CHAPTER XVI—THE SOUTHERN ARMIES

War Songs (1861?)

BY SOUTHERN POETS

A. "DIXIE"

BY ALBERT PIKE

SOUTHRONS, hear your Country call you! Up! lest worse than death befall you! To arms! To arms! To arms! in Dixie! Lo! all the beacon-fires are lighted, Let all hearts be now united! To arms! To arms! To arms! in Dixie! Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! hurrah! For Dixie’s land we take our stand, And live or die for Dixie! To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie!

Hear the Northern thunders mutter! Northern flags in South wind flutter; [To arms, etc. Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the accursed alliance!] To arms, etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

Fear no danger! Shun no labor! Lift up rifle, pike, and sabre! To arms, etc. Shoulder pressing close to shoulder, Let the odds make each heart bolder! To arms, etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

How the South’s great heart rejoices, At your cannons’ ringing voices; To arms! etc. For faith betrayed and pledges broken, Wrongs inflicted, insults spoken; To arms! etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

Strong as lions, swift as eagles, Back to their kennels hunt these beagles; To arms! etc. Cut the unequal words [bonds?] asunder! Let them then each other plunder! To arms! etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

Swear upon your Country’s altar, Never to submit or falter; To arms! etc. Till the spoilers are defeated, Till the Lord’s work is completed. To arms! etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

Halt not, till our Federation Secures among Earth’s Powers its station! To arms! etc. Then at peace, and crowned with glory, Hear your children tell the story! To arms! etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

If the loved ones weep in sadness, Victory soon shall bring them gladness: To arms! etc. Exultant pride soon banish sorrow; Smiles chase tears away to-morrow. To arms! etc. Advance the flag of Dixie! etc.

From reprints in (edited by Frank Moore, New York, 1864), 20–23, 120–122.

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Chicago: Albert Pike, "War Songs (1861?)," Rebel Rhymes and Rhapsodies, ed. Frank Moore in American History Told by Contemporaries, ed. Albert Bushnell Hart (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903), Original Sources, accessed December 3, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=TDZGIW2MSNVRP28.

MLA: Pike, Albert. "War Songs (1861?)." Rebel Rhymes and Rhapsodies, edited by Frank Moore, in American History Told by Contemporaries, edited by Albert Bushnell Hart, Vol. 4, New York, The Macmillan Company, 1903, Original Sources. 3 Dec. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=TDZGIW2MSNVRP28.