(Bear in mind,)
Nor that you've good eyes and we are blind,--
Nothing of the kind,--
But it's something else, if it isn't more:
The reason--pardon!--you had to cotton
Was simply this: Your _Cause_ was rotten,--
Rotten to the very core:
That's what's the matter!

But you ought to 'a' heard our water-dogs yelp!--
Just an hour and fifteen minutes!--
(Twitter away, you English linnets!)
Horizontal and perpendicular,
Fair and square, without any help,--
That is, any in particular,--
The old ferry wash-tubs of the West,
With some new-fashioned _hoops_, for a little test,
And a few old _pounders_ from--Kingdom Come,
And nothing for suds but the "Nawth'n scum,"
Made these "gen'l'men" turn as white
As a head o' hair in a single night!
Cleaned their army completely out,
(We're going to give _that_ another wipe!)
On the double-quick, by the shortest route,--
Wrung their stronghold from their gripe,--
Brought their garrison right to taw,
And made 'em get down to the "higher law"!

So that when Grant and his boys came up,
(There's places enough for a man to die!)
Swearing that we had "spoiled" their "sport,"
With a quiet twinkle in his eye,
Old Boss asked 'em to come in and sup,
And set 'em to _house-keeping_ in the Fort!--
But all the old fellow could say or do,
They'd still keep a-going it: "Bully for _you_!"

"Bully" for Grant and for Foote!--
E'en if the voice must tremble,--
And "bully" for all who helped 'em to do 't!
Bully for Porter and Stemble!
For Paulding and for Walke,--
For Phelps, for Gwin, and for Shirk!--
But what's the use to talk?
They were all of 'em up to the work!
Bully for each brave tub
That bore the Union Blue!
And for every mother's son
Of every gallant crew,
Whatever his color or name,
Who, when it came to the rub,
Shall be found to have been _game_!

* * * * *

Such was the Rhyme of the Master's Mate,
Just as they found it in the locker,
With this at the foot:--
"It's getting late,
And I hear a pretty loud Knock at the knocker!
Captain, if I should chance to fall,
Try to send me home. Good bye!" That's all,--
Excepting the date, the name, and rank:--
"Feb. 12th, '62, ---- ----,
Master's Mate."

All