Final touch to an authentic rebel reenactor

[yankee hoorah]

 

[D.H. Hill]

There were many variations of the "rebel yell". To my knowledge there never was any information distributed to the various Confederate units about how to do it "properly", the only instruction being Old Jack's "yell like furies". Here's a few:

He's got a point about not emptying your lungs, though.

 

[yankee hoorah]

Also saw this one, although it's just 1 person doing it not 7 or so in

 

[Frederick14Va]

This was a project undertaken through MOC. Mustering up all the documented and recorded descriptions of what the genuine "Rebel Yell" most likely sounded like in reality. There are variations within but the basics and foundations of it have a known given pattern. Yes there was no known distributed instructional or directive at the time, it really didn't need to be, troops developed and emulated it on their own accord. It was something in its truest form was nearly forgotten over time. Henry Kidd shown in the video took on much of the detailed research. At Cedar Creek in 2009 he utilized the umbrella group Longstreets Corp to instruct and demonstrate it in mass and was recorded (I was there).

For many decades in the reenactment ranks there had been no real wide spread collective effort to promote to the masses how to do it correctly based on the historical research. So many out there tended to think the Rebel Yell was the same as the hillbilly redneckish "YeeeHaw".... which it wasn't. But so few knew the difference, less some small pockets of authentics and campaigners...

Singular it sounds odd and strange...and unimpressive.... but when you put in hundreds or thousands of voices in it... it quickly takes on its own unique sound... Its one of those things that tends to echo and envelop the environment... hundreds can sound like many thousands... tends to permeate the air... when it advances close especially through woods... can confuse and befuddle a foe since it tends to have a "surround-sound" effect... echoing all around you... becomes difficult to determine direction, numbers or distance... the growl of a dragon just before it strikes... Reviewing Federal accounts of being on the receiving end of it... and the reported unnerving effect it frequently instilled on the rank and file... really difficult to fully understand till you have experienced it first hand.... Not talking a 100 guys on a manicured lawn doing a drill demo... take it pre-dawn in the woods with thousands advancing.... that's where you really get the full meaning and effect of it...

 

[D.H. Hill]

I just found and watched the first part of The Rebel Yell Lives and I think I'm becoming convinced. Originally I thought they were just using a single recording, but two very different ones (the people, not the yell) is more compelling. Thinking about yelling to make noise logically, it seems reasonable to yell in threes, and make the last one longest. It seems also the logical thing though to do if the recorder was to tell you "just yell a couple times"; it could create the same effect. If it was a mix of yelps and barks, or a specific sequence, who can say? Too many factors to say for certain but at least if you get the pitch right and yelp and bark instead of "yeehaw" that should do it.

 

[DR_Hanna]

I bought The Rebel Yell Lives CD last year just before the Chickamauga 150th, and I mentioned it to one of the other spectators while we watched the event from the top of one of the ridges that enclosed the valley below where the fightin' was going on. So, of course, I then was compelled by honor to give a demonstration, now that I'd brought it up. I mustered a little air and gave it my Rebel best.

Actually doing it, I found that the yip/bark component was very reminiscent of the kinds of group grunts and chants that are favored by the military to this day - and in feeling it is a far cry from the old Yee Haa's we all know and love. So I can say that it would certainly work for its purpose.

The CD is chock full of fun, too - they play with overdubbing the sound from the original recording to create different impressions of regiment, brigade,etc. They also create a stereo recreation of an indecent at the Wilderness if memory serves where the Union lines hurrah's were answered with the Rebel Yell moving up and down the Rebel lines.

They finish the CD off with a recording of Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Orchestra in Richmond Virginia in 1950 when, for an encore, they burst out with a very rousing rendition of Dixie - the crowd goes wild.

 

[johan_steele]

To give a "Rebel yell" a man has to be hungry, angry and scared to death... I paraphrase.