Sadly, they were too old and lacking in lung strength. Federals facing them, always stressed the "unearthly' sound of the Yell. I suspect that it was a yodel, originally a communications tool in mountain country, and not a show thing. The deep lung sound trailing to a falsetto would carry for miles. It would indeed be bloodcurdling to hear 50,000 men do it at once. Note James Blunt (sic,) trying to do that! * "newsartist", 35th VA Cavalry, reenactor. *

This footage was shot at Camp Nicholls, a home for Confederate Veterans in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 20, 1932. As best I have been able to determine, the soldiers in the film are as follows: The first speaker is Dr. Ernest S. Lewis, who was president of the board of directors of Camp Nicholls and had served as a surgeon in the 3rd Georgia Cavalry; he introduces Superintendent Robert H. Hackney, who was in charge of the Camp Nicholls veterans home. Hackney served in Company D, 30th Louisiana Infantry during the war. The first to give the Rebel Yell was James Dinkins, who served in the 18th Mississippi Infantry and 18th Mississippi Cavalry. Dinkins was followed by Leonard Waller Stephens, who was commander in chief of the United Confederate Veterans; during the war he was a member of Company E, 27th Louisiana Infantry. Next was Charles P. Jones, who served in the 25th Tennessee Infantry. After Jones came Paul Villavaso, who served in Gaudet’s Company, St. James Regiment, Louisiana Militia. I believe he also served in the Pelican Light Artillery of Louisiana. Next came Cyrus LaGrange, who was a member of the 7th Louisiana Cavalry, Company B. After LaGrange came J.W. Manney, who was a member of Company A, 2nd Louisiana Cavalry, and may have served in Morgan’s Cavalry as well. Next came James M. Blount, who I believe served in Company A, 13th Louisiana Infantry. After Blunt came Frank E. Powell, who was a member of Companies A/E, 10th Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia. And last but not least was James Augustus Pierce, who fought with Company D, 7th Alabama Cavalry during the war.

That was wonderful. In the song,"White Wedding" the singer says, "With a rebel's yell.." I've alway wanted to know what it sounded like. Now I do. Thank you and forever live southern courage.

The film was made in New Orleans in 1929. (If I remember correctly, by the Times-Picayune.) It was one of numerous pieces of historic film footage rescued for posterity by the efforts of the city's late Don Perry. As I understand it, this was one of many decaying reels he rescued from the trash and remastered at his own expense. He used to bring a copy to local film fests. I was surprised and disappointed when it wasn't used for the Ken Burns Civil War series; apparently Burns wasn't familiar with it. I'm glad to see it's now on line.

With sounds like that it's no wonder the Yankees were shooting at them. I'd want to shut them up too.

i have never been more happy to be a northener born and raised.

Haha! Was the one around 3:30 named James Blunt? How appropriate.d

People make a State. The States make the Federal Government. The Federal Government invading a sovereign State is an act of treason. The constitution limits the Federal Government's power. We now have a tyrannical Federal Government because we have stopped exercising our rights. Our representatives vote on bills that they don't even read for the sake of "national security." I don't think it about slavery.....come on!

I wonder- if states rights and not slavery was the reason the South rebelled, then what rights besides slavery were they fighting to uphold? In my experience, everything always comes down to the money. Always did and always will.

That's the same sound I make when someone puts a tack on my chair and I sit on it. Yee-OWWW!

SOUNDS LIKE MARINES

Federal troops invaded the South. Certainly, the average Southern defender was no more fighting for slavery than the present day American soldier is fighting for gay marriage.

"A random sample of 100 mainstream books will clearly support that the states rights issue was the driving force." That shows the influence of the Lost Cause. Ignoring what came after the Civil War says nothing about what came before it. "Approximately 25% of all southern soldiers who served during the war were either killed or severely wounded. These were indeed simple subsistance agrarians that never owned or could afford slaves." The south was a slave society in much the same way that Nantucket was a whaling society. Only a minority owned slaves, or had an ownership interest in a whaling boat. Nonetheless, most of the rest had both commercial interests and cultural ties to the major industry of the society in which they lived. The documents the seceding states drafted to explain their secession made clear that slavery was their primary cause. The fact that the Confederate Constitution was more restrictive than the US Constitution, and made slavery a permanent feature, belies the claim that the southern states were interested in federalism or states rights. They fought for slavery. Those who can't face that simple historical truth need to go back and read the source documents. Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/What-Did-the-Rebel-Yell-Sound-Like.html#ixzz236oBR35W

This was incredibly informative. I often read about this sort of war cry, but had nothing to base it off except Hollywood, so thank you so very much for making this available for all to see, hear and experience.

Responding to comment of 9:31 on June 21 clearly implying that the Civil War was all about slavery and not all about states rights. A random sample of 100 mainstream books will clearly support that the states rights issue was the driving force. Approximately 25% of all southern soldiers who served during the war were either killed or severely wounded. These were indeed simple subsistance agrarians that never "owned" or could afford slaves. Shelby Foote in his classic series The Civil War: a Narrative, goes into great detail about how the majority of taxes at that time were levied on "cotton exports" (over 50% since this was well before income taxes showel up around 1913) and most southern states felt that they were carrying the burden of taxes for the entire country. On a social level we see the conflict between those that feel they are the disenfranchised 99% and those 25% that feel thay are paying 90% of all taxes. It is an iteresting side note that England abolished the ownership of slaves early in the 1800s. Importation of slaves to the US had also been abolished well before the war. England abolished slavery primarily due to the fact that in the late 1700s and early 1800s there were countless raids on the southern coast of England by pirates and naval forces belonging to the emirs of Morocco, Algeria, etc on the North coast of Africa. There are several excellent non-fiction books on this major problem and after thousand of "lost and enslaved Brits" they focused on a military solution, freed the available remaining slaves and abolished slave owning in England so as to not appear having to obvious double standard. Another interesting fact is that following the Emancipation Proclimation" the legislature of Illinois passed a short lived law that "prohibited" freed blacks from the south from moving north to Illinois (Shelby Foote: The Civil War A Narrative Vol 1 or 2 ?)(I apologize for mis-spellings, recent eye surgery makes editing on small scale difficult)

PLS any1 know where can i find and download original rebel yell sound??? GOD save the SOUTH

It made me think of the old navy ships who painted the gun positions red to hide blood. I suppose no one could hear casualties over that noise.

Since the U.S. was unarguably agrarian at that time, and southern labor was unarguably heavily invested in slavery, slavery was a major, critical factor included in the southern concept of 'states rights.' Let's not be silly about this anymore, the war was what it was, and it is over.

What I did not hear was the southern drawl.

My husband learned "The Rebel Yell" from his father who learned it from his grandfather who was in an Arkansas regiment. He did it for me in a closed car. BIG mistake. I had my eyes closed at the time and could imagine anyone hearing that bone chilling yell and not be thinking "I'm going to die if they get at me.". It's a very scary yell.

the rebel yell or the confederate flag doesn't have any thing to do with any racist group. the flag is to honor our confederate ancestors and what they fought and died for, a honorable cause, the war was not over slaves but states rights any of you who have a high degree of education should be able to find the truth, which by the way you will not find in the american history books or any class room, groups of people all thrugh history have not liked each other over skin color, did not the white race do this to the native american,but what about slaves, black people still own black pepole in africa, i don,t see no big fuss from any one about this, were is the naacp??? i am part native american and my ancestors fought for the confederate side. i am proud of it ! i am also a member of the sons of confederate veterans and i fly my flag every day at my home to pay respect to them boys of the south. thank you.

@Alex Dunn... I grew up with the Canadian version of racism, and it's worse than the American version, largely because most Canadians won't acknowlege that it exists. The Canadians executed the losers in their civil wars (they call them rebellions, so that justifies it). At least the Americans allowed the losers to go back to their previous life.

To Alex: You need to actually study the Civil War to see their point of view.It was about state rights and large goverment slavery was not made an issue until years AFTER the war started (it was a ploy to keep Europe from helping the south)before the war started slavery was being phased out and fewer than 10% of southerners owned slaves.After the civil war ended quite a few northern states continued to keep slaves not to mention that NY had one of the most violent race riots in American history due to the racist laws they put into place. Always remember that the victor gets to write the history books.

As a Canadian, I find the history fascinating and quite stirring to hear the Rebel Yell. But I am perplexed and dismayed at the number of people who defend the indefensible: the ownership of one group of people by another. Are you also proud of Jim Crow? Of the KKK? Of lynching? And the systemic and systematic abrogation of human rights. The racism in America cannot be expunged until its people state, unequivocally, that slavery was an abomination to humanity.

It sounds like the audience on the Daily Show.

My great-great-grandfather fought on both sides of the Civil War, so I imagine he had a rare perception of the Rebel Yell. I remember reading somewhere years ago that no one really knew what it sounded like. Obviously the person who wrote that was not familiar with the Smithsonian. Thank you very much for this.

The War Between the States was complicated. In the beginning secession was definitely over slavery, since the 7 deep South states that immediately seceded happened to be those with a plantation economy and the largest number of slaves. After Fort Sumter, however, when Lincoln chose to make it a war against the South, the other "slave states" had to make a choice. Four decided to side with the Confederacy and two more - Maryland and Missouri - might have seceded if they had not been prevented by Union troops. Kentucky split down the middle, and as to West Virginia only a small number of counties in the northwestern part of Virginia were actually pro-Union. Nearly 2/3rds of the counties the occupying Union forces included in West Virginia had actually voted for secession. Whether or not secession was right, is a moot point. The average Confederate fought because his home was being invaded. That is all the reason needed to take up arms.

I thought Billy Idol answered that question a long time ago: the answer is "MORE! MORE! MORE!"

Thanks to the Smithsonian for keeping a bit of our American history alive. The average Confederate soldier was hungry, under supplied, outnumbered, outgunned but never outfought. One account I read of the Rebel Yell was the yell was a result of sheer terror & desperation - from a bunch of starving, poorly supplied men who had to fight a much larger, well equipped and well trained army. That yell struck fear into the hearts who heard it and must have helped sustain the Rebels - account after account shows the bravery of these men who served their country's call to defend their homes, their wives, their sweethearts and their states. They lost the war and ever since, the Republic known as the United States of America has been slowly dissolving with mere remnants remaining today. It won't be long and everything our founding fathers envisioned and the Constitution they crafted will be no more. God save America. God bless Dixie.

Thank you Smithsonian for posting this video! Wow! What a thrill to see and hear those Confederate veterans! This clip is really cool!

Excellant....

I am very proud of my Southern heritage. It is awesome to actually hear what the famed "Rebel Yell" actually sounded like. I live in Missouri which is actually a Southern State, although we are left out of the group 99% of the time. Like several states, we had men who fought for both the Union and the Confederacy. Missouri actually voted to succeed from the Union, but within several weeks of the beginning of the Civil War, it was Union occupied. My great, great, great, great Uncle, from Greene County, Missouri, fought for the Confederacy and was captured shortly after the war began. He spent the remainder of the war in yankee prisons for refusing to "Swallow the Dog". For those of you who don't know what that is-- To Swallow The Dog is to take an oath of allegance to the Union. All of my ancestors from Missouri fought for the Confederacy, and I couldn't be more proud.

The opening paragraphs of the Mississippi secession statement:

"In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. That blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. There was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the Union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin."

Not quite sure how one can argue they didn't rebel over slavery.

I'm a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and had seven ancestors that fought in the War Between the States. Thanks for preserving the Rebel Yell. "We are Southerners...we make no apologies for our ancestors...this is who we are...our culture and our heritage."

So many accounts of the Southern Battle cry discribe a yapping and keening. I believe the first officer gives a close resemblance If you had a thousand voices not shouting in accord the result would be two short calls causing the yapping sound below the high pitched sustained keening , one long howl.. It had to be a most un nerving sound if you were waiting to recieve an assault. This is a wonderful piece of History. You will also note the Southern men of that time dont speak much differently than Southern men today.I am assuming this took place in Richmond?.... deo vindice

As a S.C.V. "Bonnie Blue Society and U.D.C. "Gold Medal Award" nationally awarded published author of "Georgia Confederate 7,000" - Books I-II-III & IV I would like to share this additional research on the "Rebel Yells" from "Georgia Confederate 7,000" Book II - pg. 11.

This author has found ten different rebel yell variations that have been documented: Nine of the yells are found in Mary Johnson's (daughter C.S.A. Major John W. Johnson) 1911 book "The Long Roll."

Arguably, the first "Rebel Yell" was done by C.S.A. General Edmund Kirby Smith's forces at the 1st Battle of Bull Run and is described as, "There was the enemy, they say the enemy, they yelled....without premeditation, without cooperation, each man to himself with an involuntary, individual, indescribably fierce, high shrill, wild expression of anger and personal opinion.

Here are four of the ten listed Rebel Yells:

(1) Yaai, Yai ....Yaai, Yaai, Yaai, Yaai!! - pg. 93
(2) Yaaaaih, Yaai .... Yaaai yaaaah, yaaaaih!!! - pg. 212
(3) Yaaaih! ... Yaaaih! - pg. 367
&
(4) Wuh, wuh, ... wwuh, whooo! - pg. 49

These men fought for what the founding father's had put into the Constitution "State's Right's" some thing that has been eradicated by yankee revisionist historian's.The only thing that they can't take away is our "Rebel Yell"

Who can say with surety what values they might hold in the civil war era. The primal shrill that they colloaborated on was one of fear and unity (I suppose). I dont feel a bit un-American that I enjoyed the nostalgia that rose up in me.

When I try to explain to ignorant people the actual causes of the war they refuse to engage in a real discussion because they have really read nothing about it.
Love Dixie.

Wow, thank you Smithsonian for preserving this piece of history. I've always wanted to hear what it really sounded like. I don't care what all y'all are saying... these men are heroes to Southern people, our ancestors fought for the Confederacy. If you don't have anything nice to say about them , then don't comment please.

Would someone define "saving the union" for me. As for what? For whom? Could not be for todays citizens as I feel I have no rights under an oppressive government as the Union(sic) is today. My Country Tis of The,Sweet Land of Dixie!!!!

Thanks for preserving this piece of our nations history. It is interesting to see the mannerisms of the Veterans, and start to get a sense of their bearing.

We read comments of reasons fought and Southerners being uneducated. Of all 30+ of mine Confederate ancestors all could read and many were very well educated in the "woods" of AL, GA, VA, NC and SC. They had land (not large plantations), some after War held other pursuits - teaching school, starting Churches, etc. It was Southerners who wrote large parts of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. In was a Virginian, Washington, who LED those fights and his descendants that led the Southern Revolution. Interesting the ones who fought only after being "drafted" were the larger slave holders. Yet, after "going off to War" They did their duty though they had the much to loose. "You people" who think war was about slavery need to read history on Lincoln, what he said, what he did, "E"mmigration" one of his policies to ship black OUT of these States, Morrill Tariff, Corwin Amendment, etc, etc.
Thanks you Smithsonian for keeping history alive.

Inspiring piece of filming and an intrinsic part of American history. Well done!

I am glad this got recorded for the record. I am sorry that other comments left out the fact the Lincoln prohibited the issue of "government by consent of the governed" to be heard before the Supreme Court.Secession by rule of law was the issue. By law the South should have been able to leave the union as the Constituion allows. Untimately the point of a bayonet determined the issue not rule of law. I had ancestors on both sides during the War of Northern Aggression but untimately how does one agrue with Providence?

Such brave honorable men! No traitors here. Not one of them attempted to tear down the United States. The states of the Confederacy was an honorable legal state for only four short years. Slavery was an abomination for both sides. We seem to want to blame only the south for it. But, not all slave states joined the Confederacy. If the war was fought only over slavery, why didn't those states free their slaves? Delaware was the last to free theirs and that didn't occur until very late in 1865. Its a shame that such a poor one sided view has been foisted on to our people. As always in history though, the victors do write the history.

This is really a great piece. Its a real link to the past and our forefathers who fought for what the cause in which they believed.The persons who have criticized this have been totally unable to put themselves " in the shoes" of southerners of the time.

I am a proud descendant of 2 Confederate Veterans, and all I can say is God Bless them all. They were Americans who fought for what they believed, and thought they were right in those beliefs, just as the Yanks fought for their beliefs. The bottom line is they were all Americans.

I'm born a northener in Iowa 1921. A WWII combat Vet serving in Germany. Moved to Knoxville, TN 1947 4 kids, 6 grands, 7 greatgrands. on first trip home w/kids, I tried to hush up the boy, the station man said "let him be that is the first rebble I've heard. Than at 1949 HS reunion in Mason City, IA at my introduction my old school mate said "can you immagine him in his qtr-back position using that southern accent. Recently went to VetsDay with my Great Grand Daughter which gives me deep appreciation of those Union Vets as well as all vets. We WWII vets welcome our German vets at our reunions. Co F. 309 Inf, 78 Inf Div.

I am the author of the book "Dammit, Holler 'em Across!" - The History of the Rebel Yell. I enjoyed watching this video a great deal. I feel somewhat bewildered, and a little ashamed, that in my research I didn't come across this bit of film. If I had I would have included it in my book as I did other film and audio recordings I was aware of at the time. The book is now in its Second Edition with additional information not in the First Edition. If there is ever a Third Edition I certainly will include a reference to this website and video in that edition. Thanks, Smithsonian, for having the foresight to save this piece of history.

It would have been a difficult time to have lived. I could never support slavery. And I think that most of the Confederate soldiers weren't fighting for slavery. They were fighting because the Union army was here in their back yard. And I do agree that the Union had to win the war. How would it have been if the South had won, or they had fought to a draw? Having been raised in the South (middle Tennessee) the war was always with us. We have a romantic notion of it, because it was out ancestors that fought it. We can't call them traitors as some on here do.

I don't get all the gushy feelings you guys have for traitors. Really wouldn't be proud of killing to protect my right to own another human being because I don't feel like paying wages to workers.

Thank God The Union won The Civil War....!!! The Rebel yell did not rattle Billy Yank. Billy held his ground and saved The Union and America is a better nation for it....

This is wonderful! I have to believe that it wasn't the yell itself as much as what was behind the yell...a fierce fighting force that was fighting for it's very existence.

When i was a child a lady who lived across from my granny told me about her grandpa who had fought in the war. He got separated from his unit and had to survive some weeks in the cold winter of '63 sleeping in hollow logs and eating acorns. Because they weren't blanched, the tannins in the acorns permanently blotched his skin. It was just so powerful to be talking with someone who had talked to someone who fought in that war... our State was the last to leave the Union, first to rejoin the Union, but was occupied by federal troops longer than any other state in the confederacy. Guerilla warfare went on for a Long Time. Invasion and occupation generate ill will. Go figure. And by the clock of my chat, it hasn't been so awfully long after all. So we have come a long way that our nation can honor these honorable soldiers and make peace amongst our united states in these United States of America.

History preserved provides an insight into an historical moment in the growth of our culture, Northern and Southern, as well as how we came back together as a nation of one people. We can learn from achievements and mistakes of our past if we continue to preserve the good and bad of our national experiences.

Fascinating. Thank you Smithsonian.

This was a good attempt at the yell but agree with above comment that it was best "when made on the run." Despite this the Smithsonian has does a real service to record and preserve this type of material. Need to keep stories of veterans from WWII to present.

Since so many Southerners of those days were not far removed from their Scots and/or Irish roots, perhaps the Yell was similar to what the British heard at Bannockburn or Culloden.

I find it both interesting and haunting to hear those old men try to recapture the excitement and horror of battle. Their cause might be wrong in the minds of many, but those men put their lives on the line to support something in which they believed. The average Confederate soldier was generally uneducated or had limited education and was apolitical. All they wanted was to be left alone and allowed to live their lives has they had for years and their ancesters has created for them. Many saw the war as an "invasion" of their home land and they were defending it just like any other soldier would in a similar situation. I had the privilage to be able to see one of the last Confederate veterans as a little boy. He was a wizzened old man, bent over with age and wear on his body, yet the sparkle was still in his eyes as he remembered those days of his youth, just like those in the video clip. Thank you Smithsonian and the Library of Congress for makeing things like this availabe to the public via the internet. You have done a great service for the country in keeping the history safe and accessible.

That is amazing footage - thanks for sharing it online. Apparently the Dukes of Hazzard were a bit off. One can only imagine the fear that high, haunting, wolflike cry must be caused in young recruits on the other side of he battlefield.

All I have read of the first person accounts of the war never fail to mention the Rebel yell, and the chill down the spine of any who heard it (especially the Yankees). It would be interesting to have known the reaction of any Yankee veterans at hearing the Rebel Yell one last time.

It was wonderful to see such a great group of veterans, to have survived that debacle, they were all so spirited and involved. To hear them all as a group was fearsome!

These vets had to be pushing 90 and more, considering this was filmed approximately 70-75 years after the war. A few examples still were blood-curdling enough to hint at what the Yankees felt when they heard it. As Cleve Gray notes, it was the last sound some of them heard. Two relatives on my mother's side were Union soldiers, and of course I wonder if they heard the yell and how often. Both survived.

My goodness, this is such a touching clip. I would not, of course, return to some of the policies of my Georgia, Carolina and Virginia ancestors, but I can still honor these octogenarians and nonagenarians for trying -- at least, trying -- to give out a rebel yell! Several of them pretty successfully.... I wonder if some of those old gentlemen would be surprised that, as Confederate Gen. Howell Cobb's great-great-grandson, I would vote not once but twice for an African-American president. I hope, considering the situation, some of those reunion-goers would understand and even concur with me. Thanks to whoever thought to film this -- and whoever at the Smithsonian had the good sense to preserve it! I loved seeing the old gents' "ladies" laughing in delight. That was rich, indeed!

I have documented wrtings of my Great-great Grandfather and two of his sons who were in the Civil War in Arkansas. In one of the battles in which one uncle was killed, the story goes that at one point the REBEL YELL was given. I wondered how it went. But now I can thank the Smithsonian for giving me the information on that. I appreciate it.

Disappointing. Sounds like a lot of high-pitched lady-whining.

this clip made me proud to be a descendant of such a wonderful group. Yeewww Hhaawww for the Smithsonian for preserving a great video.

I find it more interesting how a Southern dialect developed. You don't really hear it in the speakers, they all sort of soung like Teddy Roosevelt to my ear. I had read that before the war, all Americans generally spoke the same dialect.

It sounds a lot like the war-cry of Indians in the movies, I wonder if there is some connection to Native American roots.

The Museum of the Confederacy did some research based on two audio recordings of the Rebel Yell and made these two videos on the subject. You will probably notice a strong similarity between those recordings and the ones in this video.

The Rebel Yell Lives: Part 1- Rediscovering History
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfHylwlq9Ow

The Rebel Yell Lives: Part 2- Reenactors Charge Forward
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buZ1M3iN-UE

Writing a review of two books on Civil War soldiers' food, I had hoped to include the following, but in the end it didn't make the cut. Too bad, it's a wonderful comment and recollection by Shelby Foote:
"Southern food shortages and military privation contributed in part to the Confederate mystique. The legendary, singular shout Confederate troops used when attacking was described by historian Shelby Foote as, “a sort of fox-hunt yip mixed up with a sort of banshee squall.” He recalled that “An old Confederate veteran … [years after the war] was asked … to give the Rebel Yell. The ladies had never heard it. And he said, ‘It can’t be done, except at a run, and I couldn’t do it anyhow with a mouthful of false teeth and a stomach full of food.”
Geoffrey C. Ward, with Ric Burns and Ken Burns, The Civil War: An Illustrated History (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990), 267. See also, Shelby Foote, The Civil War: A Narrative, vol. 3 (three volumes; New York: Random House, 1974), 1046.
John Rees

Although the Civil War happened over 150 years ago it is still taught across the country in millions of classrooms. Much like World War Two's bonds posters and the image of Uncle Same saying 'I want You!' urging young men across the nation to enlist and fight for their country, so too did the Southern Confederate Army and its men have great spirit as shown in these brief clips. What a wonderful way to give life to the soldiers and appreciate their memory by preserving and sharing this piece of our nation's history. An excellent resource for the classroom as well as for anyone who is interested in the Civil War era. Thank you for sharing Smithsonian.

Thanks to Smithsonian and the Library of Congress for preserving these images and sounds.

Just imagine, these rebel yells were the last sounds some people ever heard before they fell on the battlefield. It sends a chill up the spine.

I absolutely loved this video. These proud men,who suffered many losses have the spirit to give out the Rebel Yell once more. My Great Great Grandfather was part of a regiment from Mississippi. He was captured twice by the Union, but managed to escape both times. Our family is very fortunate that he wrote two diaries during the war providing writings to his hometown newspaper. I have looked up his contributions to the war memory many times and have a great sense of pride on his behalf. One of the diaries was given to the State of Mississippi to house in the State Capitol. Thank you for allowing America to view this important clip of history.

YEEEEE-HAWWWW!