THE FEMALE WARRIOR
(from the singing of Capt. Henry E. Burke)
(Doerflinger - 'Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman' - p 143,144)

This dam-sel was brought up to read and to write,
But this dam-sel was nev-er brought up for to fight,
But be-ing gal-lant-ly dressed in her roy-al es-tate,
She shipp'd on board of the Un-ion as mate.

Where she served a twelve-month, a twelve-month or more,
Till at last we grew close to the old England Shore
There we saw a French pirate lying down by the main,
And it caused us to hoist up our taps'ls again.

We hoisted our tops'ls and bore down alongside,
But the first salutation we got was a broadside,
We gave them another just as hot as they sent
Now for to link each other was our full intent

This first salutation our captain was slain
And this damsel was chosen, master to remain
...
...

Then she fought this French pirate for hourse sever,
Till she scarcely had a man on her deck that could steder,
Till she scarcely had a man that could handle a gun
While the blood from her scuppers like water did run

For quarters, for quarters, this French Turk did cry;
But 'No quarters, No quarters!" this damsel replied.
You've had all the quarters that I can afford
You must fight, sink or swim, or die by the sword!