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64 FOLK-SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
The dungeon, dark and cold,
Could not his body prison, Nor tame a spirit bold
That o'er reverse had risen. Then sing the song of joy,
Our toast is lovely woman, And Morgan he 's the gallant boy
To plague the hated foeman.
The tone of the Southern songs was not only a good deal more ferocious and savage than that of those of the North, but there were fewer indications of that spirit of humor which pervaded the Northern camps, and found expression in the soldiers' songs. There is, however, one Southern piece of verse, descriptive of the emotions of the newly drafted conscript, which has an original flavor of comicality, although evidently inspired by the spirit of Yankee Doodle: —
THE VALIANT CONSCRIPT.
How are you, boys ? I 'm just from camp,
And feel as brave as Caesar ; The sound of bugle, drum, and fife
Has raised my Ebenezer. I 'm full of fight, odds shot and shell,
I '11 leap into the saddle, And when the Yankees see me come,
Lord, how they will skedaddle ! |
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Hold up your head, up, Shanghai, Shanks, Don't shake your knees and blink so, |
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