I wonder if this song might have been the germ of Percy French's "Shlathery's Mounted Fut":

"We'll cross the ditch" our leaders cried, "an take the foe in flank,"
But yells of consternation here arose from every rank,
For posted high upon a tree we very plainly saw
"Threspassers prosecuted in accordance wid' the law."
"We're foiled!" exclaimed bowld Shlattery,"here ends our grand campaign,
Tis merely throwin' life away to face that mearin dhrain.
I'm not as bold as lions, but I'm braver nor a hin,
and he that fights an runs away will live to fight agin."