"Hanging on the old barbed wire" criticizes every rank above that of corporal, with the single exception of the lieutenant, who is out on a night patrol. The Canadian version, known as "Has anyone seen the colonel?", is so entrenched (sorry) in our military culture that it became the regimental quick march of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

The OP might take a look at "McCaffery", an English broadside dating from the 1830s. The central character becomes so resentful of a sentence of two weeks CB received at summary trial that he takes a shot at his company commander, but misses and kills the colonel instead. Of course, the song is a prisoner's farewell; he swings for his crime.