Ransom Mack Poem, undated
Written By Ransom Mack.
The gallant Forty eight During Civil War.
Come listen to me boys it will not take me long
1 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 i've not the least of doubt
2 The time we left Camp Elis the place where we did sprout
Weve traveled miles togather a hunting for the bait
That Jeff davis has laid for to catch the forty eight
We landed first at Cario without the loss of blood
3 But when we came there we found it all mud
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
4 The gallant forty eight were all soon afloat
Then gently up the river with hearts all elate
Sailed our Jolly boys the valient forty eight
We sailed up the river some fifty miles or more
5 Landed at Paducha and 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 and so we had to stay
6 A couple of months or more before we marched away
To guard government stores the amount of which was great
And well it was guarded by the gallant forty eight /
But time is always changing and its with us the same
7 And well we know the Cause and also whose to blame
Its slavery and oppression which all of us do hate
And it seems it cant be settled without the forty eight
We have traveled all over dixy a band of brothers free
8 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 it is our bed
9 Our knapsacks is our pillow 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 quarter master murry was good enoughf no doubt
9 But I think he was very careful how he isued rations out
To scrimp each man a little you see he would make
A handsome little fortune off the gallant forty eight
Great praise to Colonen Edy although hes resigned
10 He did not fear the rebels but was always up and primed
He is a man of candor and his courage it is great
With these two qualifications he could lead the forty eight
About our Company officers I cant say much about
11 For them that came with us first has nearly all played out
With their pockets full of green backs they did absquatolate
With straps upon their shouldiers they left the forty eight
But there is one deserves a mention notice and thats lieutenant thayre
12 For selfishness and meanness none with him can compare
But thanks to god hes left us for we all did him hate
And hope he never will return again to join the forty eight
DATABASE CONTENT
| (6939) | DL0987.007 | 74 | Letters | 186X |
Tags: Camp/Lodging, Food, Jefferson Davis, Marching, Nature, Resignations, Ships/Boats, Slavery
People - Records: 1
- (2386) [writer] ~ Mack, Ransom
SOURCES
Ransom Mack Poem, undated, DL0987.007, Nau Collection
