Bragg's Retreat

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Theme code Index
Also known as	Forked Deer
Composer/Core Source
Region	United States
Genre/Style	Old-Time
Meter/Rhythm	Reel (single/double)
Key/Tonic of	D
Accidental	2 sharps
Mode	Ionian (Major)
Time signature	4/4
History
Structure	AABB
Editor/Compiler
Book/Manuscript title
Tune and/or Page number
Year of publication/Date of MS
Artist	Biography:Stephen B. Tucker
Title of recording	Great Big Yam Potates: Anglo-American Fiddle Music from Mississippi
Record label/Catalogue nr.	Mississippi Department of Archives and History AH-002
Year recorded	1985 (originally recorded 1939)
Media
Score ()

BRAGG'S RETREAT. AKA and see "Forked Deer." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Mississippi. D Major. ADae tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune, usually known as "Forked Deer," is older than the title, which undoubtedly refers to the unfortunate Confederate general Baxton Bragg who served in the western theatre of the American Civil War. Bragg commanded the Army of the Tennessee from mid-1862 to the end of 1963, and was neither well-liked nor well-respected. He could often be irascible, sullen and rigid, and was consistently out-generaled by his Union opposites. Private Sam Watkins, who served in the Army of the Tennessee during Bragg's tenure wrote in his memoirs that one of the common sayings among the men of his company while on march was "Bully for Bragg! He's hell on retreat!" The source for the tune under this title is Meridian, Mississippi, fiddler Stephen B. Tucker, who recorded it for the Library of Congress in 1939.

Recorded sources: Mississippi Department of Archives and History AH-002, Stephen B. Tucker (1939) - "Great Big Yam Potates: Anglo-American Fiddle Music from Mississippi" (1985). PearlMae Muisc 004-2, Jim Taylor - "The Civil War Collection" (1996).

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