War Songs

Our Willie Dear Is Dying

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1861

“Our Willie Dear is Dying” was deposited for copyright on May 9, 1861, by Firth, Pond & Company. It is one of several songs by Foster about a character named Willie, the others of which were “Willie My Brave,” “Willie We Have Missed You,” and “Willie Has Gone to War.”

According to John Mahon in his article “The Last Years of Stephen C. Foster” (New York Clipper, March 24, 1877): 

Santa Anna’s Retreat from Buena Vista

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1848

W. C. Peters of Louisville submitted “Santa Anna’s Retreat from Buena Vista” on December 30, 1848. It appears the song had already been published because it was advertised for sale in the Louisville Daily Dispatch on August 8, 1848.

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family: 

Stephen Foster Collection

Stephen C. (Collins) Foster (1826–1864) was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh. He wrote songs in his youth to perform in amateur blackface minstrel shows and in parlors with his friends. After the immense success of “Oh! Susanna” and “Uncle Ned,” in 1849 Foster signed contracts with music publishers and embarked on a career as a songwriter.

That’s What’s the Matter

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1862

“That’s What’s the Matter” was submitted for copyright deposit on April 29, 1862, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York.

According to Evelyn Foster Morneweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

The Soldier’s Home

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

“The Soldier’s Home” was submitted for copyright deposit on November 13, 1863, by S. T. Gordon of New York. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

Was My Brother in the Battle?

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1862

“Was My Brother in the Battle?” was submitted for copyright entry on August 8, 1862, by Horace Waters of New York. The copyright ledgers (Southern New York, Vol. 66, p. 33) indicate August 8, 1862, as the date of deposit, however the copyright deposit copy at Library of Congress is dated August 9.

We Are Coming, Father Abraam, 300,000 More

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1862

“We Are Coming, Father Abraam, 300,000 More” was submitted for copyright deposit on September 5, 1862, by S. T. Gordon. The poetry is by James Sloane Gibbons and was originally published as “Three Hundred Thousand More” in the New York Evening Post on July 16, 1862. The poem was widely reprinted. 

We’ve a Million in the Field

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1862

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “We’ve a Million in the Field.” The copyright claim on the title page and page 3 of the earliest edition is for 1862.

When This Dreadful War Is Ended

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “When This Dreadful War Is Ended,” but the copyright claim on page 3 of the earliest edition is for 1863.

Willie Has Gone to the War

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

“Willie Has Gone to War” was submitted for copyright deposit on July 1, 1863, by William A. Pond & Co. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

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