From Ballads and Songs from Ohio by Mary O Eddy, 1939
The Female Warrior
From Mrs S T Topper, Ashland, Ohio
1
A story, a story to you I will tell
Concerning a damsel that in Baltimore did dwell,
As beautiful a creature as ever I did see;
Oh, sh ventured her life for the sake of her dear.
2
She dressed herself in man's array, all fitted for the sea;
On board of the Union she shipped herself away;
She served three years, and of the fourth a part,
Till at length she had learned the mariners' art.
3
And it's when she had landed all on the Scottish shore,
Where drums they do rattle and cannons loudly roar,
She spied a British admiral a-playing on the main,
Which caused her to haul on her topsail again.
4
The first salutation she gave them a broadside,
The second salutation her brave captain was slain;
Sh fought them so courageously with both sword and gun,
That at length through portholes the blood began to run.
5
For quarters, for quarters, the enemy cried;
"No quarters, no quarters," this damsel replied,
"The very best quarters that I can afford,
To fight, sink or swim, my boys, or jump overboard."
6
And it's now we have gained the victory, we will stake a glass of wine;
Here is a health to your true love, and not forgetting mine;
And here is also a health to the girl renowned by fame,
She is a captain on board of the ship Union by name.

The longest version I have seen also names the ship as the Union and this is of 10 stanzas and can be seen in Manchester Central Library under the title 'The Female Captain'. A version I have in an American Songster is also named 'The Female Warrior' and has the same 6 stanzas as above. In some versions the ship is named 'The Rainbow'. Versions from the early 19th century vary enough to suggest the song had already been popular for a number of years by then, so it's pretty certain the ballad is at least late 18th century.