Songs of the Seventh: Garryowen

Songs of the Seventh: Garryowen

The Seventh Cavalry Regiment and the song “Garryowen” are virtually synonymous – at least to anyone who has a passing familiarity with either. The two have appeared together in countless books and movies. Even those who have never dived into that part of history might have some awareness of the Seventh and its “anthem.”

The Seventh’s regimental band played that lively tune as the troops rode out on campaign. At times it was even played as they rode into battle. Understandably, the troopers loved it. As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, the song warrants a bit more background. It bears an interesting history and even some irony.

As for its origin, the song is an Irish jig. Its name is actually “Garry Owen.” Adapted from the Irish “Garrai Eoin,” or St. John’s Court, it celebrates a particular section of Limerick, Ireland. Other sources state the name means “Owen’s Garden” or “John’s Garden,” but all refer to an area near an old castle frequented by “roisterers.”

Interestingly, the jig is a drinking song, first popular among rowdy Irish revelers in the late 1700’s. A look at the lyrics well bears that out. Its irony is that Custer was known to love the tune, but he is widely believed to have been a teetotaler – at least after a drunken spree that nearly cost him a chance to court Elizabeth Bacon.

While living with his sister and finishing schooling in Monroe, Michigan, Custer became acquainted with the Bacons. Elizabeth was the daughter of Judge Daniel Bacon, a member of Monroe’s finer society. Later, as a young Civil War lieutenant Custer became ill and went back to Monroe on leave. One evening he and a fellow soldier got inebriated and wandered past the Bacons’ house, apparently singing raucously. (Garryowen, perhaps?)

At the time, the judge forbade his daughter to have contact with Custer; however, when young soldier arrived home that night his sister took him aside, lectured him sternly and elicited a pledge from him to avoid all alcohol from that time forward. It is believed that he kept that pledge.

Custer was also reputed to have banned, or at least limited sales of alcohol to his troopers at Fort Abraham Lincoln. He may have done so earlier at Fort Hays as well.  Alcoholism was not uncommon at remote posts. Some contraband liquor undoubtedly reached the ranks, and it would later be the undoing of Major Marcus Reno. In fact, lives may have been lost due to his drinking (more on that to come.)

Regardless, it’s easy to see why troopers loved and adopted Garry Owen as their favorite. It’s lively tune was a favorite of the 5^th Royal Irish Lancers, and it was quickly picked up by other Irish and British units. It may have made its way to America before or during our Revolution.

Interestingly, the tune was also used by composer Ludwig Beethoven in the early 1800’s. However, his composition “From Garyone My Happy Home” is far more formal and far less spirited than the Irish version.

The song may have been introduced to the 7^th Cavalry by Captain Miles Keough when the regiment was formed in 1867 (more later on Keough as well.) As I will note in my next post, the U.S. military included a number of Irish immigrants in the 1850’s and later, with many of them belonging to the 7^th Cavalry. Little wonder the song became their anthem.

Like “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” Garryowen lends itself to the spirit of a unit of soldiers starting out on a campaign. The lyrics, however, not so much. Rather than write them out here I’ll include a link to a rendition or two:

The first rendition, of course, is distinctly Irish. Again, it is fitting as we approach St. Patrick’s Day.

In researching Garryowen’s background I came across a well written post by a Northern Cheyenne member on the site Buffalo’s Fire. She stated the song can be offensive to today’s descendants of tribes who were attacked by Custer, the 7^th Cavalry and other U.S. military units.

It is stated in multiple sources that Garryowen was indeed played by the 7^th Cavalry’s regimental band, for example, as Custer attacked Black Kettle’s village of Southern Cheyenne on the Washita River in 1868. Not all members of that village were exactly faultless, either at the time of the attack or in the months prior. However, the attack has long been viewed in a negative light by most Americans, both at that time and for more than a century-and-a-half that have followed. It is easy to see why the tune would be offensive to the descendants of those tribes.

The writer notes that in 1968, on the 100^th anniversary of Custer’s Washita attack, 7^th Cavalry commander Eric Gault promised the song would never again be played against the Cheyenne. While the song continues in popularity, as best I can determine that promise has been kept.

Regardless of any negative attachments it might have, Garry Owen continues to be popular in other contexts.  Most can easily see the spirited tune’s appeal.

See also, Buffalo’s Fire and Irish Central websites for related articles.

https://www.buffalosfire.com/garryowen-retired

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/ireland-song-garryowen-banned-custer