- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
While thumbing through a magazine today, I saw the following quote from a sport psychologist and author named Costas I. Karageorghis: "Studies have shown that music can reduce how hard you feel you're working out by 10 percent and boost endurance by as much as 15 percent." That reminded me of something I recently read about an especially tiresome Civil War march that was expected to continue several miles. During a brief rest break, a commander worried that his men might not respond to the call when ordered back into line. Just then several regimental bands struck up lively tunes, and the men quickly got back on their feet and resumed their arduous trek with renewed enthusiasm.
Here are other relevant excerpts recorded by soldiers:
(newspaper article written by a member of Company G, 9th Georgia) - "To drive drowsiness and weariness away our splendid brass band sent forth the stirring strains of martial airs."
(C. D. Grace, Rodes’ Division, Confederate Veteran, vol. 5) - "Lee, through Col. Taylor of his staff, ordered the band of the Fourth Georgia Regiment to play for the men. The music had a most exhilarating effect, and off the men marched, inspired by the presence of the generals and the strains of 'Tom, March On' by the band. I never saw anything so magical in its effect."
(Voices from Company D, 5th Alabama) - "Brass band on side of road near here playing 'Dixie' and 'Maryland' as we passed, and it had the effect of enlivening and cheering us up very much."
(Letters of Robert McAllister, 11th New Jersey) - "At the end of a rest of 40 minutes ... all the bands struck up a lively tune. Our men sprang to their feet and on we went. It was wonderful, and the music accounted for it. It had the power to inspirit even those men who had endured a long, hard march under the burning sun, and to renew that spirit in the evening, perhaps even for a night march."
(Four Brothers in Blue, 22nd Massachusetts) - "During the weary march to Gettysburg, afar off on a parallel road was heard the sound of bugles, and then of the drum corps. It was caught up by our own drummers and then by the bands of the Division of Regulars. Every weary and footsore soldier gathered inspiration from the sound. Such was the power of music upon the drooping spirits. It was the order of Gen. Meade, the commanding general. We had never heard music before on the march, and but once before, at the battle of Chancellorsville."
(Letters from Battlefield, Company D, 118th Pennsylvania) - "Men exhausted in making a forced march ... The Colonel kept the drums and fifes beating and playing continually, which was the only thing that kept the men up. It is singular how inspiring music is to a used-up soldier."
(J. S. Anderson, 5th Wisconsin, March of Sixth Corps to Gettysburg) - "Occasionally while passing through a city the bands would play. Whoever was responsible for it, it was certainly a happy inspiration and helped the men wonderfully. We pushed on all night at a wonderful pace and recalled we rested but once or at most twice during the whole night."
Here are other relevant excerpts recorded by soldiers:
(newspaper article written by a member of Company G, 9th Georgia) - "To drive drowsiness and weariness away our splendid brass band sent forth the stirring strains of martial airs."
(C. D. Grace, Rodes’ Division, Confederate Veteran, vol. 5) - "Lee, through Col. Taylor of his staff, ordered the band of the Fourth Georgia Regiment to play for the men. The music had a most exhilarating effect, and off the men marched, inspired by the presence of the generals and the strains of 'Tom, March On' by the band. I never saw anything so magical in its effect."
(Voices from Company D, 5th Alabama) - "Brass band on side of road near here playing 'Dixie' and 'Maryland' as we passed, and it had the effect of enlivening and cheering us up very much."
(Letters of Robert McAllister, 11th New Jersey) - "At the end of a rest of 40 minutes ... all the bands struck up a lively tune. Our men sprang to their feet and on we went. It was wonderful, and the music accounted for it. It had the power to inspirit even those men who had endured a long, hard march under the burning sun, and to renew that spirit in the evening, perhaps even for a night march."
(Four Brothers in Blue, 22nd Massachusetts) - "During the weary march to Gettysburg, afar off on a parallel road was heard the sound of bugles, and then of the drum corps. It was caught up by our own drummers and then by the bands of the Division of Regulars. Every weary and footsore soldier gathered inspiration from the sound. Such was the power of music upon the drooping spirits. It was the order of Gen. Meade, the commanding general. We had never heard music before on the march, and but once before, at the battle of Chancellorsville."
(Letters from Battlefield, Company D, 118th Pennsylvania) - "Men exhausted in making a forced march ... The Colonel kept the drums and fifes beating and playing continually, which was the only thing that kept the men up. It is singular how inspiring music is to a used-up soldier."
(J. S. Anderson, 5th Wisconsin, March of Sixth Corps to Gettysburg) - "Occasionally while passing through a city the bands would play. Whoever was responsible for it, it was certainly a happy inspiration and helped the men wonderfully. We pushed on all night at a wonderful pace and recalled we rested but once or at most twice during the whole night."