The Rebel Yell

[John E.]

Forgive me for not posting this in the appropriate area. I was afraid it might get lost in the "other" section.

I came across this link and wanted to share it with everyone. It's a fascinating video of Civil War veterans including audio. The old gents give their all to holler out a "Rebel Yell".

This was posted on youtube by the Smithsonian.

http://youtu.be/s6jSqt39vFM

[BettyO]

Wonderful, John! I have also heard that this "yell" derived from various sources - from an old Fox Hunting cry to that of southern men chasing racoons through the swamps at night with hounds - and that the cry was used to urge the dogs on.... seems to me though that it would have scared the animals being hunted off!

There is a wonderful book about the Rebel Yell titled "Dammit, Holler 'em Across!" - The History of the Rebel Yell by Terry Elliott - it also has a companion CD and describes the history of the cry and what it sounded like with different variations state by state. For instance, a Virginia Rebel Yell would sound starkly different from that say of a Florida Rebel Yell! This makes for a facinating study - and I had always wondered if different regions produced a different cry.

[RJNorton]

Fascinating footage, John. Thank you for posting the link.

[Jim Garrett]

Great footage. The Southern gentlemen have on their Sunday best. The Veteran homes issued a uniform to the "inmates" for Sundays and special occasions. I have a picture of my grt grt grandfather standing next to the Lewis Armistead marker at the 1913 50th anniversay encampment at Gettysburg. He's wearing his uniform. Many of these old gentlemen didn't have much, towards the end, but they did have their pride and memories.

[Jenny]

I'd heard one of the gentlemen in this video on a recording several years ago but hadn't the actual full footage! Thank you for posting this! Amazing.

[Gene C]

Sounded like the opening of Wal-Mart on Black Friday.

[LincolnMan]

That yell would've made me run!

[John Stanton]

I remember way back, when I was giving a talk, that involved "The Rebel Yell" and the group asked me to demonstrate the Yell. I had to refuse. The yell is nothing - with only one voice. I tried to explain this as demonstrating "The 1812 overature", with a penny whistle. Those who knew, agreed with me. The yell has resonance, along with volume, that can't be copied, in an auditorium.

[Jim Garrett]

I remember way back, when I was giving a talk, that involved "The Rebel Yell" and the group asked me to demonstrate the Yell. I had to refuse. The yell is nothing - with only one voice. I tried to explain this as demonstrating "The 1812 overature", with a penny whistle. Those who knew, agreed with me. The yell has resonance, along with volume, that can't be copied, in an auditorium.

Very well put John. We cannot put our heart and soul in it as the original.

[HerbS]

It was amazing that those veterans still had the spirit to give it everthing they had left in the 1930's!

[RJNorton]

I exchanged emails with the webmaster of the site here. In the message the gentleman said that on his site (quoting him) "you can hear a rebel yell recorded in 1935. There are only 2 existing that I know of and our's is the best sound." To hear it go to this page. I am not knowledgeable on this topic and am simply forwarding what the gentleman told me. Possibly those folks more knowledgeable than me can comment. Thanks.

[L Verge]

I have heard much better... If this is from a veteran, I can understand that his age in 1935 would have weakened his vocal chords and his adrenaline. Someone the age of Dave Taylor needs to stand behind a stone wall and let loose as he points bayonet and hops over the wall.

[HerbS]

The Chinese sounded the same way,when I interviewed Vets from the Korean "Conflict".The North Viet-Namese did the same thing.Both would come running and yelling at us.They were "high"on coke and were armed with noisemakers and pitchforks.It was a "Perfect"suicide charge!

[MaddieM]

What an amazing bit of footage. I always wondered if the Rebel Yell was a kind of yodelling cry or something similar to a zaghareet. I had no idea it was regional.