Daughters of the sunny South,
Where Freedom loves to dwell,
How rare your charms, how sweet your smiles,
No mortal lips can tell;
Your native hills, the rippling rills,
The echo wild and free,
Declare you born to hate and scorn
All Northern tyranny.
Girls whose smiles are all reserved,
The Southern youth to bless;
Whose hearts are kept for those who fight
For Freedom's happiness;
Your spirits bold, so now unfold
What willingly you would do,
Where Yankee spirit--the tyrants might
Not wield against you.
For you your loving brothers rush
To overthrow the invader's might--
On martial field the sword they wield,
And Yankee cowards smite.
May heaven bless, with bright success,
Each glorious Southern son;
Be this your prayer, O maidens fair!
And our freedom will be won.
Southern girls, on this we've sworn,
The South _must_--_shall be free_--
No Northern shackles will be worn;
To them we'll bend no knee.
From hill to hill, exultant, shrill,
Our battle-cry rings forth:
Freedom or death on every breath,
And hatred to the North.
Cease not to smile, brave Southern girls,
On our efforts to be free--
Whilst life remains, we'll struggle on,
Till all the world shall see
That those who fight for home and right
Can never be enslaved;
Their blood may stain the battle-plain;
Our country must be saved.
BALTIMORE, MD., _March, 1862_.