Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 3.
Frank Moore, Ed.

51. songs of the rebels.

“The Banner of the South.” ¹

by W. O. S. J., Esq.

I.
     Gather round it, gather round it,
Fear no North, no East, nor West,
     'Twill protect the rights of Freemen,
And will wave for all oppress'd. [34]
     Then, oh! gather round your banner,
“White and crimson” is for you,
     And remember they're the colors
Of the bravest and the true.

II.
     Let the hordes of Lincoln rally,
Let them blow their loudest blast;
     Let them “muster in” by thousands
‘Til they've called the very last;
     And we'll wave aloft our banner,
With defiance from each mouth,
     For it is the Freeman's Standard--
“White and Crimson” of the South.

III.
     “They have only twenty thousand,
This rebellion they'll regret,
     They will never stand a battle,”
Vide the “Abolition pet;” ²
     They forget our “Ben McCullough,”
Generals “Beauregard” and “Lee,”
     Who a la Washington are fighting
For their rights and liberty.

IV.
     Hark! we hear their myriads coming,
See them with their banners flying,
     “Come, boys, onward now to Richmond!”
Hear the vandal wretches crying;
     List! the martial note is sounded,
With “for Dixie,” from each mouth;
     They but little know thy power,
“White and Crimson” of the South.

V.
     Go defend your budding Liberty
From the vandal thirsty North,
     Be adamant in heart as firm,
While you call your armies forth,
     “Strike home” for wives and children,
God will smile upon the right,
     And a victory will crown you
'Neath the “Crimson and the White.”

VI.
     You've excelled them now in battle,
Ere the carnage has begun;
     They've been scattered in confusion--
Mark the “stampede of the Run;”
     With a loss of many thousands,
(All hail to Southern might,)
     By a victory of honor
'Neath the “Crimson and the White.”

VII.
     See, yonder hosts of Lyon,
In the good old western State;
     Mark well McCullough's onset,
And the tyrant general's fate!
     Then say not the “God of battles”
Disregards the Freemen's right,
     For He, in mercy, smiles on all
'Neath the “Crimson and the White.”

VIII.
     Then, arise! arise, ye Southrons,
Let your cry be for the brave,
     And, oh! if perchance in battle
You should meet a “soldier's grave;”
     Be content to die for freedom,
'Gainst the thraldom of the foe;
     With your “White and Crimson” banner
Floating high above you-go!

IX.
     And you'll shout at last triumphant
O'er the Abolition band,
     Who, alas! usurps the power
O'er the laws of Maryland;
     And when at last her sons are free,
How gallantly they'll fight
     For their firesides and laws of State,
'Neath the “Crimson and the White.”

X.
     Missouri, too, will “fall in line,”
Kentucky--Tennessee--
     And e'en will little Delaware,
Determined to be free!
     Then will the retribution come--
“Revenge!” in every mouth,
     And tyrants fall with shame before
“the Banner of the South.”

Fairfax C. H., Va., July 30, 1861.