The Irish Sixty Ninth
To Erin's sons of hill and plain, come listen to my feeble strain
Perhaps you'll think it but a dream, though every line is true
I'll sing you of our long campaign, through Summer's sun and Winter's rain
To Richmond's gates and back again, I will relate to you

It was in August Sixty-One, that Colonel Owen took command
And brought us into Maryland, then let it rain or shine;
He drilled us every day we rose, to learn us how to thresh our foes
And often have they felt the blows of the gallant Sixty-Ninth

In February Sixty-Two, when passing in a grand review
We were told our foes we should pursue, and Richmond overthrow
To Washington we went straightway, and sailed in steamers down the Bay
Until that we were stopped next day, to land at Fort Monroe

At Hampton then we camp'd around, until brave Little Mac came down
And ordered us up to Yorktown, our strength there to combine;
Where there we work'd both night and day, and drove the rebel hordes away
And walking through the town next day, was the Irish Sixty-Ninth

From Yorktown then we sailed away, and landed at West Point next day
And gaily marched along the way, and camped among the Pines
And there we stopped three weeks or more, until we heard the cannons roar
And musketry came like a shower, along the rebel lines
Then double quick away we went, across the river we were sent
To drive the rebels back we meant, no man fell out of line
There Philadelphia's adopted sons, bravely supported Rickett's guns
And when away the rebels run, cheers the gallant Sixty-Ninth

At Fair Oaks then long weeks we lay, and picket fighting night and day
I have seen our brave boys borne away, and some in death grow pale
And in the seven days fight going back, on bloody fields we left our track
When other regiments falling back, we stood as at Glendale

Where horse and foot retreat that day, all bleeding from that dreadful fray
Right manfully we fought our way, in one unbroken line
And when our bullets all were spent, three cheers we for the Union sent
And charging at the grey coats went, the Irish Sixty-Ninth

And on Antietam field again, we boldly faced the Iron rain
Some of our boys upon the plain, they found a bloody grave
Where our brave General, Little Mac, made boasting Lee to clear the track
And take his ragged rebels back, across Potomac's wave

At Fredericksburg our old brigade, with Owen, who never was afraid
As soon as the pontoon was laid, we crossed in the first line
And though the bullets flew around, we drove the grey coats from the town
Such work is always done up brown, by the Irish Sixty-Ninth

Next day upon the battle field, old veterans they were forced to yield
For the rebels had a Stonewall shield, protected front and rear
The cannons blazing shot and shell, it was like the gaping jaws of hell
Where many a brave man round us fell, we boldly done our share
O'Kane, our Colonel, nobly stood, where the grass was turning red with blood
And growing to a crimson flood, we still kept in our line
Though many got a bloody shroud, as Philadelphia's sons we are proud
And sing the deeds in praises loud, of the gallant Sixty-Ninth