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

447 P Street NW

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.

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”