 On April 23 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum,
author and scholar Christian McWhirter will explore the impact of
music during the war. The Springfield resident will also sign copies
of his book, "Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the
Civil War."The free event begins with the book signing at 6 p.m.,
followed by McWhirter's presentation at 6:30.
For reservations, visit
http://bit.ly/McWhirter-Tix or call 217-558-8934.
McWhirter, assistant editor of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, has
earned great reviews for "Battle Hymns."
Huffington Post called it "a treat" for history lovers and "also
a painful reminder of just how divided a nation we were at birth."
Civil War Book Review said McWhirter has made "a real contribution"
to his field.
"Battle Hymns" explains how music could be used as propaganda. A
Southern song, for instance, might urge women to take pride in
homespun clothes rather than being jealous of Union women with gowns
and jewels. Northern soldiers would sing about the superiority of
their Enfield rifles.
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The book also details the role of music in army camps and
battlefields. Soldiers woke up to music, marched to music and
used music as signals during battle. "All is told to us by fife
and drum," one officer said in a letter home.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum houses one of
the world's top collections of Lincoln documents and artifacts,
making it a vital resource for historians. The museum combines
scholarship and showmanship to tell Abraham Lincoln's story in ways
that appeal to visitors of all ages. For more information, visit
www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov.
[Text from
Abraham
Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
file received from the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]
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