Ransom Mack Poem, undated
The gallant forty eighth
Come listent to me boys it will not take me long
So give your attention and listen to my song
for you are interested with patience you will wait
And hear the deeds of daring of your own forty eight
Its all of you remember ive not the least of doubt
The the time we left camp Elis the place whare we did sprout
Weve traveld miles together a hunting for the bail
That Jeff davis has laid for for to catch the forty eight
We landed first at Cairo without the loss of blood
But when we come there we we found it all mudd
It was not the place for us we all did it hate
So we all shoulderd knapsacks the gallant forty eight
The river being handy and likewise a boat
The gallant forty eight weare all soon afloat
Then gently up the river with hearts all elate
Saild our joley boys the valient forty eight
We saild up the river som fifty miles or more
Landed at Paducha all went ashore
We liked the place so well and it being somewhat late
So we thought wed stop awhile and rest the forty eight /
But our services was kneeded so we had to stay
A copel of months or more before we martched away
To guard goverment stores the amount of whitch was great
And well it was guarded by the gallant forty eight
But time is always changing and its with us the same
And well we know the Cause and also hoo is to blame
Its Slavery and oppresion which all of us do hate
And it seems it cant be settled without the forty eight
We have traveld all over dixy a band of brothers free
And wel fight for each other for we united be
But how many will return to you I canot state
For were bound to whip the rebels the gallant forty eight
The forest is our home the ground ground it is our bed
Our knapsack is our pilow whereon we lay our head
We live upon hard crackers I can tell you they are well baked
Its them fat pork and coffy that keeps the forty eight
Our quartermaster mury was good enoughf no doubt
But I think he was very carful how he issued rations out
To scrimp each man a little you see he wold make
A hansom litle fortune off the gallant forty eight
DATABASE CONTENT
SOURCES
Ransom Mack Poem, undated, DL0987.006, Nau Collection
