Nine Miles to the Junction

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Melody - Seq. by "Battery B", Civil War re-enactor group
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Anonymous; probably in 1861

The troops from Rhode Island were posted along,
On the road from Annapolis Station,
As the Sev'nty First Regiment, one thousand strong,
Went on in defense of the nation.
We'd been marching all day in the sun's scorching ray,
With two biscuits each as a ration,
When we asked Gov'nor Sprague to show us the way,
And how many miles to the Junction?
How many miles, how many miles,
How many miles, to the Junction?
We asked Gov'nor Sprague to show us the way,
And how many miles to the Junction?

2. And Rhode Island boys cheered us on out of sight,
After giving the following injunction:
Just keep up your courage, you'll get there tonight,
For it's only nine miles to the Junction.
They gave us hot coffe, a grasp of the hand,
Which cheered and refreshed our exhaustion,
And we reached in six hours the long promised land,
For 'twas only nine miles to the Junction.
Only nine miles, only nine miles,
Only nine miles to the Junction.
We reached in six hours the long promised land,
For 'twas only nine miles to the Junction.

3. And now as we meet them in Washington's streets,
They always do hail us with unction,
And still the old cry someone surely repeats:
It's only nine miles to the Junction!
Three cheers for the warmhearted Rhode Island boys,
May each one be true to his function,
And whenever we meet, let us each other greet,
With, "Only nine miles to the Junction!"
Only nine miles, only nine miles,
Only nine miles to the Junction,
Whenever we meet, let us each other greet,
With, "Only nine miles to the Junction!"

4. Nine cheers for the flag under which we will fight,
If the traitors should dare to assail it,
One cheer for each mile that we made on that night,
When 'twas only nine miles to the Junction.
With hearts thus united, our breasts to the foe,
Once again with delight we will hail it,
And if duty should call us, still onward we'll go,
If even nine miles to the Junction.
Even nine miles, even nine miles,
Even nine miles to the Junction.
If duty should call, still onward we'll go,
If even nine miles to the Junction.

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