Today in Music (1863): “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” published

When Johnny Comes Marching Home Patrick Gilmore (lyrics), unknown (music)

Writer(s): Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore as Louis Lambert (lyrics), unknown (music) (see lyrics here) First Published: September 26, 1863 First Charted: June 30, 1960 (Adam Faith with John Barry & His Orchestra) Peak: 5 UK (Faith) (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 40.34 video, 14.44 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: This is “one of the best remembered songs from the Civil War.” AMP Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore was the Union Army bandmaster CP when he wrote this song in 1963 under the pseudonym of Louis Lambert. The sheet music was first published in Boston on September 26, 1863, by Henry Tolman & Co. AMP The song was sung by “soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict” BA during the Civil War and has maintained success through the years because of its universal celebration of the joy in welcoming home troops from fighting. Gilmore was born in Ireland in 1829 and came to Boston in 1949 to flee the Irish famine. He died in St. Louis in 1892.. He “became known as the most famous band director of his time.” AMP His reputation as a promotor and character has been compared to circus giant P.T. Barnum, an early employer. AMP Frank J. Cipollo described him as “an extremely energetic and enthusiastic man” AMP and also “a visionary, dreamer, astute businessman, and slick operator.” AMP The composer of the music is unknown although their have been unsubstantiated claims of the melody having Irish, Negro (Afro-American), Scottish, and English roots. AMP The song bears similarities to “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye,” an Irish song about a maimed soldier who is returning from war. It is debated which version came first. CP James J. Fuld claimed the melody was published in July 1863 under the title “Johnny Fill Up the Bowl” but there is no conclusive evidence that Gilmore borrowed from the tune or that credit should be given to anyone other than Gilmore. AMP Gilmore himself, however, said he learned the tune “from an unidentified African-American singer and that it was a traditional African-American melody.” BA It’s also possible he adapted the melody from a traditional Irish folk song. BA Richard Jackson called the song “one of the strongest and most unusual of the period” AMP noting that it didn’t follow the conventional form of the day with a verse followed by a refrain. He said it is “one of relatively few songs in a minor key to achieve and maintain wide popularity.” AMP The song has been featured in movies, most notably Gone with the Wind (1939) and How the West Was Won (1963). Resources: AMP AmericanMusicPreservation.com BA BalladofAmerica.org CP Contemplator.com Related Links: First posted 11/23/2025.