“De Floating Scow of Old Virginia” was composed by Charles White of “White’s Serenaders,” a minstrel band that performed primarily in New York City. The song was published in 1847 by Lee & Walker of Philadelphia, PA. and became a national hit.
After the Battle of Sharpsburg, MD (Antietam) General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia started to return across the Potomac River to Virginia. As some of their ambulances entered the river, they came under Federal artillery fire. The teamsters panicked, cut their horses loose and escaped across the river, leaving their ambulance wagons in the river with the wounded still inside. Acting Brigadier General Colonel James Lane and his North Carolinians were members of Lee’s rear guard. When they came upon the stranded ambulances, Col. Lane spurred his soldiers into action. As some of the men dragged, pushed and pulled the ambulances to the safety of Virginia, others urged them on by singing “De Floating Scow of Old Virginia.” Their swift and decisive action saved the wounded and prevented them from becoming prisoners of war. They were carried back to safety of “Old Virginia’s Shore.”
5 сен 2024
