The War Between the States was complex. If you want to understand the events, you need to refer to a manual. The music of the era, however, helps us delve deeper into people's thoughts and opinions on war, slavery, and many other important issues in our country's history. Before the Civil War, American music followed its European roots. During the Civil War, American music began to develop in its own way, largely influenced by the music of African Americans. The war produced many well-known songs. These songs were important in their time and are still known to many people today. Music was important to the Union but also to the Confederacy. Troops sang on battlefields, around campfires and while marching. They sang to make themselves feel better when things weren't going well. Each side often borrowed lyrics and/or tunes from the other's songs. The songs, sung by the soldiers, spoke about what was happening at the time. It was about soldiers leaving their homes, life in the camps, the pain of being on the battlefield and celebrating victories. The soldiers sang as they marched. They sang to cheer each other up. They were also known to serenade the other side. Sometimes the fighting was interrupted so that the troops could listen to music. Northerners sang various types of songs: rallying songs, sentimental favorites, emancipation spirituals, campfire favorites, and patriotic songs. Union songs show us the way to college...