THE FLAG OF THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

Additional Verses to an Old Song

BY REV. J. G. FORMAN

Blest banner of Freedom, thy pinion
Floats wide o'er the land and the sea ;
The emblem of peaceful dominion,
Our eyes turn with rapture to thee.
Though war clouds and dangers are o'er us,
Thy folds are still dear to our view;
With the flag of our country before us,
We'll march to the Red, White and Blue,
We'll march to the Red, White and Blue,
With the flag of our country before us,
We'll march to the Red, White and Blue.

The glorious ensign ne'er sever,
Let it float in the ether above,
Its stars, the bright symbol forever
Of Union, and .Freedom, and Love ;
May they never grow dim in their shining,
Nor fade from their colors so true,
The Stars and the Stripes still entwining,
Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!

Though traitors shall meet and dissemble,
'And armies of rebels shall rise,
Our banner shall, cause them to tremble,
As it waves in the bright Southern skies;
And millions of patriot voices,
Shall the chorus of Freedom .renew,
And shout, as the nation rejoices,
Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!

Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Feb. 1862

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday, April 13, 1862