Rich over at godancscience.org has begun unpacking the meaning of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Not sure what that has to do with science, but it is interesting.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic was a very popular patriotic song, beginning when it was first written in 1862. Recently, it has fallen out of use (except in churches during Independence Day, Fourth of July, celebrations), probably because of its Christian religious content. However, its lyrics provide rich Christian symbolism of the triumph of Jesus over His enemies. Although Julia Ward Howe’s (the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic) intent in writing the lyrics may have been to imply that the North (the "Lord’s army) was executing judgment on the South, similar to Lord executing judgment against sinners, it still remains as a rousing Christian anthem.