The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

THE TWENTIETH MAINE. 141
And so for him we volunteered,
But felt down in the mouth
To leave our sweethearts here at home,
While we fought in the South.
We landed down in Washington
One bright Septeml)er day.
Resolved that we would whip those rebs
As well as draw our pay.
Then with our knapsacks on our backs
We started for the fray
The girls all flirted with us then.
Just as they do today.
No Johnnies had we seen as yet,
But hoped from day to day
To meet some of' those graybacks who
Would dare to stop our way.
We wanted Uncle Abe to see
We'd fight as well as play.
And let those Southern nabobs know
They couldn't have their way.
We had not many days to wait
Before the fun begun
We met them on Antietam fields,
And as they wouldn't run.
We opened fire upon them sharp
And pounded them like fun,
Until they did skedaddling go,
Before the set of sun.
At Fredericksburg again we met.
But it was different there;
They had those heights all fortified
No weak place anywhere
Their bullets, schrapnel, shot and shell
Completely filled the air.
So after fighting two long days,
We quit and left them there.
At Chancellorsville we met again—
What shall we say of that?
We thought old " Fighting Joseph " was
Just "talking through his hat;"
' Twas mystery to most of us
To know " where we were at"
The Johnnies made us scamper like
A frightened Thomas cat.