Ransom Mack Poem, undated
The Gallant 48th
Come listen to me boys it will not take me long
To 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
2
Its most of you remember I've not the least of doubt
The time we left Camp Ellis the place where we did sprout
We have traveled miles together a hunting for the bait
That the Sescesh have laid for to catch the forty eight
3
We all got to Cario without the loss of blood
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 shouldered knapsacks the gallant forty eight
4
The river being handy and like-wise a boat
The gallant forty eight was all soon afloat
Then gently up the river with hearts all elate
Sailed our jolly boys the gallant forty eight
5
We sailed up the river some fifty miles or more
Landed at Paducah and we went ashore
We liked the place so well and it was getting late
So we thought we'd stop and rest the forty eight
6
But our services they needed and so we had to stay
A couple of months or more before we marched away
To guard government stores the amount of it was great
And well it was guarded by the gallant forty eight
7
But time is allways changing, and its with us the same
And well we know the cause, and allso whose to blame
Its slavery and oppression which all of us do hate
And it seems it can't be settled without the forty eight /
8 9
We left our wives and children which all of us do love
Our cause it is the Union with the help of God above
We cannot be defeated I am happy hear to state
For we are from Indiana we rank the forty eight
9
We are now in Missipe a band of brothers free
We will fight for each other for we united be
How many will return to you I cannot state
For we are bound to whip the rebels the gallant forty eight
10
The forest is our home the ground it is our bed
Our knapsacks is our pillow where on we lay our head
We live upon hard crackers I tell you they are well baked
It's them fat pork and coffee that keeps the forty eight
11
Uncle Sam he finds us plenty I have not the least of doubt
But before it reaches us the best is all took out
Our officers are saving to throw away they hate
So they freely give the ballance to the hungry forty eight
12
Our Quarter master Murry is good enough no doubt
But I think he's very careful how he isues rations out
To skrimp each man a little, he thinks it will take
So he will make a fortune off the gallant forty eight
13
Then theres our noble Captain I will here suggest
Who is so prompt and spritely he also wants the rest
He watches every motion his company does make
He want us number one first in the forty eight
14
Then there is our Colonel Eddy who always leads the van
He wears a broad brimed hat so his skin it will not tan
He is a man of candor they say his courage is great
With these two qualifications he can lead the forty eight
15
So now dear friends at home we should like to see you all
And hope that time will come betwixt now and fall
and grasp your hand with friendship and give a hearty shake
Until then farewell I've no more remarks to make
DATABASE CONTENT
SOURCES
Ransom Mack Poem, undated, DL0987.011, Nau Collection
