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SOLDIER SONGS
We'd fifty men in column — no time to close a rank — We yanked our horses sideways and fired by the flank, But, though we volleyed through 'em and dropped the foremost
ones, The rest came on like devils, right up against our guns.
Now half our boys were rookies who'd never smelt a fight; The yappin' Cheyenne war-whoop just turned 'em blue with
fright. They started breakin' column and first we veterans knew, The troop had gone to blazes and let the redskins through.
The sergeants clubbed their carbines, the Captain prayed and
swore; It didn't stop the rookies; they wouldn't stand for more. Then a bullet caught my mustang and ploughed him underneath And he bolted toward the hostiles with the bit between his teeth.
Thinks I, "Here's good-bye, Jimmie; but I'll make these heathen
grunt," So I grabbed my Colt and opened as we sailed into their front. But they cleared a passage for me and I couldn't trust my eyes When their outfit broke and scattered, scootin' back across the
rise.
Then I turned and, there behind me, all strung out along my trail, Came the boys of "B" Troop, ridin' like a sizzin' comet's tail, With their horses at the gallop and revolvers poppin' gay For they thought I'd led a rally when my mustang ran away!
So that's the way it happened, in brief, without no frills, That day the Cheyennes jumped us among the Blacksnake Hills, Which is why I claim the chevrons that I'm sportin' on my sleeve Was won by my old mustang and dead against my leave. |
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