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THE GUNS OF OLD SHILOH
The flag was raised in the early morn
and blew gently in the breeze
as the bugles sounded reverie
and rang through all the trees
The silent camp was sleeping still
the campfire's burning low
and not a sound was heard that morn
'round the church at Old Shiloh
Horses stood in penned stockades
sleek, full of oats and corn
and breakfast served on plates of tin
bespoke the early morn
A gentle laugh, the only sound
as some soldier read his mail
no worry traversed their weary minds
for the enemy had to fail
But soon a horse came riding in
a soldier bursting from the dust
a message quickly read and passed around
now a call to arms a mus
Across brown fields sounds soon were heard
horses galloaaping loud and clear
the shouts of soldiers, clank of arms
things no one wants to hear
Old Joe Johnston led the coming force
that brought the Rebels in
and as the sun began to shine
the battle fire begin
The bird songs stopped high in the trees
and from Owl Creek, no sounds were heard
and Grant, taken there by great surprise
spoke not a single word
On April 6 of 62, confusion was the rule
and some lost their platoon
while the guns of Shiloh thundered loud
with the sound of battles roaring boom
A midnight storm brought cold and grief
and hunger ran us through
and from the mud, no cannon moved
and we wondered what to do
But soon we moved through fields of velvet green
with naught but trees and brush
but of a sudden, the forest came alive
grey soldiers running toward us in a rush
Waves of fire and hissing sounds
came from the Rebel side
admiring them, you had to do
for they fought with valor and with pride
And as the day wore slowly on
brave comrads still did fall
and when we called out their names
not any answered the call
So went the days of Shiloh church
the guns of war resounding loud
and many a young man lost his life
in that unhappy croud
Old Joe Johnston died upon that day
and the general now was Beauregard
and oh, he was a ruthless one
and rode his soldiers fast and hard
Well, on they came, and on they came
and the Southern Cross flew high
brave soldiers of the enemy
who were not afraid to die
And as black smoke was lifting high
and while we knelt and prayed
still sometimes a distant shot was heard
from an enemy weak and freyed
Today the bells ring out for Sunday School
near Owl Creek, bubbling slow
and the guns are silenced now for good
near the church of old Shiloh
