The Campfire Songster
A compilation of the lyrics of songs as they appeared at the time of the American Civil War or before.

The lyrics that appear here are not politically correct, nor are they particularly sensitive about feelings. They ARE the words used by the people that actually fought the war to preserve the Union and Constitution. If you are offended by the words, or by the activities of that generation, PLEASE, put this book down, back away quickly, turn, and run for the nearest exit.

There have been a baker's dozen songs added to this editon because they are of such political and patriotic importance they would have been well known by the generation that fought the Civil War. Or, in the same vein, they are songs and shanties from the Eighteenth Century or before that were simply so well known that they were used the very same way by the sailors on the cruisers and gunboats in 1861-1865.
The boys who fought the Civil War were neither angels nor demons. They were young American men, away from home for the first time. They had already seen horrendous carnage. And they stayed to fight for the best of causes until the job was finished, without fanfare or pretense. They believed in the preservation of the Constitution and the Union.
Often profane, never "sensitive" by today's standards, they were nonetheless heroes each and every one. We owe them a nearly impossible debt for what they did. They're all gone now. The very least we can do for them is to remember them as they really were. Young and virile, full of life, and ready to spend it all for a good cause.