The play in which I gave “John Brown’s Body” was designated as “Jeff. Davis in the Camp.” It represented a number of Northern Negroes going down to capture Jeff. Davis, and during the march southward they build a camp fire, and while the bean soup is boiling the sentinel sings a song, and the rest of the “soldiers” on the stage join in the chorus. I was the sentinel, and gave the song at this time. A company of soldiers was present in the audience, and I was quite startled at the reception my song received. They hurrahed, yelled, laughed, stamped, and called me out time and again, until the proprietor of the theatre interposed and quieted the excitement. But that night, every time I appeared on the stage another storm of applause would greet me. After the show was over, the soldiers cheered and went out singing “John Brown’s Body” in all sorts of ways, and for several days after I heard it on the street in many different ways. The tune has always remained as I first composed it, but the soldiers changed the words to suit their own convenience and ideas. The song as I sang it was as follows: John Brown’s body lies slumbering in the grave; John Brown was noble, loyal and brave; His mission on earth was to rescue and to save, And his soul goes rolling on! CHORUS: Glory, glory, Hallelujah! (_Etc._) The Rebels in the South can never make it pay While John Brown’s mission speeds on its way, For Freedom and Right will surely win the day, As his soul goes rolling on! This was all the song—but two verses. A short time after this a little newsboy stopped me and told me that he had made up a new verse for my song; and upon asking him to sing it, he sang: “We’ll hang Jeff. Davis on a sour apple-tree!” repeating the same line three times. I laughed, and told him I would think it over. In the theatre when I gave the song was a Frenchman named C. Francois, well known to the early settlers of Leavenworth, who was the leader of a glee club, composed of the actors, who sang nicely many national airs and ballads. Mr. Francois, about the time I sang the song, went to New York, and, I learn, returned by way of Massachusetts, and I am led to believe that it was through his means that the song reached the Eastern States as quickly as it did; and I also have good reason for believing that the Seventh Kansas and Fiftieth Illinois regiments carried the song South a little later. These are the facts as they occurred; and I may say, in closing, that I am pleased to note that the little acorn has developed into the mighty oak, and John Brown’s name is one of the imperishable monuments that now adorn a free and united country; and the colored people of the South and North can unite under the glorious banner of Liberty in preserving the name and love for him who freely gave his life for their liberty and freedom.