Description:

MAGNUS SONGSHEET ‘THE SINKING OF THE PIRATE ALABAMA'
A very fine, scarce Civil War-era songsheet, 1p. 8vo., titled ‘The Sinking of the Pirate Alabama By the U.S. Gunboat ‘Kearsarge,' Captain WINSLOW, June 19th, 1864.' The sheet presents lyrics written by a Silas S. Steele, describing the Kearsarge's hunt for and duel with the Alabama, to the tune of the contemporary popular songs ‘Teddy the Tiler' and ‘Cannibal Islands'. The lyrics, in five verses and four choruses, manage to name-check the Kearsarge's captain, John A. Winslow, the Alabama's commander, Confederate rear admiral Raphael Semmes, and Winslow's executive officer, James Thornton, while describing the Alabama's construction for the Confederacy by Great Britain, her discovery by the Kearsarge at Cherbourg harbor, and the rescue of her crew by the British ship DEERHOUND. In very small part: ‘...She roved the Ocean fierce and free,/ And changed her flag in every sea,/ Upon our un-armed ships to prey,/ This valiant Alabama!/ Our cruisers sought her round and round,/ She dodged them like a dastard hound/ Until her name was quite renowned/ As a witch-craft never to be found/ But the bold Kearsarge got in her wake,/ And kept her track without mistake,/ Till in Cherbourg port, coiled like a snake/ She found the Alabama!/ CHORUS: Rob and plunder night and day/ Scuttle and burn then sulk away/ But you've a reckoning yet to pay,/ My valiant Alabama!/ Famed Captain Semmes was in a plight,/ He found there was no chance for flight,/ So he must either yield or fight,/ With his terrible Alabama!/ So he piped up his pirate crew/ Of French and English, fierce and true,/ Says he ‘we'll put the Kearsarge through'/ And sink her with all France to view./ But Winslow, famed for win-ning fast,/ Soon nailed our Stars unto the mast/ While his brave crew shouted, like a blast,/ Death or the Alabama!/ CHORUS: Load away, fire away shot and shell,/ That's the tune brave tars to tell,/ Stand by – and let her rip, pell mell,/ Death or the Alabama!…' The songsheet is illustrated with a fine hand-colored engraving showing the Alabama sinking by the stern surrounded by lifeboats and swimming crewmen, and with the Kearsarge and Deerhound standing by in the background. The publishing line ‘Published by Chs. Magnus 12 Frankford St. N.Y.' appears beneath the illustration, and the verso is lined, allowing the sheet to be used as stationery. Shows an approx. 0.75 in. tear at the top edge, repaired on the verso with cello tape, and with a pencil price on the verso, but otherwise in fine condition.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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