Words and music by Walter Kittredge. Written in 1863, while Kittredge was waiting to be drafted, this song was later introduced and performed by him as a member of the Hutchinson Family, a popular singing group of the time. Several months after their first performance, Asa Hutchinson interested Oliver Ditson, founder of Ditson & Company, one of the major music publishing houses of the 19th century, in publishing the song and shared the royalties with the composer. The song was an instant success.
