"General Sherman and His Boys in Blue" [1865]
[NOTE: cover page copyright 1865;
title page copyright 1856!]
[Words by Hiram Murray Higgams, c1820s-1879]
[Melody & piano] Arranged by G. ASCHER.

New York, NY: S. T. GORDON
[Plate No.] 3067-3
[M 1640
  .A]
[Source: civilwardigital. com]

1. Hail, glorious chief! the country’s pride,
  For victory follows thee;
Thy fame is spreading far and wide,
  Great chieftan of the free!
The bravest army in the world
  Is being led by you,
And freedom’s banner is unfurl’d
  By bonny boys in blue.

CHORUS 1-8.
General Sherman, O!
General Sherman, O!
The boys in blue will fight with you,
General Sherman, O!

2. On Shiloh’s bloody battle field
  He met old Beaureguard,
Who found that Sherman would not yield
  And he took it very hard,
He’d water his horse in the Tennessee,
  That’s what he said he’d do,
But Billy Sherman got in the way
  With his bonny boys in blue.

3. And when the rebels on Vicksburg’s brights
  Were all corralled by Grant,
Joe Johnston though he’d give us fits,
  But Sherman said, “You can’t.”
Joe Johnston found there were some things
  That he could never do;
He has to run when Sherman brings
  His bonny boys in blue.

4. On Mission Ridge he met the foe,
  With Thomas and with Grant,
And on that glorious field, you know,
  Our banners they did plant.
Old Bragg and all his army fled
  What else could Braxton do?
When Grant and Sherman nobly led
  The bonny boys in blue.

5. Atlanta next was Sherman’s aim,
  Though Dalton blocked the way;
But flanking was the kind of game
  That Sherman knew would pay.
Joe Johnston found that to retreat
  Was all the way to do;
For it was dangerous to meet
  The bonny boys in blue.

6. From Dalton down to Kennesaw
  Joe Johnston did retreat,
From there he found he must withdrew
  Or meet a sore defeat.
And when within Atlanta’s walls
  Says Hood, “I’ll show you, Joe,
That Sherman soon before me falls,
  And all his boys in blue.”

7. Says Hood, “I’ll try the flanking game;”
  But he did’t make it pay;
For Thomas brough old Hood to shame,
  While Sherman went his way.
Down through Georgia Sherman went,
  Cut Rebeldom in two,
And in Savannah pitched his tent,
  With all his boys in blue.

8. For General Sherman, then, we’ll shout,
  And Charleston next must fall;
The boys in blue will clean them out,
  Old Beauregard and all.
This base rebellion soon will end,
  The bottom’s falling through;
Hurrah for General Sherman, then,
  And the bonnie boys in blue.