Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GALLANT FIGHTING 'JOE', by JAMES STEVENSON (19TH CENTURY)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GALLANT FIGHTING 'JOE', by                    
First Line: From yorktown on the fourth of may
Last Line: Wherever he does go.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Hooker, Joseph (1814-1879); U.s. - History; Williamsburg, Virginia, Battle Of (1862)


FROM Yorktown on the fourth of May
The rebels did skedaddle,
And to pursue them on their way
Brave Hooker took the saddle.
"I'll lead you on, brave boys," he said,
"Where danger points the way;"
And drawing forth his shining blade,
"Move onward!" he did say.
Chorus -- Then we'll shout hurrah for Hooker, boys,
The gallant fighting Joe;
We'll follow him with heart and hand,
Wherever he does go.

"Forward, March!" then was the word
That passed from front to rear,
When all the men with one accord
Gave a loud and hearty cheer.
And then with Hooker at our head,
We marched in order good,
Till darkness all around us spread,
When we lay down in the wood.

Early next morn by break of day,
The rain in torrents fell;
"This day," brave Hooker he did say,
"Your valor it will tell.
Williamsburg is very near,
Be steady every man,
Let every heart be filled with cheer,
And I will take the van."

The gallant Massachusetts men
Fought well and nobly, too,
As did the men from good old Penn.,
And Jersey, ever true,
And Sickles' men like lions brave,
Their courage did display,
For gallantly they did behave
On the battle-field that day.

The men from Mass. and good old Penn.
That morn the fight began,
And like true, noble-hearted men,
Most nobly they did stand.
When Jersey's sons, the bold, the brave,
Not fearing lead nor steel,
Their gallant comrades for to save,
Dashed boldly to the field.

By every means the rebels sought
To stand the Jerseys' fire,
But soon for them it was too hot,
And they quickly did retire.
But getting reenforced again
With numbers very great.
The gallant band of Jerseymen
Were forced for to retreat.

"Now, Sickles' men," Hooker did say,
"Move out to the advance;
If you your courage would display,
Now you have got a chance.
The foe have forced us to give way,
They number six to one,
But still, my lads, we'll gain the day,
And I will lead you on."

Excelsior then the foremost stood,
Not knowing dread nor fear,
And met the rebels in the woods,
With a loud and hearty cheer.
Volley after volley flew,
Like hail the balls did fly,
And Hooker cried: "My heroes true,
We'll conquer or we'll die."

Our ammunition being gone,
Brave Hooker then did say:
"Reenforcements fast are coming on,
My lads, do not give way.
Keep good your ground, our only chance
Is t' remain upon the field.
And if the rebels dare advance,
We'll meet them with the steel."

'T was then brave Kearny did appear,
Who ne'er to foe would yield,
To him we gave a hearty cheer,
As he rushed on the field.
"Now, charge! my lads," then Hooker cried,
"Our work will soon be done,
For with brave Kearny by our side,
The rebels we'll make run."

And since that time we all do know
The battles he hath won;
He beat the rebels at Bristow,
And chased them to Bull Run;
And had we a few more loyal men
Like the gallant fighting "Joe,"
The war would soon be at an end,
Then home we all would go.

Singing, hurrah, hurrah, for Hooker's boys,
The gallant Fighting Joe,
We'll follow him with heart and hand,
Wherever he does go.





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