14. Both sides kept up morale by singing in camp and on the march
Singing and music were recognized by both sides of the war as essential morale builders, and both sides paid enlistees who served as musicians a higher wage than an infantryman of the same rank. The Southern troops marched to the tunes of Dixie, The Yellow Rose of Texas, and The Bonnie Blue Flag. Their opponents also played and sang Dixie, as well as the Battle Hymn of the Republic and many others. On the eve of the Battle of Stones River the bands of both armies competed with each other until the Northern musicians began playing Home, Sweet Home, which the Confederate musicians joined in and the soldiers of both sides sang together. Over the next three days over 24,000 of them became casualties.