The National tribune., 1884-04-17

NY Ct1eF little note III your Nalueu paper
brought me two long and interesting soldiers
letters. Ii this is the means of more, / will
try and respond to them.
JOIN THOMPSON,
LINN CENTRE, LII. Co. K. 5lst III. Inf.
a-
The Song That Was sung at Belle Isle.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In TIE TRIBUNE Of February 21st ult. you
kindly published a short letter from me, in
which ] made inquiry in regard to a Union
soldier who sang songs while q prisoner of war
on Belle Isle, Va, in September 1854, and con-
corning a song he gave us there. Since such
publication / have received letters IN relation
to the incident Of which ! wrote from several
comrades of the G. 4. r., each Of whom men
toned having read my letter in The TRIBUNE.
Letters were thus received from Comrades
Joseph Kiln, company c, 9th United States
cavalry. of Fremont. Ohio; C. W. Pnrsel, Sec
ond lieutenant, Nth Pennsylvania infantry,
Great Bend, Kan; Eugene Barthel now A. f.
Williams), corporal, company e, f64th New
York, San Jose, Cal; VIM. W. Millard, Beaver
City. Furnas county, Neh.: Geo. H. Prentice,
sergeant, company H. Isl Michigan cavalry,
Lawton, Mich, and Orson w. Heath, 9Th Wis
consin volunteers, Clinton, Mich; also, from
Mr.. Milo NJ. MeI4aae, of Cuyahoga Falls Ohio,
who thinks the singer referred to was his
brother Charles ". McLane, formerly of the
18th United States infantry, who died pris-
oner of war at the Florence stockade The
circumstance of the reception of these letters
by me is of itself of no great importance per-
haps, save that it shows how widely read THE
TRIBUNE is and how vast is the brotherhood.of
the g. a. II. 1t also shows the bond Of SYM
patty which exists among our comrades.
/ sincerely thank my comrades for their let
ters, and especially Comrade VIM. w. Willard,
who sent me the words of the song referred to.
There are many songs OF this nature, possessing
perhaps greater technical excellence but none,
/ believe. that ever sounded better than this
one did when the young soldier stood up on
Belle Isle and sang it in such manner that the
Iohnnies were enraged and the 6,000 Union
prisoners about him cheered and encouraged.
/ send the words Of the song herewith, and
would be pleased if you would publish them, If
yoa can find room, in THE TRIBUNE.
JOIN J. SHERMAN.
LANSING, MICH Co. G, Sth n. Y. 81. 4.
THE UNION OATH.
A voice DER the land goes forth,
It's the voice Of a Nation free,
From the East and the West and the South and the
North.
Rolling on like the sounding sea-
AS they swear by the lag Of the red, white and
blue
To be true to the Union forever.
CHORUS
To be true to The Union forever;
DO you hear what il saith
BY the bugleis BREATH
On. be true TO tie Union forever.
When royalty vanquished fed.
And fhe lsatE1et' power was bcrf
" surrounded our flag the grsres of our dead
And the first Union oath was sworn
1Tas the OATH OF the free, twas the oath OF the
true
And they sFore BY the flag OF the red. white and
To be true to the Union fOrcver.
cloras--To be true. &c.
Rhode Is,and the clarion blew.
And Connecticut swelled the blast:
PepnsEl TaHia re-echocd the Jersey haIIoo
And to Georgia the war-cry passed
Twas the cry OF the free twas the shout Of the
true,
As they swore by the flag OF the red, white and
blue,
To be true to the Union forever.
cisorus-To be true, &c.
Virginia the crown o'ertrod.
Massachusetts the scepter broke;
From the brave Carolinas the trump went abroad,
Ana New 4cr1 with q shout awol1e-
Twas the sitcUt OF the free twas the voice Of the
true
And they sryore by the flag of the red. white and
To be true 10 the Union foreyer.
choraas-To be true, &c.
From Maryland's blossoming wales,
From New Hanpsiliss's abode Of SHOWS
From the Green Mounts,n peaks and the Delaware
daIes,
Rolling onward the shout arose.
Twas the shout OF The iree twas the voice of the
tEre,
A. they swore by the flag of the red, white and
To be true to the Union forever.
choras-To be true. &c.
Tho the rebel and traitor rose.
And the land grew red with scars
Jsy The arsn q flle Lord have scattered our foes
And above IA still shine the stars
Twas tie deed Of the free twas the work Of the
tFTe.
When they swore by the flag Of the red. white and
blue,
To be true TO the Union forever.
clioras-TO be true, &c.
We have tTailpled rebellions. grave,
Der slaveryis dust we stand
And the Union 81 old that our fathers gave
We return TO the whole wide land
With the shout OF the free, with the oath Of the
frue
We have sworn by the flag of The rcd, white and
blue,
TO be true TO the Union forever.
Chorus-Io be true, &c.
For Union our fathers wrought
And for Union their sons have bled;
by the martyrs who died and the heroes who
fought
We are still in the Union led.
Twas The oatn Of the free It's the work OF the true
For we s"ore by the flag Of the rcd, white and
To be true to the Union forever.
m