Digital Tradition Mirror

U.S. Infantry

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

U.S. Infantry

To the tune of "The Rising Of The Moon."

In the army of the Union we are marching in the van
And we'll do the work before us that the bravest soldiers can,
We will drive the rebel forces from their strongholds to the sea
And we'll live and die together in the U.S. Infantry,
                                in the U.S. Infantry,
                                in the U.S. Infantry
We will live and die together in the U.S. Infantry.

Yes we are the best Division of a half a million souls
And only resting on our arms until the war cry onward rolls,
When our gallant General Porter calls well ready we shall be
To follow him forever in the U.S. Infantry,
                      in the U.S. Infantry,
                      in the U.S. Infantry,
To follow him forever in the U.S. Infantry.

Though we live in winter quarters now we're waiting but the hour
When Porter's brave division will go forth in all its power,
And when on the field of battle and fighting we shall be
We'll show that we cannot disgrace the U.S. Infantry,
                                   the U.S. Infantry,
                                   the U.S. Infantry,
We'll show that we cannot disgrace the U.S. Infantry.

Then hurrah for our division may it soon be called to go
To add its strength to those who have advanced to meet the foe,
God bless it for we know right well wherever it may be
It will never fail to honor the U.S. Infantry,
          the U.S. Infantry,
          the U.S. Infantry,
It will never fail to honor the U.S. Infantry.


The "Rising Of The Moon" was the marching song of the Regular
Army Infantry before the Civil War.  These words were probably
written in the winter of 1861 when six of the ten pre-war
Regular Infantry Regiments had been formed into the Second
Division of Gen. Fitz John Porter's Fifth Corps. The "Regular
Division" would serve with distinction until late 1863 when
due to losses from two years of hard campaigns and many battles
it would be withdrawn from the field.

WM

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!