Looking through earlier therads I'v found the following version of 'Cheer, boys, Cheer'

CHEER,BOYS, CHEER (Song of the Citizen Guards)
Adapted by J. Val. Cowling (1861)

Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll march away to battle
Cheer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts,
Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll nobly do our duty,
And give to Kentucky Our hearts, our arms, our lives.

Bring forth the flag, Kentucky's noble standard.
Wave it on high till wind shake each fold out,
Proudly it floats, nobly waving in the vangard
Then Cheer, boys, cheer with a lusty, long, bold shout.

Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll march away to battle
heer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts,
Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll nobly do our duty,
And give to Kentucky Our hearts, our arms, our lives.

But though we march with heads all lowly bending,
Let us implore ablessing from on high,
Our cause is just, the right from wrong defending
And the God of battles will listen to our cry.

Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll march away to battle
heer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts,
Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll nobly do our duty,
And give to Kentucky Our hearts, our arms, our lives.

Though to our homes we never may return,
Ne'er press again our loved ones in our arms,
O'er our lone graves their faithful hearts will mourn
Then cheer up, boys cheer, such death hath no alarms

Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll march away to battle
heer, boys, cheer, for our sweethearts,
Cheer, boys, cheer, we'll nobly do our duty,
And give to Kentucky Our hearts, our arms, our lives.

I understand that this version was extended to embrace the whole of the South. I seem to recall reading that there was also a version popular with the Union forces - Does any one have the words please?

There is a similar song which was the 'Hit' song of the British Army in the Crimea, which, as it seems to be about emigration to Canada, doubtless it would also have been known to a number of the British immigrants in the combatant forces.


CHEER, BOYS, CHEER!
(Words: C Mackay. Music: H Russell)

Cheer, boys, cheer! No more of idle sorrow.
Courage, true hearts, shall bear us on our way.
Hope points before, and shows the bright tomorrow,
Let us forget the darkness of today.

So farewell, England, much as we may love thee.
We'll dry the tears that we have shed before.
Why should we weep, who sail in search of fortune?
So farewell, England. Farewell for evermore!

Cheer, boys, cheer! For country, mother country.
Cheer, boys, cheer! The willing strong right hand.
Cheer, boys, cheer! There's wealth for honest labour.
Cheer, boys, cheer! For the new and happy land.

Cheer, boys, cheer! The steady breeze is blowing,
To float us freely o'er the ocean's breast.
The world shall follow in the track we're going.
The star of empire glitters in the west.

Here we had toil and little to reward it,
But there shall plenty smile upon our pain.
And ours shall be the prairie and the forest,
And boundless meadows, ripe with golden grain.

Cheer, boys, cheer! For country, mother country,
Cheer, boys, cheer! For united heart and hand.
Cheer, boys, cheer! There's wealth for honest labour.
Cheer, boys, cheer! For the new and happy land.

Just my two penn'orth

Walrus