The Fathers and Saviors of Our Country: A Presidential Sale

FAWCETT, George E. The President's Emancipation March. Cleveland: S. Brainard's Sons, 1862. Folio. (Pages disbound, chipping to extremities, minor losses to corners.) -- That's What's the Matter with the Purps. Louisville: Tripp & Craig, 1863. 4to. (Minor soiling, spine partially rubbed away, remnants of previous mounting to rear.)

The importance of music in maintaining morale among weary civilians and military personnel cannot be overstated; songs such as "The Battle Cry of Freedom" and "John Brown's Body" rang out across the countryside, sung in choruses by soldiers as they marched from one battlefield to another. In a letter to George Root, whose "The First Gun is Fired" was written and published within three days of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln wrote, "You have done more than a hundred generals and a thousand orators."

George E. Fawcett's "The President's Emancipation March" was written in late 1862 and published by a Chicago-based music publishing firm, Root & Cady (of which George Root's younger brother, E.T., was a founder). Fawcett is known to have sent a copy of his song to Lincoln shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, to which Lincoln responded on 26 January, "Allow me to thank you cordially for your thoughtful courtesy in sending me a copy of your 'Emancipation March'."