The song quickly became popular among Union soldiers and was eventually adopted by the Confederacy.
The original song was written by Irish-American composer Patrick Gilmore in 1863 and was first performed by the 69th New York Regiment marching band. The most popular adaptation is an acoustic guitar version by musician John Philip Sousa. When Johnny Comes Marching Home is a popular song from the American Civil War that has been adapted numerous times since its original composition.
