. Bradbury was the principal in a sheet music company and it seems that the lyrics were changed a little to serve in churches after the war - in Armenian translation, the Turkish empire suppressed the song.

The music was durable enough to serve other commanders later, with names inserted where "McClellan" appeared. Which brings me to an unattributed anecdote:

"Quartermaster Bingham of the First South Carolina Volunteer Regiment (Colored) is reported to have taught the song to his troops, although the phrase 'Gird on the armor' proved troublesome and was changed by his soldiers to 'Guide on de army.'"

That would have been in the command of the Radical Republican general, David Hunter. If his black soldiers were marching around his camps singing about McClellan, it might have stung a little because Hunter told friends that McClellan had tried to negotiate a commission with Jefferson Davis before his Union rank came through. After being relieved of his South Carolina command, the ship that brought him out of theater was named the McClellan. Hunter must have had all the McClellan he could stand.

If the text setting below is too plain for you, try this.

Marching Along

By William B. Bradbury

The army is gathering from near and from far,
The trumpet is sounding the call for the war.
McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong--
We'll gird on the armor and be marching along.

Marching along, we are marching along!
Gird on the armor and be marching along,
McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong,
For God and for country we are marching along.
The foe is before us in battle array,
But let us not waver or turn from the way.
The Lord is our strength and the Union's our song,
With courage and faith we are marching along.

Marching along, we are marching along!
Gird on the armor and be marching along,
McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong,
For God and for country we are marching along.
The flag of our country is floating on high,
We'll stand by that flag 'til we conquer or die!
McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong,
For God and for country we are marching along!

Marching along, we are marching along!
Gird on the armor and be marching along,
McClellan's our leader, he's gallant and strong,
For God and for country we are marching along.