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Somewhere buried in my collection is a record by an ordinary civil war soldier. It's probably 1948 or so, 2s 10", a pale yellow label, privately pressed. He speaks on it. That's all I recall about it Since it was pressed, there must be other copies around. Steve Smolian ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Seubert" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:25 PM Subject: [ARSCLIST] Civil War recordings >I received the email below (below) that I can't answer. Does anybody know >if there are other Civil War soldiers besides Polk Miller who later made >recordings? > > An interesting question. Reply to me or the list and I will forward to the > individual. > > David Seubert > UCSB > > ------------------ > > Sir, > > You have several recordings by Polk Miller. Miller, a great favorite of > Mark Twain, and a now all but forgotten once major American musician, may > be best remembered for the pet products he produced for his dog > "Sergeant." "Sergeant's" is still a best selling brand after over a > century. > > Miller was a Confederate soldier, took his banjo along to war, and served > in the same Batteries as my great grandfathers. > You have a copy of his singing "The Bonnie Blue Flag"; which with "Dixie" > comprised The South's two most popular National Songs. > > Surely he played this song hundreds of times in camp (See Ted Turner's > cameo comment in *Gods and Generals.),* along the road to Gettysburg > etc. Surely my ancestors, whose saving his obituary etc. reflects a > friendship, heard him regularly. . > It brings The War close to today. > But I wonder is this the only surviving rendition of one of the two major > Southern hymns, by a Confederate Soldier? > Is this the only surviving recording of a Civil War Song made by a > participant on either side? > > There are millions of relics of The War, but I never thought there would > be an audible one. > > Thanks. > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.24/668 - Release Date: 2/4/2007 > 1:30 AM >