Transcript
447 P Street NW
Washington, D.C.
April 25, 1898
Admiral Sampson, U.S.N.
Commanding the North Atlantic Squadron
Sir:
I beg you to accept, with my compliments, a copy of my song entitled “
Remember the Maine.”
If you think it meritorious, I will thank you most heartily for a line from you to that effect.
Godspeed you to certain victory.
Very Respectfully,
Thos. E. Roach
Remember the Maine!
Air, “Rally ‘Round the Flag.”
(Dedicated to Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee, U. S. N.)
[Copyright Secured.]
There’s a call to the arms, boys,
It sounds from sea to sea;
Rouse, then, ye freemen, in your glory!
Never foe with heart so dark, boys-
A foe to liberty-
Bathed in our blood, his hands are gory!
Chorus.
Remember the Maine, boys! Remember the Maine!
Remember our brothers, so cowardly alain!
Let us rally in our might, boys- we have it in for Spain-
Shouting for Cuba and for freedom.
When our noble ship was riding
All on a friendly (?) wave,
Dreaming, her crew, of wives and mothers,
A Spanish mine destroyed her,
And to a watery grave
Hastened our gallant sons and brothers.
[Chorus.]
We are coming from the Southland,
And from the rugged North,
Proudly we’ll march to death or dangers,
For tyrant must be driven
Away from Freedom’s shores:
Onward we come, THE MAINE’S AVENGERS!
[Chorus.]
No, we’ll not forget the Maine, boys.
We could not if we would;
Who can ignore the direful story?
We will write it on our banner,
We’ll write it there in blood,
Shouting for Cuba and “Old Glory!”
[Chorus.]
Thos. E. Roach.
[handwritten on left margin] “Admiral Sampson, with compliments of the author”
This primary source comes from the Records of Naval Operating Forces.
National Archives Identifier:
301676Full Citation: Letter from Thomas E. Roach of Washington, D.C., transmitting a copy of a song written he wrote to commemorate the sinking of the USS MAINE; 4/25/1898; Letters Sent and Received, June 9, 1896–October 11, 1899; Records of Naval Operating Forces, Record Group 313; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-thomas-e-roach-of-washington-dc-transmitting-a-copy-of-a-song-written-he-wrote-to-commemorate-the-sinking-of-the-uss-maine, March 28, 2024]