----====[ Andersonville ]====----

They marched us through the fence at dusk,

The wounded, sick and lame.

For few of us were healthy, then.

A war's no children's game.

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They gave to us our ragged clothes,

And nothing brought to eat.

And amputated Henry's arm,

His leg and both his feet.

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In '64, we'd fought for this,

Not knowin' where or why.

We did what we were told to do,

Just kill the Rebs, and die.

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We fought all day and marched all night,

To fight again next morn.

And learned the place called Wilderness,

With trees, and screams and scorn.

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But now we're here, and may not leave,

No food or warmth or bed.

To rot, and hate, to sit and wait,

And die until we're dead.

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I often think of home, at dusk,

It seems so far away.

The smell of cooking from the house,

The sweetness of the hay.

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In Michigan, it's drawin' fall,

And harvest time is near.

But where I am there is no hope.

Just death and pain, and fear.

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They say tomorrow we can eat,

Supplies sent from the North.

Some bread and grain to ease the pain,

Some meat to draw us forth.

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I think I'll wait, and feed the rest,

They need it more than I.

Why waste good food on someone,

Who so soon will quit, and die?

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I fought this war with all respect,

I soldiered well, and brave.

But understanding reasons not,

I never saw a slave.

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