SOLDIERS JOY, ROCK THE CRADLE, JULIE

The famous Scottish traditional fiddle tune, Soldier s Joy has been traced back at least as far as 1750 s, and was included in a large collection of old and new country dances published in 1756. The extremely catchy melody was also known by other names, such as Payday in the Army, I Am My Mother s Darling Boy, and Rock the Cradle, Lucy, to name a few. In fact, Pvt. John Dinkins, of 18th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, described the march of McLaw s Division (to which the 2nd South Carolina Regiment and Co. I, belonged) toward Sharpsburg in September of 1862. Dinkins recalled: The men moved along at a lively gait. As night came on, we sang all kinds of plantation songs, Rock the Cradle, Julie, Sallie, Get Your Hoecake Done, I m Gwying Down the Newburg Road, and so on. The woods rang with their Besides being a piece of music, Soldier s Joy wa