The Story Behind The Battle Hymn of the Republic

The great-great-grandson of Julie Ward Howe Charles Wiggins Putnam told the audience assembled yesterday afternoon at that his famous ancestor was more than words she penned for her famous poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Plymouth Church and Framingham Reads Together produced a program recalling Julia Ward Howe, her poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic and its first singing at was is now Plymouth Church in Framingham.

Born in New York City, Julia was a descendant of Roger Williams on her father's side. She was named for both her older sister Julia, who died at age 3, two weeks before she was born and her mother Julia, who was a published poet.

Framingham resident and professional storyteller Libby Franck portrayed Julia Ward Howe marvelously during yesterday's event.

Franck, as Julia, told stories of her heritage, her youth, her marriage, and her life up until the moment she wrote the famous poem.

Julie was a spirited child. Many blamed it on her fiery red hair.  Franck, as Julia, told tales of her being a spontaneous, outgoing, self-confident child and young woman.

Julia suffered much death in her life, long before the Civil War.

After her mother and father died, Julie moved in with her brother, who later married Emily Astor, the grandchild of John Jacob Astor. It was her brother who introduced Julia to poets like Longfellow and Charles Sumner, and eventually her husband Samuel Gridley Howe.

The Howes honeymooned in Europe and rubbed elbows with Charles Dickens. They settled in South Boston. The couple had six children. Julia's husband founded the Perkins School for the Blind, and he believed her place was at home with the children.

"No one rescued me when I had to keep house in South Boston," said Franck portraying Julia. "I'm terrible as a housekeeper" and a terrible cook , too.

"Only poetry seemed to keel the ache in my heart," said Franck as Julia.

Howe later allowed his wife to co-edit an abolition newspaper with him.

While in Washington D.C., Julia was invited to the White House to spend time with President Abraham Lincoln. She also visited a Union Army camp outside of the city. There, she heard soliders singing  John Brown's Body.  A man of the clergy challenged Howe to write better words to the catchy tune. She did.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862, for which she was paid $4. 

During yesterday's event, Plymouth Church senior minister Peter Cook portrayed John Knox McLean, who was the pastor at the Hollis Evangelical Congregational Church, which later was named Plymouth Church.

It was at McLean's church on Feb. 22, 1862 that The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first sung in public.

Of note yesterday was soloist Ron Williams' beautifully sung renditions of Deep River and The Anti-Slavery Song.

Afterwards, Leslie Dooley, Lyn Hoyt, Suzanne Johnson and Sheryl Stockless sang.

Chip Allen and Mark Dooley and Glenn Pruszinski, as Sgt. John Brown, performed as members of the Tiger Battalion, one of the first groups to answer the President's call for volunteers.

If it had not been for John Brown and his subsequent death, The Battle Hymn would never have been penned.

To end the event yesterday, Dooley conducted the Plymouth Church Choir in a rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. 

A couple hundred people gathered downstairs afterwards for refreshments.