The Battle Hymn of the Republic

May 12, 1861

Julia Ward Howe‘s song is performed for the first time at a flag-raising ceremony for Union recruits at Fort Warren near Boston. Also known as Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, it is sung to the tune of John Brown’s Body. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.”