So you think the “Rebel Yell” of the Civil War was something akin to “yeeee-haaaa!!!”
Think again.
Here’s the Museum of the Confederacy explaining how they went about recreating the actual rebel yell:
And here’s how that knowledge was applied by modern reenactors:
Both segments take a total of about 10 minutes to watch, and I think it’s really worth it (but then again, I am a creature of admittedly eclectic standards). You can purchase the CD mentioned here.
As a Southerner and descendant of the Confederacy, I thank you. That was intense.
I am interested in this particular item due to its possible origins in Irish and Scottish native traditions (for instance, the dord Féinne was said in some early Irish sources to be a "wolflike howl" given by certain types of warbands as they attacked).
I thought it was BREE-YARK! 😉
That would be pretty disturbing to hear on a battlefield, especially if you had no warning.
As descendent of 20th century European immigrants and Loyalists who fled to Canada after the War for Independence, I say WTF?
Joseph thanks for posting that. Really interesting. As to the origin, that's not to difficult to imagine. Southern culture has been much more receptive to native american influence – most of what we think of as southern food, for example. I think they were imitating an indian "war whoop".