Genealogy and History Fan

When the Civil War began on April 12, 1861 firearms for both the Union army and the Confederates were in short supply. Many of the early volunteers were given old weapons that were very ineffective.

Eventually about 2 million single shot, muzzle-loading muskets were made at the U.S. Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts and at a few other locations. The troops referred to these rifles as “Springfields”. The Springfield’s barrel was 39 inches long and could hit targets 500 yards away. It’s large bullets were actually capable of reaching 1500 yards!

These large bullets were called minnie balls and were developed in 1849 by Captain Claude Minie for the French Army. This bullet was made of soft medal which expanded under pressure, then tended to deform upon firing and disintegrate upon striking the target. It is believed that about 90% of all battle wounds in the Civil War were caused by minnie balls. (The Enfield, a less popular rifle used in the war also fired minnie balls.)

At it’s first introduction, generals on both sides of the war saw the Springfield as a revolutionary piece of equipment that would change the way the war was being fought. Nevertheless, massive frontal attacks, cavalry charges and front line placement of cannons continued throughout the war.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction… The chain reaction of evil, hate begetting hate, and wars producing more wars must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

A very talented and remarkable woman, Julia Ward Howe, is largely responsible for Mothers having a special day and also for writing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  Julia Ward was born into a wealthy New York family on May 27, 1819. Her mother died when Julia was only five. Her education included literature, science, and math as well as French, Italian, German, Latin and Greek. She began writing professionally at the age of twenty.

Shortly before her twenty-fourth birthday Julia married the philanthropist and reformist Dr. Samuel G. Howe. Howe was the head of the famed Perkins Institute for the Blind. They were the parents of six children. Besides being an accomplished poet and playwright, Julia assisted her husband with his anti-slavery journal, the Boston Commonwealth.

In 1861, the Howes went to Washington to view a Union army parade. On their way back to Boston their group sang patriotic songs. After singing “John Brown’s Body”, a member of the group suggested that Julia should consider writing better lyrics for that tune. Later that evening Julia wrote the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Julia was paid $5.00 when the song was published in February 1862. The song became an inspiration for the Union soldiers fighting against slavery. I wonder if Julia could have imagined how beloved those words would become for countless people?

After the war Julia became interested in women’s rights and world peace. For eighteen years Julia served as president of the New England Women Suffrage Association. In 1870 she wrote a powerful article entitled Mother’s Day Proclamation. She translated this article into several languages and had it widely distributed. She successfully campaigned for an official holiday and celebration of Mother’s Day. (Mother and daughter Ann and Anna Jarvis also contributed to this crusade.)

Julia Ward Howe died on October 17, 1910. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day.

Julia Ward Howe was a grand lady and a great American!

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on. (Chorus)

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;

The have built Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,

His day is marching on. (Chorus)

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.

Oh, be swift, my soul to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on. (Chorus)

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on. (Chorus)

Chorus:

Glory, glory hallelujah! Glory, glory hallelujah!

Glory, glory hallelujah! His truth is marching on.