Many other ditties followed, filling the moonlight night with
song--"The Bonnie Blue Flag," "Katy Wells," and "The Louisiana Colors."
This last was never printed. Here are a few of the gay verses of the
"Irish Lad from Dixie:"--
"My sweetheart's name is Kathleen,
For her I'll do or die;
She has a striped straw mattress,
A shanty, pig, and sty.
Her cheeks are bright and beautiful,
Her hair is dark and curly,
She sent me with the secesh boys
To fight with General Early.
"She made our flag with her own hands,
My Kathleen fair and clever,
And twined its staff with shamrock green,
Old Ireland's pride forever!
She gave it into our trust,
Among our weeping mothers;--
'Remember, Irish men!' she said,
'You bear the Red Cross colors!'
"She told me I must never run;
The Rebel boys were brothers;--
To stand forever by our flag,
The Louisiana colors!
And then she said, 'If you desert,
You'll go to the Old Baily!'
Says I, 'My love, when I can't shoot,
I'll use my old shillalah!'
"And many a bloody charge we made,
Nor mind the battle's blaze;
God gave to us a hero bold,
Our bonny Harry Hays!
And on the heights of Gettysburg,
At twilight first was seen,
The stars of Louisiana bright,
And Katy's shamrock green.
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