"The Girl I Left Behind Me"

[dirtyshirt]

Recently found by my friend Alex Vasquez:

Reading Shiloh Daniel asserts on page 175 that

"...Two regiments, the 23rd Missouri and 15th Iowa, had just gotten off the boat from St. Louis, the latter debarking to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me."

Citation for this seems to be William Belknap, History of the 15th Regiment Iowa, perhaps pages 289-290 but it is somewhat unclear. If true then that's what we should be singing and/or band playing as we get off the steamer.

[dixieflyer]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

I vote for the band playing. Hearing some of us sing might be considered abusive by some. :o

[PetePaolillo]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Here ya Go Brandon....

(MELVILLE C. DAVIS.)



I, Melville C. Davis, first being duly sworn, depose and say, my age is 58 years and my residence and post office address is No. 16 Third Street, S. E. Washington, D. C.
Having been requested to state my recollection of the time the 15th Iowa Infantry became engaged at the battle of Shiloh, I will state briefly:
On the morning of April 6, 1862, we left the landing between 8 and 9 o'clock, and about 10 o'clock, surely not later than 10:30, while moving in columns of fours across an abandoned field, we were unexpectedly fired upon. Some officer who was unknown to me was guiding us to the front, we were not in line of battle, but by columns of fours, band in front, and there was heavy firing to our right front and to our left front, showing beyond question that we were surprised by a body of the enemy that had evidently passed through a gap in the line of our army.
At that time I was a drummer (Co. E) with the band in front. We were playing "The girl I left Behind Me." My memory is good and all of our movements that morning from the time we marched off the boat until we entered the fight are clear and distinct in my mind. We became engaged between 9:45 and 10:30 a. m., and held the position we at once doubled-quicked to, at the end of "Jones field," for at least two hours.
I remained constantly with the regiment until July, '64, and know there was never any question raised about the time we held the field at Shiloh, but it was spoken of as from 10 to 12 o'clock, and that is my recollection now.

MELVILLE C. DAVIS.



source: Matter of the controversy between the Shiloh National Military Park Commission and the Iowa Shiloh Comm. relating to inscriptions upon the regimental monuments of the 15th & 16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Albert cummins, 1903.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Very cool Pete! Thanks for sharing that.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Once DP gets serious... some good gouge always shows up getting posted.

[Spongebucket]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

That tune was always popular with the US Army during most of the 19th cent. when they left a town, garrison, etc. So does that mean "Girl..." is the only song we are going to hear? If so...I'm going to grab a drum and and play "some Distance From Prussia"....
cheers,
Joe Blunt

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Joe,

If it's the 'only' song I hear on the march... I will personnally run the Principal Musician through with his own sword long about the fourth iteration.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Oh I am sure they played many more Joe. No doubt about it. What strikes me is this drummer recalled exactly which song they were playing at the moment they were engaged at the start of the 15th Iowa's combat at Pittsburgh Landing. He is recalling this 41 years after the fact, when he was just a 17 year old boy. I think that is pretty profund if you ask me. He didn't bother to mention any other songs did he?

[PetePaolillo]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Joe,

If it's the 'only' song I hear on the march... I will personnally run the Principal Musician through with his own sword long about the fourth iteration.

HA HA!!! Most agreed..LOL Have I told you fellas about being stuck on "Its a small World" at Disney for over an hour? I was homicidal too...LOL

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

I'm going to grab a drum and and play "some Distance From Prussia"....

Please don't. It's not a Civil War tune.

[pjdrums96]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Being one of the six field musicians taking the boat ride, I assure you that we have a broader repertoire than just "Girl." We have actually done a lot of research to put together a song list that is pre-1862, considering that most of the published music manuals would not have likely made their way out to Iowa enough to be used widespread. So, we have decided to include many patriotic airs appropriate to the year considering this was a new regiment and the men would most likely have been enthusiastic, as many of their writings state. We most certainly have already discussed playing "Girl I Left Behind Me" as we march from the landing, but not for the whole march. haha

And I agree wholeheartedly with Will, Some Distance From Prussia is not a civil war tune and we won't be playing it, unless there's some jam session later that night then anything's game.

Sincerely,

Patrick Jones
Camp Chase Fifes and Drums

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Joe,

If it's the 'only' song I hear on the march... I will personnally run the Principal Musician through with his own sword long about the fourth iteration.

Looks like I'll need to leave my tin whistle at home, then. All I can play with any proficiency whatsoever is "The Grapevine Twist". Lacking a sword, I shudder to think what Mess'r Berezuk will impale me upon!

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Wickett, you or Pete need a sword?

Guys, the musicians we have are top shelf. They've been working hard and will have plenty of authetic vatiety. Since we have the best of all the companies, I got you the best field music. Now aren't we all just precious!

[Silas]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

No way. You play Grapevine Twist?

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: "The Girl I Left Behind Me"

Silas: Yes, but I'm not going to tout the quality of my rendition! When it comes to my whistle-playing... to paraphrase a former VP candidate...
"I know Justin Runyon. Justin Runyon is a friend of mine. Wickett, you're no Justin Runyon!"

Matt: "Need a sword"? Nope... I have all the tools I need to keep music critics at-bay! ;)