Hi- The song was written by one B. R. Hanby. There's a (sad) third verse:

One night I went to see her, but "She's gone" the neighbors say, The white man has bound her with his chain They have taken her to Georgia for to wear her life away As she toils in the cotton and the cane.

THe tune is the same as the British sailor song Maggie May; as far as I know the singing square dance call starting "First couple lead out to the couple on the right" and ending "Swing with your darling Nellie Gray." uses the same tune.