Oh! shipmates, come rally, and join in my ditty.
Of a terrible battle that happened of late;
Let each good Union-Tar shed a tear of sad pity,
As he listens to the once gallant Cumberland's fate.
It was the Eighth day of March told a terrible story.
And many a tar to this world bid adieu!
But our flag it was wrapt in a mantle of glory,
By the heroic deeds of the Cumberlands
crew...
On that
ill-fated day about ten in the
morning,
sky it was clear, and bright shone the
drums of the Cumberland sounded a
warning,
Bidding
each gallant seaman to stand by his
iron-clad frigate down on us came
bearing.
While high in the air a rebel flag flew;
pennant of treason she proudly was
waving.
Determined to conquer the Cumberland's
So our
noble ship fired her guns' dreadful
thunder.
broad-sides, like hail, on the Rebels did
But our
sailors gazed on, filled with terror and
wonder-
As the
shots struck her sides and glanced harmlessly
But the
pride of our navy could never be
daunted,
Tho' the dead and the dying her deck they did strew;
And the
flag of our Union how proudly she
flaunted.
tained by the blood of the Cumberland's
Electric and Drum Solo:
hours we fought them with stern reso
lution,
Till the
rebels found cannon could never de
flag of secession had no power to
gall them,
Tho' the
blood from their scuppers it crimson'd the
As they struck us on mid-ship, our planks she did sever,
Her sharp iron prong pierced our noble ship
still, though she splintered and twisted hard
die at our guns! cried the Cumberland's
Softly...
slowly they sank 'Neath Virginia's dark
waters,
voices on earth will ne'er be heard
They'll be
mourned by Columbia's brave sons and fair
daughters!
May their
blood be avenged on Virginia's
shore!-
In their battle-stained graves they are silently lying-
Their souls have forever to each bid adieu!
But the star-spangled banner above them is still flying;
For it was nailed to the mast by the Cumberland's crew.

INVIA LE CORREZIONI