The Irish Sixty-ninth

Intro 
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[Verso 1]
 
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To Erin's sons of hill and plain, come listen to my feeble strain 
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Perhaps you'll think it but a dream, though every line is true 
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I'll sing you of our long campaign, through Summer's sun and Winter's rain 
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To Richmond's gates and back again, I will relate to you 

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[Verso 2]
 
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It was in August Sixty-One, that Colonel Owen took command 
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And brought us into Maryland, then let it rain or shine; 
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He drilled us every day we rose, to learn us how to thresh our foes 
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And often have they felt the blows of the gallant Sixty-Ninth 

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[Verso 3]
 
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In February Sixty-Two, when passing in a grand review 
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We were told our foes we should pursue, and Richmond overthrow 
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To Washington we went straightway, and sailed in steamers down the Bay 
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Until that we were stopped next day, to land at Fort Monroe 

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[Verso 4]
 
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At Hampton then we camp'd around, until brave Little Mac came down 
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And ordered us up to Yorktown, our strength there to combine; 
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Where there we work'd both night and day, and drove the rebel hordes away 
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And walking through the town next day, was the Irish Sixty-Ninth 

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[Verso 5]
 
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From Yorktown then we sailed away, and landed at West Point next day 
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And gaily marched along the way, and camped among the Pines 
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And there we stopped three weeks or more, until we heard the cannons roar 
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And musketry came like a shower, along the rebel lines 

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[Verso 6]
 
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Then double quick away we went, across the river we were sent 
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To drive the rebels back we meant, no man fell out of line 
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There Philadelphia's adopted sons, bravely supported Rickett's guns 
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And when away the rebels run, cheers the gallant Sixty-Ninth 

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[Verso 7]
 
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At Fair Oaks then long weeks we lay, and picket fighting night and day 
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I have seen our brave boys borne away, and some in death grow pale 
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And in the seven days fight going back, on bloody fields we left our track 
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When other regiments falling back, we stood as at Glendale 

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[Verso 8]
 
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Where horse and foot retreat that day, all bleeding from that dreadful fray 
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Right manfully we fought our way, in one unbroken line 
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And when our bullets all were spent, three cheers we for the Union sent 
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And charging at the grey coats went, the Irish Sixty-Ninth 

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[Verso 9]
 
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And on Antietam field again, we boldly faced the Iron rain 
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Some of our boys upon the plain, they found a bloody grave 
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Where our brave General, Little Mac, made boasting Lee to clear the track 
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And take his ragged rebels back, across Potomac's wave 

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At Fredericksburg our old brigade, with Owen, who never was afraid 
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As soon as the pontoon was laid, we crossed in the first line 
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And though the bullets flew around, we drove the grey coats from the town 
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Such work is always done up brown, by the Irish Sixty-Ninth 

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Next day upon the battle field, old veterans they were forced to yield 
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For the rebels had a Stonewall shield, protected front and rear 
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The cannons blazing shot and shell, it was like the gaping jaws of hell 
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Where many a brave man round us fell, we boldly done our share 

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O'Kane, our Colonel, nobly stood, where the grass was turning red with blood 
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And growing to a crimson flood, we still kept in our line 
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Though many got a bloody shroud, as Philadelphia's sons we're proud 
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And sing the deeds in praises loud, of the gallant Sixty-Ninth 
 

Outro 
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