| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1573. Joined the Blues |
| | | By John Jerome Rooney |
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| SAYS Stonewall Jackson to “Little Phil:” “Phil, have you heard the news? | |
| Why, our ‘Joe’ Wheeler—‘Fighting Joe’—has gone and joined the blues. | |
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| “Ay, no mistake—I saw him come—I heard the oath he took— | |
| And you ’ll find it duly entered up in yon great Record Book. | |
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| “Yes, ‘Phil,’ it is a change since then (we give the Lord due thanks) | 5 |
| When ‘Joe’ came swooping like a hawk upon your Sherman’s flanks! | |
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| “Why, ‘Phil,’ you knew the trick, yourself—but ‘Joe’ had all the points— | |
| And we ’ve yet to hear his horses died of stiff or rusty joints! | |
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| “But what of that?—the deed I saw to-day in yonder town | |
| Leads all we did and all ‘Joe’ did in troopings up and down; | 10 |
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| “For, ‘Phil,’ that oath be the heal of many a bleeding wound, | |
| And many Southland song shall yet to that same oath be tuned! | |
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| “The oath ‘Joe’ swore has done the work of thrice a score of years— | |
| Ay, more than oath—he swore away mistrust and hate and tears!” | |
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| “Yes, yes,” says “Phil,” “he was, indeed, a right good worthy foe, | 15 |
| And well he knew, in those fierce days, to give us blow for blow. | |
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| “When ‘Joe’ came round to pay a call—the commissaries said— | |
| Full many a swearing, grumbling ‘Yank’ went supperless to bed: | |
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| “He seemed to have a pesky knack—so Sherman used to say— | |
| Of calling, when he should be rights be ninety miles away! | 20 |
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| “Come, Stonewall, put your hand in mine,—‘Joe’ ’s sworn old Samuel’s oath— | |
| We ’re never North or South again—he kissed the Book for both!” | |
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