Calixa Lavallé enrolled 17 September 1861, at Providence RI, on the 30 October 1861 he was mustered to the 4th Volunteer Regiment as a musician 1st class. Honourable released 3 october 1862. The reason for his release is that the regiment had lost so many through desertion that the regiment was disbanded. An excellent biography is written in French, Les Éditeurs Fides produced this book on quality paper in limited number. Calixa Lavalléée was the first national musicien of Canada and composer of O Canada, our national anthem. This edition a biography and 16 photographs relating to his life. The biography includes his involvement in the American Civil war, and the later creation of Quebec's Music Conservatory.