#derek warfield

‘Til we meet them and we beat them, come I’ll show you how it’s done!

“Long live the 69th! Erin go Bragh!”

Our corps is but the corporal's guard beneath Virginia clay Our heroes wait the bugle blast on god's reviewing day But the twins, as once we called them, the Celt and Yank remain Though one's at home in Connacht, and the other's back in Maine Outside the Mayo cabin green, the starry flags proclaim That Ireland's in the Union now, in everything but name While in the state of Maine, a grim veteran wants to know "How soon will Ireland need recruits to battle for Mayo?"

He says “we’re here to die men!”, while lit by sunset’s glow, His flag he points to heaven, and his bayonets to the foe, He saves Grant’s waning glory and Sherman’s laurels too, And Buell’s rescue column comes bristling in to view, When swaying in the saddle, he’s slowly led away, And cheers rang out for “Fighting Tom”, the savior of the day

To see their joy, a soldier-boy of the Irish-American Army!