The Cumberland

    On board of the Cumberland sloop-of-war；

    And at times from the fortress¹ across the bay

    The alarum of drums swept past

    Or a bugle² blast

    From the camp on the shore.

    Then far away to the south uprose

    A little feather of snow-#CCCCFF smoke

    And we knew that the iron ship of our foes³

    Was steadily⁴ steering⁵ its course

    To try the force

    Of our ribs⁶ of oak.

    Down upon us heavily runs

    Silent and sullen⁷ the floating fort；

    Then comes a puff⁸ of smoke from her guns

    And leaps the terrible death

    With fiery⁹ breath

    From each open port.

    We are not idle but send her straight

    Defiance¹⁰ back in a full broadside！

    As hail rebounds¹¹ from a roof of slate¹²

    Rebounds our heavier hail

    From each iron scale

    Of the monster's hide.

    Strike your flag！ the rebel cries

    In his arrogant¹³ old plantation¹⁴ strain.

    Never！ our gallant¹⁵ Morris replies；

    It is better to sink than to yield！

    And the whole air pealed¹⁶

    With the cheers of our men.

    Then like a kraken huge and #CCCCFF

    She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp！

    Down went the Cumberland all a wrack¹⁷

    With a sudden shudder¹⁸ of death

    And the cannon's breath

    For her dying gasp¹⁹.

    Next morn as the sun rose over the bay

    Still floated our flag at the mainmast head.

    Lord how beautiful was Thy day！

    Every waft²⁰ of the air

    Was a whisper of prayer

    Or a dirge²¹ for the dead.

    Ho！ brave hearts that went down in the seas！

    Ye are at peace in the troubled stream；

    Ho！ brave land！ with hearts like these

    Thy flag that is rent in twain

    Shall be one again

    And without a seam！