Iowa During the Civil War

BATTLE AT BLACK RIVER BRIDGE

BY CADE, CO. E. 22^ND IOWA

Twas on a sabbath morn,

and the seventeenth of May,

while the sun was shinning bright,

as we marched on our way;

The Rebels fired upon our line,

When we went charging to the right,

And soon engaged them in a fight.

They were entrenched, tis true,

Behind their works quite strong:

But soon our generals gave command,

Brave boys, come right along.

The twenty third from Iowa

Were first upon their works that day.

They made a very gallant charge,

When Rebs thought they would run at large;

But this was a mistake,

The twenty first (**)stepped in,

And so did the Wisconsin (*) boys,

To take the Rebels in.

And fifteen hundred Rebs, they say,

Were taken prisners on that day;

While others ran and left the place,

To our brave boys, a nobler race.

Well really, it looks strange,

To view these Rebels pits,

That they would give them up so soon:

We must have given them fits.

But I feel very proud to say,

I think were bound to win the day,

And crush the Rebels in this fight;

Four sure our country must be right,

And now my storys told,

The next move we will make

Will be upon that Rebel town

Of Vicksburg; which well take;

For in the name of God we go,

To conquer our great nations foe:

And we shall take it sure, I say,

With General Grant to lead the way.

** Twenty First Iowa

* Eleventh Wisconsin

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