Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-08-19
FRENoNT SANDIsKY COUNTY,. OHIO AVeVsE lg 1861
TIE BLUE COAT.

The following ballad is from the pen of Bish-
op Burgess Of Maine, and was contributed by
him the book published and sold at the late
Sanitary Fair at Baltimore, under the sanction
of the State Fair, Association of the women Of
Maryland York Erening Posi-.
THE BLUE COAT OF THE soLDIER.
= ou asked me, little one, why bowed
Though never passed the man before?
Because my heart was full and proud
When / saw the old blue coat he wore.
3 The blue great-coat. the sky-bl coat,
The old blue coat the soldier wore.
Ia / knew not, ], what weapon he chose,
Whatchiefhe followed, what badge he wore
Enough that in the front of foes
His country's blue great-coat he wore;
The blue great-ceat, dc.
:, Perhaps he was born in forest hut,
s = Perhaps he had danced on a palace foor;s
To want OF wealth my eyes were shut
only marked the coat he wore;
The blue great-coat dc.
1t mattered not much if he, drew his line
From Shen or Ham, in the days of yore,
For surely he was brother Of mTne,
s Whe for mysake the war coat wore;
The blue great-coat, dc.
Henighthave no skill to read OF write,
Or he might be rich in learned lore;
But knew he could make his mark IN fight
And nobler crown no scholar Wore
Than the blue great-coat, dc.
It may be hecould plumber and prowl
Andperhaps in his mood he scoffed and swor
But j would not guess spot so foul %
~ On the hoRofed coat he bFaYely woie;
= The blue great-ceat dc.
He had worn it long, and borne it far,
And perhaps on the red Virginian shore,
From midnight chill till the morning star
That worn great-coat the sentry wore;
The blue great-coat, DC.
When hardy Butler reined his steed
Thso' the streets of proud, proud Baltimore
Perhaps behind him, at his need, f
Marched he who yonder blue coat wore;
The blue great-coat, DC.
Perhaps it was seen in Burnside ranks,
When Rappahannock ran dark with gore
Perhaps on the mountain side with Banks
r In the burning sun no more he wore
The blue great7coat dc. i+
Perhaps in the swampswasa bed for his form
From the seven days battling and march
ing sore,
Or Win heafny anu rope lhlu Ine sbeelJ SUOIh
As the night closed in, that coat he wore;
The blue great-coat, dc.
Or when right over as jackson dashed
That cellar or cape some bullet tore;
Or when far ahead Antietam flashed,
He flung to the ground the coat that he wore
The blue great coat, dc.
Or stood at Gettysburg where the graves
Rang deep to Howard 8 cannon roar:
Or saw with Grant the unclaimed waves
Where conquering hosts the blue coat wore
The blue great-coat, DC,
That garb of honor tells enough, ~
Thought its story guess no more; ss5f
The heart it covers is made of such stuff
That coat is mail which thatsoldier wore;
q The blue great-eoat, dc.
Hemay hang it up when the peace shall come
gaa And the moths may find it behind the dool
! But his children viii point when they hear
] drum,
To the proud old coat their father wore;
The blue great-coat DC
And 80, my child, will you and l.
For whose fair home their blood they pOu
Still bow the head, as one goes by
Who wears the coat that soldier wore;
The blue great-coat, the sky blue coat
The old blue coat the soldier wore.