Civil War Poetry: James Ryder Randall

James Ryder Randall

1839-1908

James Ryder Randall was an American journalist and poet born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was teaching in Louisiana in the early days of the Civil War when he heard that Union troops were being marched through Baltimore
He was incensed at this invasion and expressed his outrage by writing the poem "Maryland, My Maryland" which was widely popular throughout the South. The poem was set to the traditional tune "Lauriger Horatius" ("O, Tannenbaum") and was frequently called "The Marseillaise of the South." It was made the official state song of Maryland in 1939.
In 1865 he joined the staff of the Augusta, Georgia Constitutionalist, and in 1866 became its editor-in-chief. In 1905 he became the editor of the New Orleans Morning Star.

James Ryder Randall
1839-1908
Maryland State Archives

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