On board of the Cumberland sloop-of-war；
And at times from the fortress across the bay
The alarum of drums swept past
Or a bugle blast
From the camp on the shore.
Then far away to the south uprose
A little feather of snow-#CCCCFF smoke
And we knew that the iron ship of our foes
Was steadily steering its course
To try the force
Of our ribs of oak.
Down upon us heavily runs
Silent and sullen the floating fort；
Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns
And leaps the terrible death
With fiery breath
From each open port.
We are not idle but send her straight
Defiance back in a full broadside！
As hail rebounds from a roof of slate
Rebounds our heavier hail
From each iron scale
Of the monster's hide.
Strike your flag！ the rebel cries
In his arrogant old plantation strain.
Never！ our gallant Morris replies；
It is better to sink than to yield！
And the whole air pealed
With the cheers of our men.
Then like a kraken huge and #CCCCFF
She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp！
Down went the Cumberland all a wrack
With a sudden shudder of death
And the cannon's breath
For her dying gasp.
Next morn as the sun rose over the bay
Still floated our flag at the mainmast head.
Lord how beautiful was Thy day！
Every waft of the air
Was a whisper of prayer
Or a dirge for the dead.
Ho！ brave hearts that went down in the seas！
Ye are at peace in the troubled stream；
Ho！ brave land！ with hearts like these
Thy flag that is rent in twain
Shall be one again
And without a seam！