"Tenting Tonight" By: Alec B
"Civil War Tenting Tonight." http://www.randomhistory.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://www.randomhistory.com/photos/2013/civil-war.gif>.
This picture shows the Southern Confederacy fighting against the Northern Union in the American Civil War. The Northern Union is seen on the left and the Southern Confederacy is seen on the right. The anger of the South at the attempts of Northern political forces to stop the expansion of slavery into the west was the main cause of the Civil War. Jefferson Davis led the Southern Confederacy against the Northern Union, trying to prevent slavery from being abolished. The Northern Union defeated the Southern Confederacy, ending the use of slavery in the United States.
This picture shows the Southern Confederacy fighting against the Northern Union in the American Civil War. The Northern Union is seen on the left and the Southern Confederacy is seen on the right. The anger of the South at the attempts of Northern political forces to stop the expansion of slavery into the west was the main cause of the Civil War. Jefferson Davis led the Southern Confederacy against the Northern Union, trying to prevent slavery from being abolished. The Northern Union defeated the Southern Confederacy, ending the use of slavery in the United States.
-El. "Why Was the American Civil War Fought?" answers.yahoo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. <http://answers.yahoo.com/question/ index?qid=20110108020012AA6fEca>.
-Rachel, ed. "The American civil war was fought between who and who?" answers.yahoo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
<http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130421161915AAmaFXg>.
-Rachel, ed. "The American civil war was fought between who and who?" answers.yahoo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
<http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130421161915AAmaFXg>.
This performance of "Tenting Tonight" at the UCLA University honored and dedicated all of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War. The tone of the chorus makes Tenting Tonight sound like it is a very sad and emotional song, which it is intended to be. The cello, the violin, and the chorus really make "Tenting Tonight" sound like the soldier singing the song is very depressed and sad at the time. The performance would have been even better if the chorus sang loud and vicious during some parts of the song, while singing very softly and sadly for other parts of the song. This would make the audience really feel how intense the war was, and how depressing it was for the soldiers to walk back to their tents after seeing people die right in front of them. Overall, though, this was a great performance that made me realize how sad and depressed the soldiers were at the end of each day of the war.
Lord, Rebecca, trans. "UCLA University Chorus, 'Tenting Tonight,' R. Lord Conductor." Youtube.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PIdfbiBIU>. |
Tom Roush posted this video of "Tenting Tonight" on Youtube to honor and dedicate all of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War. The tone of "Tenting Tonight" sang in this song makes it seem like it's country music. The guitar and violin make this version of "Tenting Tonight" sound like it is a sad and emotional song. Also, the pictures in this video really show how sad depressed the soldiers were after fighting each day. The only thing I didn't like about this version is that the singer doesn't sound like he is depressed or sad. I like both of these versions of "Tenting Tonight", but I like the performance at the UCLA University better since the people singing actually sound like they're sad and depressed.
Roush, Tom, trans. "TENTING TONIGHT." Youtube.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GYoaaoYzHo>. |
"Walter Kittredge." Wikipedia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 20 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Kittredge>.
This picture above is Walter Kittredge. Walter Kittredge wrote "Tenting Tonight" at the time when he was joining the Union Army. He really expresses himself emotionally in this song because he thought that since he was joining the Union Army, he wouldn't be seeing his family as much . The night before Walter left to report to Concord, New Hampshire to serve in the army, he sat beside his window looking at the sky of the New Hampshire fields. He then took out his violin and inspired by sadness and thoughts of soldier life, a song began to form. Walter took his song to the Oliver Ditson Company and offered to sell it for fifteen dollars. The Oliver Ditson Company paid two and a half cents on each copy sold and agreed to supply Kittredge and the Hutchinsons with copies to be sold at 8 cents for each piece. "Tenting Tonight" became one of the most famous songs from the time of the American Civil War. Kittredge died sadly in 1905 at the age of 71.
-"Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground." ny77thballadeers.tripod.com. 77th New York Regimental Balladeers, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. <http://ny77thballadeers.tripod.com/tenting2.html>.
What is the History of "Tenting Tonight"?
"Tenting Tonight" was written by Walter C. Kittredge of New Hampshire. Walter wrote this song at the time when he was joining the Union Army, thinking he wouldn't see his wife and daughter as much as he used to. So, he wrote "Tenting Tonight" to describe his emotions during this time. But, Walter never even joined the Union Army in the end. He was rejected for military service on medical grounds because during his childhood, Walter was plagued with the rheumatic fever. Walter then moved on and joined the Hutchinson family of singers, traveling around with them to all different places of the world to perform. Walter Kittredge died in 1905 at the age of 71. "Tenting Tonight" was originally published as Tenting on the Old Camp Ground, but later became known as "Tenting Tonight". This song was popular among civilians and soldiers on both sides during the Civil War.
-Bus, Dr. Heiner. "Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground." Folkarchive.de. Werner Tomaschewski, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.folkarchive.de/ index.html#top>.
-Sabatella, Matthew, and The Rambling String Band. "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." balladofamerica.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/tentingontheoldcampground/ index.html>.
-Tubb, Benjamin, trans. "Tenting Tonight." contemplator.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.contemplator.com/america/tenting.html>.
-Sabatella, Matthew, and The Rambling String Band. "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." balladofamerica.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.balladofamerica.com/music/indexes/songs/tentingontheoldcampground/ index.html>.
-Tubb, Benjamin, trans. "Tenting Tonight." contemplator.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.contemplator.com/america/tenting.html>.
What are the Lyrics to "Tenting Tonight"?
We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground, Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts, a song of home And friends we love so dear. Chorus: Many are the hearts that are weary tonight, Wishing for the war to cease; Many are the hearts looking for the right To see the dawn of peace. Tenting tonight, tenting tonight, Tenting on the old camp ground. We've been tenting tonight on the old camp-ground, Thinking of days gone by, Of the loved ones at home that gave us the hand, And the tear that said, "Good-bye!" Chorus: The lone wife kneels and prays with a sigh That God his watch will keep O'er the dear one away and the little dears nigh, In the trundle bed fast asleep. Chorus: We are tenting tonight on the old camp ground. The fires are flickering low. Still are the sleepers that lie around, As the sentinels come and go. |
Chorus: Alas for those comrades of days gone by Whose forms are missed tonight. Alas for the young and true who lie Where the battle flag braved the fight. Chorus: No more on march or field of strife Shall they lie so tired and worn, No rouse again to hope and life When the sound of drums beat at morn. Chorus: We are tired of war on the old camp ground, Many are dead and gone, Of the brave and true who've left their homes, Others been wounded long. Chorus: We've been fighting today on the old camp ground, Many are lying near; Some are dead, and some are dying, Many are in tears. Final Chorus: Many are the hearts that are weary tonight, Wishing for the war to cease; Many are the hearts looking for the right, To see the dawn of peace. Dying tonight, dying tonight, Dying on the old camp ground |
-"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." Wikipedia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenting_on_the_Old_Camp_Ground>.
Walter Kittredge is the singer of "Tenting Tonight". He wrote this song right before he left to New Hampshire to serve the Union Army. The meaning of this song is that the troops in the war are very sad and depressed because their friends are dying each day. Also, these troops are wishing for the war to end peacefully and quickly so they can return home safely to their families. The piece of evidence supporting this form the song is, "Many are the hearts that are weary tonight, Wishing for the war to cease: Many are the hearts looking for the right To see the dawn of piece." This song relates to the Civil War because it is showing the experience the soldiers faced as they watched their friends die at the end of the day.
-"Tenting Tonight." usmrr.blogspot.com. Bernard Kempinski, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. <http://usmrr.blogspot.com/2011/01/tenting-tonight.html>.
Here is a picture of a group of soldiers staying at one tent at the end of the day. Notice how sad and depressed they look, probably knowing that one of their friends had died in the war during the day. The conditions that the soldiers faced were very harsh and the clothes they wore were not very clean. This probably led to the spread of epidemics and diseases, wiping out many soldiers.
-"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." ny77thballadeers.tripod.com. 77th New York Regimental Balladeers, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://ny77thballadeers.tripod.com/tenting2.html>.
This is what the cover of "Tenting Tonight" looked like when it was first released to the Hutchinson Family.
How Should We Play "Tenting Tonight" Differently in Class?
In the Civil War, troops on both sides fought for their lives throughout the day. There was no time to rest besides at night when the troops went back to their tents on the camp ground. When the troops reached their tents, they started to party and drink with each other. Most of these troops became drunk from drinking so much alcohol. In relation to this, we should start off "Tenting Tonight" by playing very loud so it sounds like a battle (The Civil War) is taking place. Then, after the war is over, we should play softly to make it seem like the troops are all very tired, and are walking sadly back to their tents in tears. Lastly, we should play loud again for when the troops start to party with each other and drink.
"Tenting Tonight." lazyjackmess.com. K.C. MacDonald, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.lazyjackmess.com/tenting2.htm>.
This is another picture of the conditions the soldiers faced when living in these tents. The sizes of the tents were very small, so many soldiers slept on the ground outside of the tents. The conditions of the people and the tents look unsanitary, which led to to the spread of diseases and epidemics.
-"Tenting Tonight." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/ Tenting_on_the_Old_Camp_Ground_ Project_Gutenberg_eText_21566.png>.
-"Tenting Tonight." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/StockadedSibleyTent1887.png>.
-"Tenting Tonight." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/StockadedSibleyTent1887.png>.