A Civil War song and chorus, 1865
Music by Lieut. J. O. Rockwell
Words by Lieut. S. H. M. Byers
Arranged by A. E. Wimmerstedt
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- Our campfire shone bright on the mountains
That frowned on the river below,
While we stood by our guns in the morning
And eagerly watched for the foe,
When a rider came out from the darkness,
That hung over mountain and tree
CHORUS [repeated twice]
And shouted “boys, up and be ready,
For Sherman will march to the sea.” - Then cheer upon cheer, for bold Sherman,
Went up from each valley and glen,
And the bugles reechoed the music
That came from the lips of the men;
For we knew that the stars on our banner
More bright in their splendor would be,
CHORUS [repeated twice]
And that blessings from Northland would greet us
When Sherman marched down to the sea. - Then forward, boys, forward to battle
We marched on our wearisome way,
And we stormed the wild hills of Resacca—
God bless those who fell on that day:
Then Kennesaw, dark in its glory,
Frowned down on the flag of the free;
CHORUS [repeated twice]
But the East and the West bore our standards,
And Sherman marched on to the sea. - Still onward we pressed, till our banner
Swept out from Atlanta’s grim walls,
And the blood of the patriot dampened
The soil where the traitor flag falls;
But we passed not to weep for the fallen,
Who slept by each river and tree,
CHORUS [repeated twice]
Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel
As Sherman marched down to the sea. - O, proud was our army that morning,
That stood where the pine proudly towers,
When Sherman said “boys, you are weary;
This day fair Savannah is ours!”
Then sang we a song for our chieftain,
That echoed o’er river and lea,
CHORUS [repeated twice]
And the stars in our banner shone brighter,
When Sherman marched down to the sea
Sung here by Vancha March: