History of the Civil War

Cavalry Poem....The following poem on the Second Florida Cavalry was found in an issue of the Memphis Daily Appeal [Atlanta, GA], January 9, 1864, p. 1, c. 3. and apparently quotes the Lake City Columbian newspaper. This poem came by way of Robin Mitchell, who got it from Vicki Betts of the Texas Rifles (vbetts@gower.net). Vicki commented about her work in transcribing the poem, "It was harder to read than I thought originally. By 1864 the print and the paper were not of the best quality. Often entire letters just don't show up at all. Where there are underlines, I can't make out the words. I hope I've read the rest correctly. Perhaps the poem will show up in Florida sources in better shape, or maybe it will be picked up in another newspaper on down my project. And yes, I do believe that it is the Confederate 2nd Florida Cavalry, not the Federal".

FLORIDA SECOND CAVALRY

From the Lake City (Fla.) Columbian
Lines to the Flag of the Second Florida Cavalry
Presented December 22, 1863
By Miss Gilchrist, of Lake City
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"Ubi libertas, ibi patria."
-----------

Unfurl thy bright folds to the breezes of war,
Thou banner of freedom! Thou flag of our corps!
While we swear by thy starry cross, gleaming on high,
In the cause of our country to conquer or die.

For thine be our motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

By woman's hands wrought with a wonderful thrift;
By woman's heart brought unto us as a gift;
With magical charms by her blessing endowed,
We hail thee our talisman "_pl_ar and aloud."

And thine be our motto thou flag of the free
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

The women--God bless them!--like angels of light,
They cheer on our soldiers defending the right,
And we'll owe our glad triumph, whene're it shall come,
To the labors and prayers of the women at home.

Then ours be the motto that women gave thee:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

With thee waving o'er us we'll rush to the fray,
To make, like bold Arnold the Switzer, a way
For freedom and joy, though we [lose?] all in the strife;
For who, without freedom, would care for his life?

Henceforth be our motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

North's tyrants are trampling on liberty's laws;
We hear but of "war, and rumors of war;"
But we know by thy e_____, O thou banner of light'
That our God will yet favor and prosper the right!

So thine be our motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

The base Northern tyrant is subtle and strong;
His myrmidons swarm all our borders along;
But we know, by the stars gleaming proudly and still,
That he'd ne'er bend the South to his insolent will.

For thine is our motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

Yet while we oppose--by the robe ermine white--
We would yearn to be just in the thick of the fight
And when wounded foemen are set in our path
Be __dial _f ______ and well deserved wrath.

But aye be our motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

Ne'er flaunted a flag _ere defiant __ foe,
Nor waved more triumphant o'er foeman laid low,
Than wilt thou when we meet them in battle array,
And a Heaven blest valor shall win us the day.

We'll fight by thy motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

Nor e're floated flag on the zephyrs of peace
With more of a a __try like bounty and grace,
Than will thou when our liberty's sun shall arise,
Bringing joy to our hearts and glad light to our eyes.

We'll live by thy motto, thou flag of the free,
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

The North, like Goliath, came forth in its pride,
And thought to appal by its gigantic stride;
But in many a stream of the South hath been found
A pebble to bring our proud foe to the ground.

Then triumph thy motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells there our country shall be."

The plains of Manassas and Shiloh shall prove
How Southerners fighting for freedom can move,
While Richmond and Charleston forever shall stand,
To point the heroic defense of our land.

All hail to thy motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells there our country shall be."

They boast of their navy--as though we had none--
Ignoring what Semmes and Moffit have done;
But we fling back the taunt--let them search o'er the main
For their lost steamers Hatteras and Harriet Lane.

Then show them thy motto, thou flag of the free:
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

Then fling out thy folds to the breezes of war,
Thou banner of freedom! thou flag of our corps!
While we swear by the starry cross gleaming on high,
In the cause of our country to conquer or die,

For thine be our motto, thou flag of the free,
"Where liberty dwells, there our country shall be."

-- S. of Company K.

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