Songs

In camp, music was a diversion away from the bloodshed, helping the soldiers deal with homesickness and boredom. Soldiers of both sides often engaged in recreation with musical instruments, and when the opposing armies were near each other, sometimes the bands from both sides of the conflict played against each other on the night before a battle.

The list below are some of the war's most popular songs:

• Battle Cry of Freedom
• The Battle Hymn of the Republic
• Dixie
• Gary Owen
• The Girl I left Behind
• Goober Peas
• Home! Sweet Home!
• John Brown's Body
• Lorena
• Marching Through Georgia
• The Minstrel Boy
• Oh Shenandoah
• Taps
• Turkey in the Straw
• When Johnny Comes Marching Home
• The Yellow Rose of Texas