Whatever the other sources of the "sacred soil of Virginia," it is important
to remember that during much of the Civil War, Virginia bore the brunt for
all the other Confederate states.  They all contributed soldiers and
supplies, but Virginia was site of nearly 50% of all the battles
fought in the War.
  The other Confederate states had a material interest in honoring
Virginia for "hosting" the War.

Harold

Date sent:              Mon, 18 Feb 2002 12:25:38 -0500
From:                   Randy Cabell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: Sacred soil of Virginia
To:                     [log in to unmask]
Send reply to:          Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
        <[log in to unmask]>

> Its not just Virginia Soil.  Remember Harry MacCarthy's Bonnie Blue Flag
> which starts off:
>
> WE ARE A BAND OF BROTHERS, NATIVE TO THE SOIL.......
>
> One of many (more patriotic) versions of Dixie has the ringing phrase:
>
> BY OUR FATHERS' PROUD EXAMPLE, SOUTHERN SOIL THEY SHALL NOT TRAMPLE!
> TO ARMS!!!!!!
>
> EM Thomson & JA Buttefield's "The South our Country", also c.a. 1861 told
> us:
>
> ...AND WHOSE SOIL ALL UNTARNISHED BY SCEPTRE OR THRONE IS A HOME FOR THE
> BRAVE AND THE FREE HEART ALONE.
>
> JW Randolph painted a wonderful picture in his song "Virginia"
>
> ...YOUR SOIL IS INVADED BY TYRANTS AND KNAVES, YOUR FIELDS ONCE SO
> BRILLIANT NOW GLOOMY WITH GRAVES.
>
> Charlie Wildwood and John Hewitt in "The South" ...
>
> ...AND THESE THE BASE TYRANT WOULD CRUSH TO THE EARTH, AND MANGLE AND
> BRUISE ON THE SOIL OF THEIR BIRTH.
>
> You've got me tapping and humming the rest of the afternoon.   They just
> don't write songs like they used to :))
>
> Randy Cabell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard E. Dixon" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 11:20 AM
> Subject: Re: Sacred soil of Virginia
>
>
> > In a message dated 2/17/2002 10:09:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> > [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> > > In reading the letters and diaries of Union soldiers,  he has noted
> > >  that, on crossing the Potomac for the first time, virtually all of
> > >  them refer, sardonically or with bemusement, to "the sacred soil of
> > >  Virginia."
> > Jefferson Davis used this phrase in recounting how the Confederate Army
> threw
> > the Union from the sacred soil of Virginia at First Manassas.  The
> > phrase
> was
> > included in his remarks without quotation marks which are used in later
> > references by Union soldiers. It seems likely that the later comments
> > are cynicism and perhaps come from Davis' comments being circulated in
> northern
> > papers.
> >
> > R. E. Dixon
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the
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>
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Harold S. Forsythe
Assistant Professor History
Director:  Black Studies
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
(203) 254-4000  x2379

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