Composed in 1863, at a point in the War when many men from both armies had exchanged the dangers of life in the field for the rigors of life in the prison camps, this song is possibly the most famous prison song ever written. It quickly caught on with the public and with the soldiers as well, who found that its catchy tune made it an ideal marching song.

So popular was Root's melody that it was used in 1867 by the Irish in a song to commemorate the Manchester Martyrs executed by the British Government and by the International Workers of the World in 1910. It is also well known to Sunday school attendees everywhere as "Jesus Loves the Little Children."

"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!"