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FOLK-SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR. 55
mac had no counterpart in regard to any other commander, was proof against failure and defeat, and lingered, to a certain extent, even to the close of the war. His removal caused a great deal of indignation, and called out a good many protests and appeals for his restoration. A song, Give us back our old Commander, was a good deal sung at the time: —
Give us back our old Commander, Little Mac, the people's pride ; Let the army and the nation In their choice be satisfied. With McClellan as our leader, Let us strike the blow anew ; Give us back our old Commander, He will see the battle through. Give us back our old Commander, Let him manage, let him plan ; With McClellan as our leader, We can wish no better man.
The very rollicking and nonsensical chorus of Bummers, come and meet Us, belongs to this period, and was almost as popular as John Brown's Body, fulfilling amply and simply the conditions for relieving the lungs. Like the sailors' " shanties " and the plantation choruses, it was capable of indefinite extension and improvisation. The following is a specimen of its construction: — |
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