PS 
 
 1449 
 
 C45 
 
 D78 
 
 1862 
 
 MAIN 
 
 
 B M IDS MOO 
 

 / 
 
 
 m 
 
THE 
 
 A STORY OF THE WAR, 
 
 (I3XT 
 
 the Yonag Folks at Home 
 
 BY COUSIN JOHN. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CROSBY & NICHOLS, 
 
 117 WASHINGTON STREET. 
 
 1862. 
 

 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, 
 
 BY GEORGE P. CARTER, 
 In the Clerk s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 ELECTROTYPED AT THE 
 BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. 
 
PS/ 
 
 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 WHEN the first ball 
 O er Sumter s wall 
 
 Announced the war begun, 
 Said honest Bill, 
 With right good will, 
 
 " If soldiers go I m one. 
 
 (3) 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 His father said, 
 
 " My son, you ll dread 
 To be where bullets fly; 
 
 We need a man 
 
 Of nerve, who can 
 Do mighty deeds, or die." 
 
 Said Bill, ">Tis so; 
 
 Yet I can go, 
 And when the call does come 
 
 For those who ll fight 
 
 For Freedom s right, 
 I ll tell them, I will drum." 
 
 "God bless you, then; 
 
 Such boys make MEN," 
 The father quick replied; 
 
 " Take drum in hand, 
 
 And through the land 
 Go forth your country s pride." 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Now, Billy, he 
 Had long in glee 
 
 Drummed as a village boy; 
 Yet never thought, 
 "With men who fought. 
 
 To find the same employ. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 "But now/ said he, 
 
 " I ll braver be ; 
 111 march forth in the van; 
 
 And though a youth, 
 
 Will fight for truth, 
 And do whatever I can." 
 
 Soon every wall 
 
 Displayed a call 
 For those who d shoulder gun, 
 
 And march to save, 
 
 From rebel grave, 
 That which their fathers won. 
 
 "Let shop and field 
 Their brave men yield, 
 
 The Stars and Stripes to bear, 
 And fight as they 
 Of olden day 
 
 Who went with sword and prayer." 
 

 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Not long the call 
 
 Ere good men all 
 Sprang forth from vale and hill; 
 
 And with the crowd 
 
 Came, shouting loud 
 For Union, honest Bill ; 
 
 Who said, " Pve come, 
 
 With my own drum, 
 To march as one of you. 
 
 Put down my name, 
 
 And quick proclaim 
 Me drummer boy, and true." 
 
 Now, to see Bill, 
 
 Came Frank and Will, 
 And all the lads in town : 
 
 John, Dick, and Eob, 
 
 Pete, Tim, and Bob, 
 And every Smith and Brown, 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 And pretty girls 
 
 With silken curls, 
 With merry shout and song; 
 
 Till Bill, the pet, 
 
 Was well beset 
 With quite a friendly throng. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah! " 
 
 Both near and far, 
 Was heard upon the breeze; 
 
 And people said, 
 
 As home they sped, 
 Thank God for boys like these. 77 
 
 The village gave 
 
 Its good and brave 
 The hour to march drew nigh ; 
 
 And friends came near, 
 
 With hearty cheer, 
 To bid them all good by. 
 
 From voices strong 
 Shouts loud and long 
 
 Woke valley, field, and hill ; 
 While every boy 
 Made known his joy 
 
 In shouts for drummer Bill. 
 
12 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Each soldier passed, 
 And when the last 
 
 Had vanished from their sight, 
 All said, "We give, 
 That truth may live, 
 
 These brave ones to the fight/ 7 
 
 On Bunker Hill 
 Was next seen Bill, 
 
 And next in Faneuil Hall; 
 Whence, mid huzzas 
 And loud hurrahs, 
 
 Rolled on the Union ball. 
 
 On the next day 
 
 Up famed Broadway 
 The soldiers marched, and some 
 
 Amid the crowd 
 
 Shouted aloud, 
 " Cheers for the boy and drum. 7 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY, 
 
 13 
 
 The drummer boy 
 Found full employ, 
 
 For, as he marched along, 
 His drum he d tap, 
 Then raise his cap 
 
 To the admiring throng. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 15 
 
 And when at last, 
 The marching past, 
 
 The people gathered round, 
 Bill almost thought 
 He had been brought 
 
 To some old magic ground. 
 
 In spacious hall 
 
 The soldiers all 
 Were given the best of cheer; 
 
 And old and young 
 
 The praises sung 
 Of the Union volunteer. 
 
 "When came the night, 
 
 The brilliant light, 
 And flags, and streamers gay, 
 
 Made all things seem 
 
 A fairy dream 
 Of lands afar away. 
 
16 THE DRUM HER BOY. 
 
 Bill s drum was heard, 
 And all hearts stirred, 
 
 Their country s wish to know; 
 And all declared 
 Themselves prepared 
 
 To take a gun and go. 
 
 For such a tone 
 Was seldom known 
 
 Since days of seventy-six. 
 Men thither sped, 
 And, laughing, said, 
 
 " Put in, my boy, the licks." 
 
 And Bill did drum 
 Old "Hail Colum 7 , 77 
 
 And "Yankee Doodle, doo; 7 
 " Off for the War/ 7 
 And "Three Cheers for 
 
 The Red, the White, and Blue. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 17 
 
 Till thousands came, 
 
 Who d heard his fame 
 In workshop, field, and mill ; 
 
 And from the crowd 
 
 Rose voices loud 
 In shouts for drummer Bill. 
 
THE DRUM HER BOY. 19 
 
 But here no more; 
 
 To Baltimore 
 Came word for them to haste ; 
 
 Quick as the word 
 
 Their march was heard 
 No time had they to waste. 
 
 The scene now changed; 
 
 On each side ranged, 
 Were crowds of men and boys 
 
 With clubs and stones; 
 
 With shouts and groans 
 They made a hideous noise. 
 
 But spite of these, 
 
 Upon the breeze 
 The Stars and Stripes were cast; 
 
 And brave men would, 
 
 As all men should, 
 Defend them to the last. 
 
20 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 "Wave, wave on high, 
 
 Flag of the sky!" 
 They shouted, though there rained 
 
 A shower of bricks, 
 
 Of stones and sticks, 
 And half the men were maimed. 
 
 " Go on --go on ! " 
 
 And it was done; 
 And maddened rebels found 
 
 The Union flag 
 
 Would never drag 
 Its stars upon the ground, - 
 
 But ever be 
 
 Flag of the free, 
 And banner of the brave ; 
 
 The ensign bright 
 
 That will, for Right, 
 Our country s honor save. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 21 
 
 In dreams that night 
 
 Bill saw the fight; 
 The spirits of his sires 
 
 Seemed near to be, 
 
 And he could see 
 The light of their camp fires ; - 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 23 
 
 Could hear report, 
 
 From field and fort, 
 Amid the din and noise, - 
 
 "First blow to-night 
 
 For God and Right! 
 Well done, my noble boys ! " 
 
 Bill stronger grew, 
 
 For well he knew 
 A Power would with him go, 
 
 Each act to bless, 
 
 And give success 
 To him against the foe. 
 
 When weeks had passed, 
 
 Bill s lot was cast 
 With twenty thousand more, 
 
 Holding a field, 
 
 They ne er would yield, 
 On fair Potomac s shore. 
 
24 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 NG^ 
 
 The camp of Bill 
 
 Was on a hill 
 That overlooked the stream; 
 
 And he could see, 
 
 Far o er the lea, 
 The soldiers bayonets gleam ; 
 
 Hear footsteps light, 
 
 At dead of night, 
 And the sentry s watchful call; 
 
 While far on high, 
 
 In the peaceful sky, 
 The moon watched over all. 
 
 Our hero went 
 
 The President 
 To see; and said he d come, 
 
 Thinking he might 
 
 Cheer those who fight, 
 With the music of his drum. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 25 
 
 He welcome found 
 
 By all around, 
 Who thanked him for the call ; 
 
 And drummed at noon 
 
 A patriot tune 
 Within the White House hall 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 27 
 
 When some inquired 
 
 Why he aspired 
 In such a time to come, 
 
 And in a cause 
 
 Of daring wars. 
 He answered with his drum. 
 
 And then they said, 
 
 "If we are led 
 By men as bold and brave, 
 
 On every hand, 
 
 Throughout our land, 
 The Union flag will wave. 77 
 
 But no delay; 
 
 News came that day, 
 " The rebel mob comes on, 
 
 With sword in hand, 
 
 With torch and brand, 
 To burn up Washington. 77 
 
28 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 "Never ! " was said ; 
 
 " Sooner be dead 
 Each man, than they destroy, 
 
 Or venture near, 
 
 What w^e hold dear," 
 Thus spoke the drummer boy : 
 
 " Flag of the free, 
 Wave thou, and be 
 
 Our ensign in the fight ! 
 As on we press, 
 Give thou success 
 
 Our country, and the right ! " 
 
 " Now, pass the word, 
 Take gun and sword ! " 
 
 They did ; and shouted loud, 
 As o er the hill 
 They saw our Bill, 
 
 The foremost in the crowd. 
 
THE D HUMMER BOY. 
 
 29 
 
 Ten thousand men, 
 Through vale and glen, 
 
 Rushed on to meet the foe; 
 With watchful eye, 
 And powder dry, 
 
 They struck a fearless blow. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 31 
 
 In all the fight 
 
 Bill stood upright; 
 A noble boy was he, 
 
 Who knew no fear, 
 
 Though very near 
 The rebels he could see. 
 
 The whistling shot 
 
 Flew o er the spot ; 
 The shell to fragments burst; 
 
 But when the day 
 
 Had passed away, 
 The rebels had the worst. 
 
 0, sad the sight, 
 
 That starry night, 
 Upon the battle field ! 
 
 For brave men fell, 
 
 In vale and dell, 
 Who d rather die than yield. 
 
32 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Our drummer boy 
 Found full employ 
 
 In doing good to all ; 
 Bathed fevered head, 
 And quickly sped 
 
 In answer to each call ; 
 
 Till quiet reigned, 
 
 And bruised and maimed 
 
 Had nothing to annoy; 
 And every tongue 
 The praises sung 
 
 Of Bill, the drummer boy. 
 
 In camp once more ; 
 
 And though a score 
 Of noble men were slain, 
 
 Each man that night 
 
 Felt he could fight 
 With double zeal again. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 33 
 
 Tip-top of hill 
 Oft seen was Bill, 
 
 Watching, with eager eye, 
 To catch one glance, 
 Should foes advance 
 
 With stealthy footsteps nigh. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 35 
 
 Should they draw near, 
 
 He hoped to hear 
 The long drum roll resound, 
 
 And in the fight 
 
 Once more unite 
 With those in battle found. 
 
 For was it not 
 
 A glorious thought, 
 That Freedom s arms had won ? 
 
 And all might tell 
 
 How true and well 
 Great deeds for Right were done ? 
 
 The tented field 
 
 Some sport did yield, 
 For after drill came play; 
 
 And every man 
 
 Devised some plan 
 To drive dull care away. 
 
36 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Three months passed by 
 
 Then very nigh 
 The rebels once more pressed ; 
 
 Perfect in drill 
 
 Our men, and Bill 
 As perfect as the rest. 
 
 And there were none 
 
 Could hold a gun 
 Or inarch more true than him ; 
 
 "VVhate er he tried, 
 
 It was his pride 
 To do it neat and trim. 
 
 The hour had come 
 For work ; the drum 
 
 Of Bill was heard to sound ; 
 At mid of night, 
 With footsteps light, 
 
 They loft the camping ground. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 37 
 
 None heard their tread, 
 
 As on they sped, 
 And passed the Long Bridge o er ; 
 
 And ere the dawn 
 
 Proclaimed the morn, 
 They trod Virginia s shore. 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 39 
 
 And nothing stirred; 
 
 No sound was heard 
 Save the measured martial tread 
 
 Of the army throng, 
 
 As it passed along 
 With the Union flag ahead. 
 
 As they drew nigh 
 
 They could espy, 
 In some odd, awkward place, 
 
 A window raised, 
 
 While at them gazed 
 A curious, peering face. 
 
 While here and there 
 
 Was seen to stare 
 A negro in full grin ; 
 
 Who laughed aloud 
 
 At the coming crowd, 
 Wond ring how it got in. 
 
40 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 He gazed and gawked, 
 Then slowly walked, 
 
 And finding no harm fall, 
 He bolder grew, 
 And at them flew, 
 
 And thus spoke up to all : 
 
 " 0, Lor 7 a mass 7 , 
 
 I ll let yer pass, 
 Ise not a scart o 7 you ; 
 
 You ve come to free 
 
 Sich ones as me 
 Now tell me what ll I do. 
 
 " Gee hup, gee ho, 
 
 With you I ll go; 
 I tell yers Ise am some ; 
 
 Ho, ho, - - he, he, 
 
 Mine eyes! just set 
 That small boy with a drum." 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 41 
 
 The drum was still, 
 
 Yet drummer Bill 
 Then waved it high in air ; 
 
 Pomp laughed and bawled 
 
 So loud, he called 
 A host of negroes there ; 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 43 
 
 Who with them brought 
 
 Near every sort 
 Of weapon, save a gun ; 
 
 And loud declared 
 
 They were prepared 
 To " make dem rebels ran." 
 
 So on all went, 
 
 With good intent, 
 And when the day was done, 
 
 Those who, till night, 
 
 Had fought for right, 
 Saw Alexandria won. 
 
 Then wild huzza 
 
 And loud hurrah 
 Were borne upon the air, 
 
 To tell the world 
 
 Our flag unfurled 
 Was waving proudly there. 
 
44 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 "What in this war 
 Do we fight for? 77 
 
 Our hero asked himself; 
 Then he could hear 
 A voice quite near, 
 
 " Tis not for sordid pelf" 
 
 The voice spake on: 
 " God s will be done; 
 
 Do not from duty shrink; 
 The work to do, 
 Good men and true, 
 
 Is greater than you think. 77 
 
 "On banners write, 
 In words of light, 
 
 4 The cause of Freedom grows ; 
 Fetters shall fall 
 From each, and all 
 
 Be free where this flag goes. 7 7 
 
THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 i 
 
 So Bill, that night, 
 On his flag did write, 
 
 In letters all could see, 
 Mid guns and swords, 
 These glorious words : 
 
 " MANKIND SHALL ALL BE -FREE." 
 
YH 
 
 Ill peace he slept; 
 
 He saw us free bam 
 
 3 ;: .-; _-.;.; . . _ .: 
 Hie prize, twas brought 
 Over a thousand 
 
 And when he woke 
 And found the joke 
 His duty twas to bear, 
 
 r :: lii-.l ^.i 
 In every hour, 
 He knelt him down in 
 
 He felt like those 
 Who saw oor Nation s 
 And said, "We fight 
 For the sacred right 
 Of miiKflnfi yet unborn, 
 
 * 7 
 
48 THE DRUMMER BOY. 
 
 Armed with this truth, 
 
 Bill, noble youth, 
 Is marching while you read ; 
 
 You ll not be slow 
 
 To bid, I know, 
 Him "Onward, and God-speed! 
 
 These simple rhymes, 
 
 Of these great times, 
 May give your heart a joy, 
 
 For now you know 
 
 To war doth go 
 Your friend, the Drummer Bov. 
 
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