In the Civil War of the United States,
Two armies battled at the nations gates,
For control of the country, slaves, and fates
The guns of these armies fired.

At Shiloh, Tennessee the Confederates surprised,
A sleeping Union army, whom they despised,
Fire from Ruggle’s Battery energized,
The weary Rebels tired.

The mighty Federal Army had established a defense,
Fifty cannons that soon would commence,
In a mighty barrage to dispense,
The enemy from the field, who retired.

At Antietam too, these forces battled,
For a massive fight the muskets rattled,
Thousands fell like crimson cattle,
Many young men, in heaven, inquired. 

The ordnances discharged hundreds of rounds,
Eardrums pierced by the “whump” sounds,
That hurled and flung thousands of pounds,
Of lead into the troops, injured and mired.

At Chancellorsville, the forces met,
The cannons crashed, a continuous threat,
All the dead paid a ton of debt,
The victory still desired.

Hazel Grove housed the Rebel guns,
That killed many of the nation’s sons,
The Federal artillerymen abandoned their ones,
Giving the victory to the gray attired.

Then at Fredericksburg, the confrontation renewed,
The Northerners attacked and the fight continued,
The batteries banged, the burn of death issued,
Much ground being acquired.

Union batteries spit fire, until charged,
As the ground fight began, Pelham’s guns enlarged,
On Mayre’s Heights, the artillery discharged,  
The Federal troops left uninspired.

Finally at Gettysburg, the armies clashed,
Their cavalry cut, shot, and slashed,
Their rifles gleamed and sabers flashed,
As the day expired.

The following day, Devils Den erupted,
The cannons thumped, fired, and disrupted,
The lives of the men that they abducted,
The Union’s goal aspired.

The guns glistened, as the sun shown down,
As they hurled metal balls into the town,
Dropping Southerners downtown,
The forces in the heat, transpired.

On the last day, the war turned,
As Pickett Charged, and barrels burned,
Sixty guns rained destruction as hearts churned,
To Washington the victory was wired.

Oh, the guns of the Civil War,
Without them what would Americans hope for?
The men who fought now guard heaven’s door,  
The Union thankfully, victoriously admired.