Rebel Yell?

[Finistere]

Hi everyone, I've seen lots of references that the Rebel Yell is directly related to the Roar of the Scots in battle, and that it had been taken to North America by emigrating Scots, is there any real evidence that this is the case or is it just a speculation? I'm putting this question to my North American cousins as I have little knowledge of the American civil war, thank you in advance of your replies and your time taken to reply. Kit

[Mike S]

As a descendant of many officers and enlisted who served in the Confederacy, I have more than a passing interest in the topic. The rebel yell is actually described as being related more to the Native American war whoop than anything else.

I'll let you be the judge with this vintage footage of a reenactment by surviving veterans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jSqt39vFM

[Dughlas mor]

Great footage, Mike.

[ASinclair]

Thanks for the link Mike.

[Tarheel]

I concur with Mike. The mingling of new comers with the Native Americans would have adopted the "war whoop" because of the impact upon those that have never encountered that noise before. I liken it to the eerie wail of pipes leading the Scottish regiments. Some sounds are unsettling to some and endearing to others.

[kiltedtom]

As a historian, I would find it very difficult to pinpoint any particular yell as the origin of the "Rebel Yell." Throughout history, soldiers yelling have been a regular event. The Japanese "chi" of martial arts where the yelling helps gather and release inner energy and strength. Other armies used the noise simply to frighten the enemy. Even the ancient Israelites shouted and brought down the walls of Jericho (Ok, they might have had a little Divine help). Shouting and screaming is the norm in hand to hand battle. In the face of almost certain death, the scream brings bravery.

There are so many things that we want to fit into a predetermined concept of some sort. Any similarity becomes a forced connection between cultures. Listen to young men laughing and screaming, very likely their voices will rise in pitch. Purely natural. Yes, the Union soldiers were afraid of that Rebel Yell, but the Confederate soldiers were no less frightened by the onslaught of yelling Union soldiers too.

Accept the yell for what it was. And hope that some day, this world will not need any more battle cries. (Ok, I am a left over hippy wanna be. I know the world is not now nor probably ever will be as I would like it, but I still try to dream of peace. And I will never give up those great old songs.)

Anyway, hope you all have a great holiday season coming up.

Tom

[Profane James]

Love the guy at 3:15 yelling his false teeth out!

As a descendant of many officers and enlisted who served in the Confederacy, I have more than a passing interest in the topic. The rebel yell is actually described as being related more to the Native American war whoop than anything else.

I'll let you be the judge with this vintage footage of a reenactment by surviving veterans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jSqt39vFM

[Finistere]

As a descendant of many officers and enlisted who served in the Confederacy, I have more than a passing interest in the topic. The rebel yell is actually described as being related more to the Native American war whoop than anything else.

I'll let you be the judge with this vintage footage of a reenactment by surviving veterans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jSqt39vFM

Thank you Mike S for the link, but could the Scots who emigrated to America have adopted the local battle cry?, all Celts have an oral history of battle cries, the Romans have documented the battle cry of central Europe Celts, I do understand kiltedtom position though, is this thought of mine a bit tenuous? or does it have a glimmer of truth.Kit

[HixwithanX]

Nice video! I hadn't seen that one.

I'm especially interested by the fellow at 3:44 who is encouraged by the MC to give "one more, one more," clearly suggesting that it takes three "whoops" to perform the Yell properly!

[MacEanruig]

After watching the fantastic old footage in the YouTube clip, I would tend to agree with Mike that the Rebel Yell is more akin to a Native American war whoop than any Celtic war cry. Nonetheless, I also believe that we tend to liberally apply a certain mythology to average acts and events.

I too had Confederate ancestors, and almost all of them were poor farmers in Alabama and Mississippi. At a very young age, I can remember my grandfather using the same kind of yell to summon the hogs to the feeding trough. I think the origins of the Rebel Yell might be more simple than we want to believe. It's a war cry, and war cries serve two essential purposes: 1. shock and awe; and 2. esprit de corps.