The National tribune., 1883-02-15
SONGS OF THE CAMP.
The Blue Coat Of the Soldier.

10y btShop burgess.
You 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.
The blue Creat-cOat. the slly-blue coat,
The old blue coat the soldier wore.
knew not T. what weapon he chose,
What chief he followed, what badge he wore;
Enough for me, that in front of foes
bis country's blue great-coat he wore.
The blue sreat-coat, &c.
Perhaps he was born in a forest hut,
- Perhaps he had danced on a palace foori
To want or wealth my eyes were shut
only marked the coat he wore.
The blue great-coat, &c.
It mattered not much if he drew his line
From Shem or Ham in the days of yore;
For surely he was a brother of mine
Who, for my sake, the war coat wore.
The blue great-eoat, &c.
he might have no skill to read or write,
Or he might be rich in learned lore;
But knew he could make his mark in fight
And nobler gown no scholar wore
Than the blue great-coat, &c.
It may be he could plumber and prowl
And perhaps in his mood he scoffed and swore,
But would not guess spot so foul
On the honored coat he so brtively wore.
The blue great-coat, &C.
He had worn it long and borne it far;
And perhaps on the red Virginia shore,
From midnight chill till the morning star,
That worn great-coat the sentry wore.
The blue great-coat, &c.
When hardy Butler refined his steed
Through the streets of proud, proud Baltimore
Perhaps behind him, at his need,
Marched he who yonder blue coat wore.
The blue great-coat, &c.
Perhaps it was seen in Burnsi6e's ranks
When the RappahannocS ran dark with gore;
Perhaps on the mountain side with Banks
In the burning sun no more he wore
The blue great-cOat, &c.
Perhaps in the swamp twas bed for his form,
From the seven days battling and marching
Or with Kearney and Pope. mid the steely storm,
As the night closed in, that coat he wore.
The blue great-coat, &c.
Or when perchance as Jackson dashed,
That collar cape some bullet tore;
Or when far ahead Antietam flashed,
He flung to the ground the coat he wore.
The blue sreat-coat, &c.
Or stood at Gettysburg where the graves
Rang deep to Towards cannon roar;
Or saw with Grant the unclaimed waves,
Where conquering hosts the blue coat wore.
The blue Sreat-coat, &c.
That garb of honor tells enough
Though its story guess more;
The heart it covers is made of such stuff
The coat is mail which that soldier wore.
The blue sreat-eoat, &c.
He may hang it up when peace shall come,
And the moths may find 1t behind the door,
But his children will point when they hear drum
To the proud old coat their father wore.
The blue great-coat, &c.
And so my child, will you and /,
For whose fair home their blood they pour,
Still bow the head 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.
The above lines written by Bishop Burgess OF
Maine and contributed 10y him to book published and
sold fair III Baltimore for the benefit of soldiers
during the war, by the loyal women Of Maryland. Not
having them in print since and thinking il may
please my old comrades, well show the people
what the feelings towards the soldier those
dark days have reproduced them as near as can
member, and END them yOu for publication in The
TRIBUNE. Yours, in T. C. & LII. w. Buker, of J. s.
Sampson Post, No. 81, G.. A. r., Milo, Me.