45. the order of the day.
by G. Forrester Barstow.
air--“Jeannette and Jeannot.” The morning light is breaking, the darkness disappears;
Away with idle sorrow, away with idler fears!
We are marching to the South, where we'll find or force a way,
For Onward!
Right Onward!
is the Order of the Day.
Our country's flag is o'er us, and can traitors stand before us,
While the Stars and Stripes are gleaming in summer's golden ray?
No!
we'll bear that banner proudly, where the cannon thunders loudly,
We'll bear it on in triumph through the thickest of the fray.
The bugle's note is sounding the summons to the fight,
A gallant leader guides us, and God defends the right:
We go to fight for Freedom, for the Union, for the Laws,
And never gallant soldiers fought for any nobler cause,
With the Stars and Stripes above us, with the prayers of those that love us,
All ready, all steady, we're marching on our way:
The foe will fly before us, and Victory hover o'er us,
For Onward!
Right Onward!
is the Order of the Day.
The call to arms has sounded on broad Atlantic's shore,
We catch its echo from the land that gleams with golden ore;
From every Northern mountain, from every Western plain,
We come to clear our country's flag from every blot and stain.
The laurels that have crowned it, the wreathes that hang around it,
Won by our noble fathers on many a battle plain,
No traitor's hand shall sever, but we'll battle now and ever,
Till we bring the olden glory to the good old flag again.
