20. the battle of Coosaw.
Come listen, soldiers, bold and brave,Who defy all danger, death and the grave,
You who are fighting for honor and glory,
Come listen to a plain-told story.
It was not long since, you all must know,
When rebellion threatened our Union to overthrow,
We left our homes like freemen brave and true,
To fight for our flag, the Red, White and Blue.
Then down in Dixie we had to go,
And suffer with pain, and sickness, and woe;
On Port Royal Isle we made a firm stand,
With General Stevens at the head of our band.
Across the Coosaw River, just upon the main,
The secesh with heavy cannon defied us again;
General Stevens said they never there would stand,
But with his band of freemen he would drive them off the land.
On New-Year's morning, eighteen hundred and sixty two,
With a bold band of freemen, brave and true,
We crossed the Coosaw River early in the morn,
Determined to drive the rebels from their cotton and their corn.
We landed on their shore without the firing of a gun,
Our bayonets bright and glist'ning all in the morning sun;
In line of battle then we marched forward firm and true,
While the Highlanders stormed the Fort, with the Red, White and Blue.
Now the roar of cannon is heard near at hand,
And we found that the enemy had surely made a stand;
The gallant Michigan Eighth charged on them, their strength to find,
And like dauntless Union soldiers, their bullets did mind.
But now the battle rages — rages both fierce and strong;
The enemy being six to one, we cannot stand them long.
At last we retreated, some better ground to gain,
Hoping they would meet us on the clear and open plain.
But the cowards dare not meet us out on the open plain;
So General Stevens caused his bomb-shells down on them to rain,
And drove them from their cover long before the night had come,
But two of our brave freemen ne'er again heard tap of drum.
And the enemy suffered sorely for the mischief they had done,
And many of the rebels ne'er again saw set of sun.
All honor to the patriots brave, who gave their lives away,
By charging with the gallant Eighth upon that dreadful day.
