From the recording The Music of Two American Centuries
Traditional
As with many traditional folk songs, the dates and origins are unknown, but it may have been brought to Appalachia by the early English and Scots-Irish settlers. The song has been collected in both the Appalachians and the Ozarks, and the lyrics appear in some Civil War era diaries. From the mountains, this song has made its way into the old-time and bluegrass traditions.