The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-12
An Old War Poem.


and composed by Rev. John II. Loz-
Ter, chaplain of the 9th Indiana Vol
unteers, is an admirable specimen of
popular patriotic army melody. 1t
was written at the headquarters of
General Negley's division at Camp
Hamilton, on the "Overton Planta-
ton" five miles from Nashville, Ten
nessee. 1t was originally intended
merely as a camp-song in answer to
"The Southern Wagon" which the
"Secesh" damsels are always ready
to sing for the Yankees. 1t was
afterward published by John Church
Jr., of Cincinnati, as sheet-music,
and was sung with great eclat at
Pixies Opera-House, at the immense
Union meetings held there to re-
spend to the resolutions sent by the
Army of the Cumberland to the peo-
pie of the North. 1t is now having
a great run in the west and the army.
The words are as follows:
The Old Union Wagon
In Uncle Sans dominion, in eigh-
teen sixty-one,
The fight between Secession and
Union was begun:
The South declared they'd have the
rights" which Uncle Sam denied,
Or in their secesh wagon they'd all
take ride.
Hurrah for the wagon, the old Union
wagon
Wen stick to our wagon and all take
q ride!
The makers of our wagon were men
Of solid wit;
They made it out of Charter Oak, :"
that would not rot or split;
It's wheels are of material the strong
est and the best,
And two are named the North and
South, and two the East and West.
Our wagon-bed is strong enough for
any revolution"
In fact, it's the "hull" of the cold Con
stitution;"
Her couplings strong, her axle's long
and. anywhere you get her,
No monarch's frown can back her
down." no traitor can upset her
This good old Union wagon the ma
ton all admired;
Her wheels had run for fourscore
years and never once been tired; F"
Her passengers were happy. as along
her way she whirl'd,
For the good old Union wagon was
the glory OF the world.
But when old Abram took command,
the South wheel got displeased.
Because the public fat was gone that
kept her axle creased;
And when he gatherd up the reins
and started on his route,
She plunged into secession and
knock'd some 'felloes' out!
Now, while in this secession mire
the wheel was sticking tightly,
Some tory passengers got mad and
cursed the driver slightly;
But Abram couldn't see it, so he
didn't heed their clatter:
There's too much black mud on the
wheel" says he:--"that's what's
the matter
So Abram gave them notice that il.
eighteen siXty-three.
Unless the rebels dried 1t up, he'd
set their niggers free,
And then the man that led the van
to fight against his nation
Would drop his gun, and home he'd
run, to fight against starvation.
When Abram said he'd free the
slave that furnish'd their supplies,
1t open'd Northern traitors mouths
and Southern traitors eyes.
The slaves, said they. will run
away, il you thus rashly free
theml'
But Abram "guessd perhaps they'd
best go home and oversee them"
Around our Union wagon, with
shoulders to the wheel,
4 million soldiers rally, with hearts
as true as steel;
And of all the generals. high or low,
that help to save the nation,
There's none that strikes harder
blow than General Emancipation.
Hurrah for the wagon. the old Union
Wagon!
Wen stick to our wagon and all take
ride,