10/21/2022
American Army
The call is after soundin’ assembly for parade:
The sergeants front an’ centre, have dutifully said,
“All present or accounted for, “an’ while the bugles blow,
With “Forward-guide right-march.” We do the best we know.
Us Englishmen an’ Frenchmen, Hungarians an’ Scotch, Eyetalyans an’ Dutch: An’ Scandinavians from above, An’ Switzers from below,
For there you see, before you the – American Army O!
Their ‘coutrements are pretty slick, for who could wear the Blue.
An’ breathe this air, an’ not resolve to do as Romans do?
An’ faith, if not, they’ll quickly learn in quite another way,
By marching to the guardhouse or by losing half their pay.
Those Englishmen an’ Frenchmen, Hungarians an’ Scotch, Eyetalyans an’ Dutch: An’ Scandinavians from above, An’ Switzers from below,
For there you see, before you the – American Army O!
Here brown men, an’ black men an’ red men are seen,
An’ tall men an’ small men an’ fat men an’ lean,
With short steps an’ long steps – a canter and a walk-
An’ holy Moses! What a babel, when you hear’em talk!
Those Englishmen an’ Frenchmen, Hungarians an’ Scotch, Eyetalyans an’ Dutch: An’ Scandinavians from above, An’ Switzers from below,
For there you see, before you the – American Army O!
Maginnis scowls at Johnny Bull, an’ Yawcob Meyer roars at Jean Duval;
An’ I have heard the company countin’ fours.
In seven different languages, on which eventful day
The captain burst a blood vessel an’ fainted dead away.
Those Englishmen an’ Frenchmen, Hungarians an’ Scotch, Eyetalyans an’ Dutch:
An’ Scandinavians from above, An’ Switzers from below,
For there you see, before you the – American Army O!
Ah, will we never see the time when, as our glances run
Along the line, we’ll only find Americans – everyone!
Who love the “sky-born beauties” that from yonder flagstaff wave,
Of which they mothers sweetly sung-their fathers bled to save?
No Englishmen no Frenchmen, Hungarians or Scotch,
Eyetalyans or Germans, No Irishmen nor Dutch,
But true-born, stanch Americans,
Whose hearts with home love glow, Then-then my man! You will witness an
American Army O!
Written by Private William Stokes, 1890 while stationed at Fort Hamilton.
Company G, 1st Artillery
USAG Fort Hamilton
West Point Museum
U.S. Army Center of Military History
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