Walter Kittredge

Walter Kittredge (October 8, 1834 – July 8, 1905), was a famous American minstrel and songwriter. Over his career he wrote over 500 songs, many of them dealing with themes of abolitionism and the American Civil War, the most famous of which was Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.

Kittredge was born in Merrimack, New Hampshire, the tenth of eleven children. His father Eri Kittredge was a farmer and owned a brickyard. Kittredge attended Merrimack Normal Institute in the winter months when not helping his father, graduating in 1851.

Kittredge was a talented self-taught musician who played the seraphine, the melodeon (types of reed-like organs), and the violin. He aspired originally to be a singer and actor; upon turning 21 he set out on a solo tour of neighboring counties with his melodeon, interspersing songs with recitations. The next year he began touring with the Hutchinson Family, a musical troupe; this professional association that lasted 20 years. In this time he began composing songs; by 1862 he had amassed enough songs and reputation to publish his Union Song Book; containing some of his most Popular Songs, Humorous and Sentimental. His archives, including his melodeon, are housed at the New Hampshire Historical Society. A plaque honoring him hangs in the New Hampshire State House.

Selected compositions No Night There (1874) Golden Streets The War Will Soon Be Over The War Is Over When They Come Marching Home (1864) I'm a Child of the Mountain (1864) Life's Cares (1865) Make My Grave in the Lowland Low (1865) The Old Log House Scatter the Flowers Over the Blue and Gray (1889) Let's Sing Again the old War Songs Sing the Old War Songs Again Good-by, Uncle Caleb Published in the Union Song Book: Liberty and Union As We Journey On Together Look Out For Number One There Must be Some Mistake That's the Vay the Vorld Goes You Can See It Every Day The Curiosity I'm Sitting To-Day The Red, White, and Blue Trot Him Off Washington Bonnie Doon. A Parody If a Bargain can be Made Joys Departed A Gonner Gentle Hallia The Fashionable Hats Medley on the Times