Fellow Sharpshooters,

Swept up by the patriotism during the Union’s early war recruiting drives, (predominantly New York) songwriters churned out hundreds of inspiring tunes, songs and marches that were sold as sheet music and played on family parlor pianos or by civilian/military brass bands across the North.

While the “Top Ten” Civil War songs survive to the present day (Battle Hymn of the Republic, Rally around the Flag, Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground, Marching through Georgia, The Empty Chair, Dixie, Bonnie Blue Flag, Maryland my Maryland; feel free to add your own), the vast majority fell out of favor and faded into musical obscurity. One such air; sung to the tune ‘Yankee Doodle’ was penned by S.G.Elder, entitled; “Berdan’s Sharpshooters”.

Some 135 years later, a member of our re-enacting group (Company B-2d USSS) rediscovered Elder’s ‘Berdan’s Sharpshooters’ online and thought it would be fun to sing as a counterpart to the Cumberland Guard’s rendition of “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”. At that time, the Cumberland Guard was the Midwest’s largest Federal reenacting organization, boasting 350+ members; while our “green” platoon (literally and figuratively) consisted of 8-20 scrappy skirmishers.

Unfortunately, Elder’s phrasing is awkward and the lyrics are, well, ‘cringy’. In short, ‘Berdan’s Sharpshooters’ is neither a catchy tune to sing or march to. So Co. B resorted to adding their own special twist to the Cumberland Guard’s “Yellow Ribbon” knock off. When the leading battalions sang the chorus: “Cummmber Laanndd… a raucous “BER-DANS!!! erupted from the end of the column. As red faced Guard officers heads whipped around to Lieutenant Poole, his expression was; “What? Hear what? I didn’t hear anything”, (granted, when the battalion officers backs were turned, Lt. Poole, served as conductor, pumping his arm aloft in time with our cheer).

BERDAN'S SHARPSHOOTERS.
Air: Yankee Doodle, - By S. G. ELDER

Berdan's men are in the field, The Rebels look blue, sir;
For, well they know, wherever we go,
Our rifles will prove true, sir.

Chorus : Berdan's men are marching on,
Their deadly rifles rattling;
Swift, swift we dash through
shot and shell,
For Freedom bravely battling !

O’er hills an through dark woods we roam,
No Foe shall make us tremble;
Our rifles crack, will drive them back,
And every fear dissemble

Chorus : Berdan's men are marching on,
Their deadly rifles rattling;
Swift, swift we dash through
shot and shell,
For Freedom bravely battling !

When, from their heights, the gun they sight
To deal dark woe around, sir,
Our rifles flash — the bullets crash- And Traitors bite tho ground, sir.

Chorus : Berdan's men are marching on,
Their deadly rifles rattling;
Swift, swift we dash through
shot and shell,
For Freedom bravely battling !

Our cause is just, and on we'll march,
With Mac, our brave Commander,
Guard well his life, 'mid all the strife,
Until our Foes surrender.

Chorus : Berdan's men are marching on,
Their deadly rifles rattling;
Swift, swift we dash through
shot and shell,
For Freedom bravely battling !

No cares have we but for Liberty,
and glad would bear all pains, sir,
If our Flag could fly, in the azure sky,
O'er every State again, sir.

Chorus : Berdan's men are marching on,
Their deadly rifles rattling;
Swift, swift we dash through
shot and shell,
For Freedom bravely battling !

Here is the most recent link:
https://loc.getarchive.net/media/berdans-sharpshooters-air-yankee-doodle-by-s-g-elder-h-de-marsan-dealer-no-58a039

Despite years of researching USSS (and families) correspondence, memoirs, and post-war publications, I have yet to find a single one that mentions or pays tribute to S. G. Elders composition.

Bill Skillman
Berdan Sharpshooters Survivors Association