Station 5B — Musicians’ Housing
🎧 Civil War Music
A song widely sung during the Civil War winter of 1861–62.
Music was essential to morale in Civil War camps. Soldiers sang hymns, folk songs, and popular tunes to pass time, lift spirits, and remind themselves of home. Musicians also played for drill, ceremonies, and funerals.
You Are Here
Musicians of the 9th Michigan Infantry
The musicians of the 9th Michigan Infantry — the regiment that built Fort Duffield — lived in this section of the fort. Their duties included:
- Bugle calls for waking, assembly, and lights-out
- Drum signals for drill and marching
- Music for Sunday services
- Funeral dirges for fallen soldiers
Music structured the daily rhythm of life on the ridge.
Duffield Family Hymn — “Stand Up for Jesus”
Fort Duffield has a unique musical connection to American hymn history. George Duffield, Jr. — brother of Colonel William Duffield of the 9th Michigan Infantry — wrote the famous hymn “Stand Up for Jesus.” The hymn was inspired by the dying words of his friend, Rev. Dudley Tyng, in 1858.
Full Text of the Hymn (Public Domain):
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.
Musical Life at Fort Duffield
Music served many roles at the fort:
- Boosting morale during the harsh winter
- Providing comfort during sickness and loss
- Marking the rhythm of daily military life
- Connecting soldiers to home, faith, and family
- Supporting worship services and Sunday gatherings
Hymns like “Stand Up for Jesus” were part of the soundscape of Civil War camps across the nation — including Fort Duffield.
Life in Musicians’ Housing
Huts in this area were similar to others in the fort — built from logs, roofed with split shingles, and heated with small stoves or improvised chimneys. Instruments were stored carefully to protect them from cold and dampness.
Musicians practiced here, prepared for ceremonies, and played informally for their comrades.
Conclusion
Station 5B honors the musicians whose work brought structure, comfort, and humanity to Fort Duffield. Their music echoed across the ridge, lifting spirits during one of the most difficult winters of the Civil War.