W.H. Stepp played "Bonaparte's Retreat" for Alan and Elizabeth Lomax in Salyersville, Kentucky, in October 1937. Ruth Seeger transcribed the performance, and it was included in the Lomax's Our Singing Country, where Copland found it while looking for traditional material for his ballet "Rodeo" in 1942. Copland orchestrated it almost note-for-note for the Hoe-Down section of the ballet. W.H. calls out at one point - "Now here's the bony part!"

Copland used this famous song for Appalachian Spring and in his Old American Songs. It's said that Elder Joseph would sing and dance this song "with his coat tails flying".