User:The C of E/GSTS

History
"God Save The South" was written in 1861 by Ernest Halphim with the music for it being composed by Charles Wolfgang Amadeus Ellerbrock. Halphim wrote it with the intent to inspire Confederate soldiers that God would be with them. It was also written as an intent to counter the Union's usage of the newly-written Battle Hymn of the Republic as a rallying hymn. It was also used as a way to develop a unique Southern national culture to distinguish the Confederate States from the United States. When it was published in New Orleans, it was the first song published in the Confederate States since the Ordinance of Secession. The hymn was later included in the Confederate hymnal, The Soldier's Companion given to all Confederate soldiers during the war.

God Save The South was initially considered as the unofficial national anthem for the Confederate States and was published in Virginia with the subtitle of "Our national Confederate anthem". Despite this there was no official announcement of any song being the national anthem of the Confederate States. However, Dixie was popular amongst Confederate citizens and thus was traditionally considered the anthem of the Confederacy which continued into the 20th century. However in 1950 Richard Harwell wrote; "...[Dixie] can hardly be said to meet the requirements of a national anthem, [although] it has become a truly national tune, permanently enshrined in the hearts of Americans in both the North and the South." That honor rightly belongs to "God Save the South" not just by virtue of its status as the new nation's first published song but also because of its stirring poetry and its outstanding musical setting."

Composition
While the anthem mostly used Ellerbrock's music, it was also set to the tune of the British national anthem; "God Save the Queen". Which "God Save the South" was also criticised in Southern Punch for not being original enough and because of the associations with "God Save the Queen." C. T. De Cœniél also wrote another tune for "God Save the South" after Ellerbrock's original which gained popularity at the time.

The fifth verse is used as an example of the Confederate citizen's personal association with George Washington as he was also a rebel during the American War of Independence. This verse's inclusion in God Save The South would be used as a justification for the Confederate States' cause during the Civil War.