Poems (Jones)/Fort Donelson

by Amanda Theodosia Jones

FORT DONELSON. FEBRUARY 16, 1862.

OW what the tide of Right can stay?
 The Southern demon cowers;
Our foes fling down their arms today—
 Fort Donelson is ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers!—pale Treason hears,
   And owns the Stripes and Stars!

Three days have loyal hearts and true
 Poured out their crimson showers;
Oh, never fell such precious dew!
 Fort Donelson is ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers!—our country hears:
   All hail the Stripes and Stars!

Wild ran the fire along our veins,
 To nerve our failing powers;
We strewed with death the reeking plains;
 But—Donelson is ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers! till Europe hears:
   All hail the Stripes and Stars!

The frowning hills above us stood
 Like doorless, granite towers:
There traitors lurked, athirst for blood;
 They and the hills are ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers!—Creation hears:
   All hail the Stripes and Stars!

Down on our right their cannon-balls
 Dropped swift as summer showers;
On rushed our troops—right through their walls!
 Fort Donelson was ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers!—high Heaven hears:
   All hail the Stripes and Stars!

Yes, Heaven and we have won the day—
 The Southern demon cowers;
Now what the tide of Right can stay?
 Fort Donelson is ours!
  Up with the Federal flag, my boys!
   Down with the Stars and Bars!
  Three times three cheers!—three times three cheers!
   God save the Stripes and Stars!