Ballads—In a ballad, verses can give little vignettes of the soldier’s life on the battlefield, while the refrain, repeated between each verse, describes him. The key is to retain the shape of a ballad with verses followed by the refrain with the verses telling different things and the refrain repeating the same words. Often ballads have 4 lines for each verse and begin and end with the refrain.
Begin by writing a refrain with 4 lines that describes your soldier.
Choose a battle that your soldier was involved in. Take notes on the on the battle and tell its story in verses of 4 lines each. You could have a verse that is descriptive, one that is full of action, and one that is full of feeling. You could also choose photographs from the battle to inspire you.
Drawn from: The Story in History: Writing Your Way into the Experience
George Frederick Root: The Battle Cry of Freedom– Union
Yes, we’ll rally round the flag, boys,
We’ll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom,
We will rally from the hillside,
We’ll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.
CHORUS: The Union forever,
Hurrah! boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors,
Up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys,
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.
We are springing to the call
Of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we’ll fill our vacant ranks with
A million free men more,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS
We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And although they may be poor,
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS
So we’re springing to the call
From the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we’ll hurl the rebel crew
From the land that we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS