Songs and Ballads of the Southern People: 1861-1865

This collection has been made with the view of preserving in permanent form the opinions and sentiments of the Southern people, as embodied in their Songs and Ballads of 1861-18...

By old Potomac's rushing tide Our bayonets are gleaming; And o'er the bounding waters wide We gaze while tears are streaming. The distant hills of Maryland Rise sadly up before...

Ye men of Southern hearts and feeling, Arm, Arm! your struggling country calls-- Hear ye the guns now loudly pealing, From Sumter's high embattled walls! Shall a fanatic horde i...

They smile while the dart deeply pierces their heart, But each eye flashes back the war-glance, As they watch the brave file march up with a smile, 'Neath their flag--with their...

Then rally from forest and rally from ford, Give their homes to the flames, and their sons to the sword; While a child shall be born in the South, let its cry Be, "Death to the...

Call out your stalwart men, Workers in brass and steel, Bid the swart artisans come forth At sound of the trumpet's peal; Give them your war-cry, Erskine, _Fight_ to the cannon'...

O, soldiers! such as these Like household memories come; For a thousand prayers ascend to-day From those we left at home; For the red, red field to-night may be Our couch, our g...

What! you hold yourselves as freemen? Tyrants love just such as ye! Go! abate your lofty manner! Write upon the State's old banner, "A furore Normanorum, Libera nos, O Domine!"

The flag which they bear Is a snare: Its Stripes writhe as snakes upon the air; And its Stars, no longer bright, Tell of chaos and of night, And of how they yet Will set In desp...

There's a general alarm, The South's begun to arm, And every hill and glen Pours forth its warrior men; Yet, "There's nothing going wrong," Is the burden of my song.

[2] These lines were published, and respectfully dedicated to Captain Bradley T. Johnson, of the Frederick (Md.) Volunteers, now (1861) in service in Virginia, by his friend J....