History 106: February 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Fritz Guerin's "Union and Confederate Veterans Reunite to Free Little Cuba" (1898)

The Spanish-American War in Song (1898)

THE SOUTHERN VOLUNTEER.
MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

Yes, sir, we fought with Stonewall,
And faced the fight with Lee;

But if this here Union goes to war
Make one more gun for me!

I didn't shrink from Sherman,
As he galloped to the sea;

But if this here Union goes to war
Make one more gun for me!

I was with 'em at Manassas —
The bully boys in gray;

I heard the thunderers roarin'
Round Stonewall Jackson's way;

And many a time this sword of mine
Has blazed the way for Lee;

But if this old Nation goes to war
Make one more gun for me.

I'm not so full o' fightin',
Nor half so full o' fun,

As I was back in the sixties
When I shouldered my old gun

It may be that my hair is white —
Sich things, ye know, must be,

But if this old Union's in for war
Make one more gun for me!

I hain't forgot my raisin' —
Nor how in sixty-two,

Or thereabouts, with battle shouts,
I charged the boys in blue;

And I say: I fought with Stonewall
And blazed the way for Lee;

But if this old Union's in for war
Make one more gun for me!

HIS NORTHERN BROTHER.
MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

Just make it two, old fellows;
I want to stand once more

Beneath the old flag with you,
As in the days of yore.

Our fathers stood together,
And fought on land and sea

The battles fierce that made us
A Nation of the free.

I licked you down at Vicksburg,
You licked me at Bull Run;

On many a field we struggled,
When neither victory won.

You wore the gray of Southland,
I wore the Northern blue;

Like men we did our duty
When screaming bullets flew.

Four years we fought like devils,
But when the war was done

Your hand met mine in friendly clasp,
Our two hearts beat one.

And now when danger threatens
No North, no South, we know,

Once more we stand together
To fight the common foe.