Classic Poem

How infamous that men should raise
The foul and bitter lie
That in the old secession days,
When din of war was high,
I dealt in traitorous sneer and brag
And did not dare to go
To battle for my country's flag
Against the rebel foe!

Who was it for the Stripes and Stars
Risked fortune, fame, and life?
Who bore away the purple scars
Of many a bloody strife?
Who was it led the patriot band
And held the flag on high?
Ay, tell me truly, if you can
Who was it, if not I?

At Vicksburg, braving sword and shell,
I gloried in the fray
Till finally I fainting fell
With one leg shot away;
But on to Corinth's ghastly field
I hastened to imbrue,
And did not hesitate to yield
A paltry arm or two!

And when with Sherman to the sea
Our gallant army cross'd,
The rebel bullets followed me—
Another leg I lost;
But still I gladly drained the cup
Of deep misfortune's harm,
And down at Gettysburg gave up
Another leg and arm!

So, gallant boys who wore the blue
Through all that dismal tide,
By all those bloody days we knew
When battling side by side,
Choke off the hideous lying throats
These slanders issue from—
And next November cast your vote
For patriotic Tom!