The following poem
was written by D. Bethune Duffield, Esq., a longtime "friend
of the 24th". It was read on the occasion of the presentation
of new flags on April 27, 1864. These flags were to replace the
one damaged at Gettysburg, which
the poem alludes to. The photographs depict the current state
of these flags. The poem comes directly from Curtis,
p. 226-227. The original title of this poem is currently unknown.
Several
have suggested the possibility that this poem was actually put to music and
sung. This is a very intriguing notion. If it had been set to music
I have no idea what the tune might be. Many Civil War songs used the tunes of
popular period melodies. In fact, many used traditional Irish or Scottish
airs. If anyone has a suggestion as to what tune the words might fit, I
would be most interested.
1. What tho' fair maids be sighing, and what tho' wives are
crying,
As they buckle on the belt;
Our flag is up and flying, and soldier buys are dying,
Where the battle's blows are dealt.
CHORUS -- So march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And o'er each hill and glade, where our noble boys are laid,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
2. You know the stormy waking when day was slowly breaking,
'Round Frederick's cloudy height;
How like the thunder quaking, our guns the hills were shaking,
And how bloody was the fight.
CHORUS -- Then march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And on Frederick's Esplanade, where our noble boys are laid,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
3. At Fitzhugh's bloody crossing, how dark those waves were
tossing,
As our boats rushed on their way.
With oar and musket clashing, and bullets round us splashing,
How we stormed on to the fray.
CHORUS -- Then march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And along the river's shade, when the cannon on us played,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
4. Then through the midnight marching, our tongues all dry
and parching,
To Chancellorsville we prest;
When, from the dead fast piling, the noblest souls were filing,
To the soldier's final rest.
CHORUS -- Then march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
.And through that dreary glade where those hero boys are laid,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
5. Next, thro' Gettysburg we trod; and still trusting in our
God,
Thro' those Independence Days,
With our blood we soaked the sod, and o'er hundreds heaped the
clod,
Their holy mound of praise.
CHORUS -- Then march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And when that grassy glade, by our blue coats was o'erlaid,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
6. Then Peck our colors grasping, tho' death his form was clasping,
Still held them up in sight,
Till other hands were reaching, and other boys beseeching,
To bear them thru' the fight.
CHORUS -- So march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And where they all were laid, Grace, Dickey, Safford,
Speed,
We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade,
The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
7. That flag now rent and tattered, by shell and bullet shattered,
Is sacred in our eyes;
For when the Captain found it, five
brave ones were lying around it,
Who fell to save the prize.
CHORUS -- Then march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
Since by each broken blade, that on their breasts were laid,
They won immortal birth, for the Triple State Brigade,
For the Iron Clad. Brigade and our gallant Twenty-fourth.
8. What tho' fair maids be sighing, and what tho' wives are
crying.
As they buckle on the belt,
Our flag is up and flying, and soldier boys are dying,
Where the battle's blows are dealt.
CHORUS--So march, boys, march
with the gallant Twenty-fourth,
And if by hill or glade, in our blanket robes we're laid,
Still our land shall see the worth of our Triple State Brigade,
The Iron Clad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth.
Flag Photograph courtesy of the Michigan Capitol Commission, Peter Glendinning, photographer. Used with permission
Last Updated: 12/25/00
Webmaster: Rob Richardson
robr@advnet.net
All original material © Copyright 1999, 2000 Rob Richardson
Flag Photographs © Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000 Michigan Capitol
Commission