now being botched at a theater near you
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 11, 1863:
Musical.
–“When this cruel war is over” and “Annie of the Vale” are the titles of two ballads very handsomely published by Geo. Dunn & Co. The first piece is the sort of music that will inevitably be whistled all over the city in less than a week — indeed, the boys have already given it a start. It has been badly sung at Metropolitan Hall as a du[e]t, and still more poorly sung at the Theatre as a solo. The second piece is a song of some men. Both are embellished very prettily by the publishers.
“When this cruel war is over” was popular both North and South. You can view all four pages of the Southern publication at the Library of Congress and read a bit more about song, composer, and lyricist at The Parlor Songs Academy (just scroll down some).
