Dedication of 123rd NY Monument at Gettysburg, 1888                  

                             The New York Volunteer

by Anonymous

The New York Volunteer

'Twas in the days of seventy-six

When freemen young and old

All fought for Independence then

Each hero brave and bold!

'Twas then the noble Stars and Stripes

In triumph did appear

And defended by brave patriots

The Yankee Volunteers

'Tis my delight to march and fight

Like a New York Volunteer!

Now, there's our City Regiments

Just see what they have done:

The first to offer to the State

To go to Washington

To protect the Federal Capital

And the flag they love so dear!

And they've done their duty nobly,

Like New York Volunteers!

'Tis my delight to march and fight

Like a New York Volunteer!

The Rebels out in Maryland

They madly raved and swore,

They'd let none of our Union troops

Pass through Baltimore

But the Massachusetts Regiment

No traitors did they fear

But fought their way to Washington

Like Yankee Volunteers!

'Tis my delight to march and fight

Like a New York Volunteer

Former NY Governor George Pataki with Champlain Rifles members at the dedication ceremony for the NYS Military History Museum in Saratoga