Always Stand On The Union Side

Always Stand on the Union Side
Music Composed by M. C. Bisbee.

Always stand on the Union side,
And battle for the right
With conscience clear, we'll laugh at fear;
In the midst of the boldest fight!
Why turn against our native land,
The mother whom we love!
Who ever rules with gentle hand,
Till children recreant prove!

CHORUS
Always stand on the Union side,
And battle for the right
With conscience clear, we'll laugh at fear;
In the midst of the boldest fight!

Always stand in the Union side!
And "keep your powder dry"--
We'll soon rejoice both far and wide,
To see secession die!
Tis better in defence of truth,
To be both brave and bold;
Than side with traitors and at last,
Be "left out in the cold!"

(CHORUS)

Always stand in the Union side!
'Tis better as you see;
For Heav'n will crown our gallant arms,
With Union victory!
If you would have your children learn
To speak with holy pride,
Of this their dear be-lov-ed land!
Stand on the Union side!

(CHORUS)

The sheet music for this song, which was published in 1863, shows a dedication to "His Excellency A.G. Curtin."
Andrew Gregg Curtin (1817-1894) was the Governor of Pennsylvania. A Whig politician, he had been nominated for the governorship in 1860 by Republicans, who hoped he would help carry Pennsylvania for Abraham Lincoln in the upcoming presidential election.
Curtin and Lincoln were both elected, and when the War began the following year, Curtin proved himself as capable a wartime administrator as Lincoln. He supplied the Union war effort with both men and materiel and made it a point to provide for the dependents of Pennsylvania soldiers as well. He was elected to a second term in 1863.
Although he was considered briefly for the Vice Presidency in 1868, he lost the nomination to Schuyler Colfax and went instead to Russia as Ulysses S. Grant's minister. Curtin returned home in 1872 and eventually changed party allegiance, serving three terms as a Democratic Congressman. (Information from CivilWarPoetry.Com)


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