Poetry Archives

Mount to horse—mount to horse;
  Forward, Battalion!
Gallop the gallant force;
  Down with Rebellion!
Over hill, creek and plain
  Clatter the fearless—
Dash away—splash away—
  Led by the Peerless.

Carbines crack—foemen fly
  Hither and thither;
Under the death-fire
  They falter and wither.
Burn the bridge—tear the track—
  Down with Rebellion!
Cut the wires—cut the wires!
  Forward, Battalion!
Day and night—night and day,
  Gallop the fearless—
Swimming the rivers’ floods—
  Led by the Peerless;
Depots and powder-trains
  Blazing and thundering
Masters and dusky slaves
  Gazing and wondering.
Eight hundred miles they ride—
  Dauntless Battalion—
Down through the Southern Land
  Mad with Rebellion.
Into our lines they dash—
  Brave Cavaliers—
Greeting our flag with
  A thunder of cheers.