Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

26. “only nine miles to the Junction.”

by H. Millard, company A, ‘71ST regiment, N. Y. S. M.

The troops of Rhode Island were posted along,
     On the road from Annapolis station,
As the Seventy-first Regiment, one thousand strong,
     Went on in defence of the nation.
We'd been marching all day in the sun's scorching ray,
     With two biscuits each as a ration;
When we asked Gov. Sprague to show us the way,
     And “How many miles to the Junction?”

chorus.--How many miles, how many miles,
     How many miles to the Junction?
When we asked Gov. Sprague to show us the way,
     And “How many miles to the Junction?”

The Rhode Island boys cheered us on out of sight,
     After giving the following injunction:
“Just keep up your courage — you'll get there tonight,
     For 'tis only nine miles to the Junction.”
They gave us hot coffee, a grasp of the hand,
     Which cheered and refreshed our exhaustion,
We reached in six hours the long-promised land,
     For 'twas “only nine miles to the Junction.”
chorus.--Only nine miles, &c.

And now as we meet them on Washington's streets,
     They always do hail us with unction,
And still the old cry some one surely repeats,
     “'Twas only nine miles to the Junction.”
Three cheers for the warm-hearted Rhode Island boys,
     May each one be true to his function,
And whene'er we meet, let us each other greet
     With “Only nine miles to the Junction.”
chorus.--Only nine miles, &c.

Nine cheers for the flag under which we will fight,
     If the traitors should dare to assail it;
One cheer for each mile we made on that night
     When 'twas “only nine miles to the Junction.”
With hearts thus united, our breasts to the foe,
     Once again — with delight we will hail it;
If duty should call us, still onward we'll go,
     If even “nine miles to the Junction.”
chorus.--Only nine miles, &c.