SATURDAY | Another McClellan poetry day! This selection is a lyric set to a song called Bruce's Address. It's called McClellan's Address to His Army:

Men who have with Sigel bled,
Whom Heintzelman has often led,
Who with Banks your blood have shed -
On to victory!

Now's the day and now's the hour!
See the front of battle lower!
See approach the rebel power -
Based on Slavery!

Who will be a traitor knave!
Who can fill a coward's grave?
Who to fear will be a slave?
Hireling! turn and flee!

Who for Union and for Law,
Willing sword will strongly draw,
Look on death, yet feel no awe?
Comrade! on with me!

By our brothers' woes and pains,
Prisoners in cruel chains,
We will draw our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

Lay the cruel dastards low!
Wretches fall in every foe;
Union is in every blow!
Forward! do, or die!

The music for Bruce's Address is here and the underlying poem, by Robert Burns is here: Bruce's Address at Bannockburn. The two may have comprised the Scottish national anthem and the author of this piece did MCClellan no favors by following the work as closely as this:

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour:
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slavery!

That was Burns, who was only a little easier on the exclamation points.

McClellan gave a remarkable - and lyrical - address at West Point in 1864, but none of its themes appear here.