Creator: Ida Scott Taylor, author; Henry M. Butler, composer
Title: The Blue and the Gray
Date: 1886
Description: Cover depicts Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. Robert E. Lee, in uniform, shaking hands, with the slogan "Let us have peace" printed above them. The remains of the battlefield are shown on the ground around them, including cannon, flags, and a drum
Historical Note: Union and Confederate veterans of the Civil War began to hold separate reunions as early as the 1870s and by 1890 were organizing joint "Blue and Gray" events. Much of the impetus for these events was the economic recovery of the war-torn country. Sheet music like Butler's "The Blue and the Gray" was created to support the country's healing process and appeal to the large numbers of veterans of the war. This piece was published the year after Grant died, possibly a tribute to the general.
Institution: Tennessee State Library & Archives, Kenneth D. Rose Sheet Music Collection
Publisher: Henry M. Butler, St. Joseph, MO
Rights: Images reproduced on this website are intended for individual, educational use only. For research inquiries about specific objects or requests for high resolution images, contact the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Digital Publisher: Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University
