A Good Old Rebel

[cwwriter]

I am researching a biography of Confederate Brigadier general William H>F> Payne and have run across the poem "A Good Old Rebel" in his papers and the words are slightly different than the 'accepted' version that is used in sings. Ironically Payne fought in Stuart's cavalry as well as claimed auther of the poen (Inness Randolph) and in fact Payne was wounded three times and held at Point Lookout( both mentioned in the poem). Wondering if anyone had any other information on Payne or the poem?

 

[Private Watkins]

I am researching a biography of Confederate Brigadier general William H>F> Payne and have run across the poem "A Good Old Rebel" in his papers and the words are slightly different than the 'accepted' version that is used in sings. Ironically Payne fought in Stuart's cavalry as well as claimed auther of the poen (Inness Randolph) and in fact Payne was wounded three times and held at Point Lookout( both mentioned in the poem). Wondering if anyone had any other information on Payne or the poem?

Do share the poem por favor (if appropriate that is for mixed company...)

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome to Civl War Talk.
Yes, please share the poem if you can.

 

[cwwriter]

I am researching a biography of Confederate Brigadier general William H>F> Payne and have run across the poem "A Good Old Rebel" in his papers and the words are slightly different than the 'accepted' version that is used in sings. Ironically Payne fought in Stuart's cavalry as well as claimed auther of the poen (Inness Randolph) and in fact Payne was wounded three times and held at Point Lookout( both mentioned in the poem). Wondering if anyone had any other information on Payne or the poem?

Oh I am a Good ole rebel, and that's just what I am
For this 'Fair land of Freedom', I don't give ****
I'm glad I fit against it, and only wish we'd won
And I don't want no pardon for anything I 've done

(Verse 4)
I followed old Marse Robert for four years, near about
Got wounded in three places, and starved at pi'nt Lookout
I catched the 'roomtism' a campin' in the snow
But I killed a chance o' yankees, and I'd like to kill som mo'
(verse 6)
I can't take up my musket and fight 'em now no more
But i hn't a gonna love 'em, now thats for sartain sure
I do not want no pardon for what I was an am
And I won't be reconstructed, and i don't care a ****

 

[Stony]

Welcome.

 

[Private Watkins]

Oh I am a Good ole rebel, and that's just what I am
For this 'Fair land of Freedom', I don't give ****
I'm glad I fit against it, and only wish we'd won
And I don't want no pardon for anything I 've done

(Verse 4)
I followed old Marse Robert for four years, near about
Got wounded in three places, and starved at pi'nt Lookout
I catched the 'roomtism' a campin' in the snow
But I killed a chance o' yankees, and I'd like to kill som mo'
(verse 6)
I can't take up my musket and fight 'em now no more
But i hn't a gonna love 'em, now thats for sartain sure
I do not want no pardon for what I was an am
And I won't be reconstructed, and i don't care a ****

Yep, that's 100% Rebel...!
Welcome from Oklahoma!

 

[Lazy Bayou]

Welcome from Mississippi...

 

[E_just_E]

Welcome from PA

 

[James B White]

Yep, that's 100% Rebel...!

Sure enough. It's how I learned it, with only tiny word variations, and here's very early sheet music showing virtually the same words:
http://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200002507/

 

[pamc153PA]

Hello and welcome from Pennsylvania!

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I am researching a biography of Confederate Brigadier general William H>F> Payne and have run across the poem "A Good Old Rebel" in his papers and the words are slightly different than the 'accepted' version that is used in sings. Ironically Payne fought in Stuart's cavalry as well as claimed auther of the poen (Inness Randolph) and in fact Payne was wounded three times and held at Point Lookout( both mentioned in the poem). Wondering if anyone had any other information on Payne or the poem?

Expired Image Removed

Brigadier-General William Henry Fitzhugh Payne, a
distinguished cavalry commander of the army of Northern
Virginia, was born at Clifton, the homestead of his family in
Virginia, January 27, 1830.

His family, prominently associated with the history of the Old
Dominion, was founded in America by John Payne, who with his
brother William came to the colony in 1620. Fourth in descent
from John Payne was Capt. William Payne, who was born in 1755
at Wakefield, Westmoreland county, the birthplace of George
Washington.

He did an extensive business as a merchant at Falmouth and
Fredericksburg, served three years in the Continental army,
including the battles of Guilford Court House and Yorktown,
and died at Clifton in 1837.

By his second marriage, to Marian Morson, of Scottish descent,
he had one son, Arthur A. M. Payne, born at Clifton in 1804,
who was a prominent man, and widely known as a breeder of fine
horses, among them Passenger. He married Mary Conway Mason
Fitzhugh, daughter of Judge Nicholas Fitzhugh, of the District
of Columbia, and granddaughter of Augustine Washington.

The eldest of their six children is General Payne, who has
well sustained the ancestral reputation of worthy citizenship,
and faithful service, both in civil and military life, in the
best interests of the community and the commonwealth.

After completing his education in the university of Virginia
and preparing himself for the practice of law, he formed a
partnership for professional work with Samuel Chilton, at
Warrenton. In 1856, at the age of twenty-six years, the
ability he had demonstrated warranted his election to the
office of commonwealth's attorney, which he continued to fill
with satisfaction to the public until 1869, except during the
period he passed in the military service.

He was among the first to answer the call of the State
immediately after the passage of the ordinance of secession,
and as a private participated in the occupation of Harper's
Ferry. Soon after his arrival there he was promoted to a
captaincy in the Black Horse cavalry, a rank which he held
from April 26th to September 17, 1861, when he was promoted
major and assigned to the Fourth Virginia cavalry.

With this command he participated in the early operations of
the Peninsular campaign. In the battle of May 5th at
Williamsburg, Colonel Robertson being sick and Lieutenant-
Colonel Wickham having been wounded on the previous day, he
commanded the regiment in a fierce fight on the Telegraph
road, and received, as stated in General Stuart's report, " a
very severe, and I fear, mortal wound in the face. "

His capture followed and he was held as a prisoner of war two
or three months. As soon as exchanged, though not yet fully
recovered, he returned to duty early in September, 1862, and
being promoted lieutenant-colonel, was assigned to the
temporary command of the Second North Carolina regiment of
cavalry, with which he held Warrenton, Va., with about 3,000
wounded Confederate soldiers, also capturing a number of
Federal prisoners.

In November he was ordered into hospital at Lynchburg, but on
his application was given command of the troops at that post.
In February, 1863, he was able to rejoin the Fourth regiment,
and held command, in the absence of Colonel Wickham, until
March 20th, when he was again given command of the Second
North Carolina.

The gallant Col. Sol Williams, the regular commander, returned
to his men on June 8th, but on the next day, in the battle of
Brandy Station, lost his life, and Payne continued to lead the
regiment, and in that capacity took part in Stuart's
Pennsylvania raid.

When Stuart was confronted by Kilpatrick, Payne with his
regiment was thrown against the rear of Farnsworth's brigade
at Hanover, Pa. So gallant was the charge that one Federal
regiment was scattered, and Kilpatrick's command might have
been routed had adequate support been at hand.

But here Colonel Payne's horse was killed under him, and he
himself, with a severe saber cut in the side, again fell into
the hands of the enemy. After a long imprisonment at
Johnson's island, Ohio, he was exchanged, and being promoted
brigadier-general, commanded a brigade of three cavalry
regiments, the Fifth, Sixth and Fifteenth Virginia, in Early's
campaign in the Shenandoah valley, including the battles of
Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.

He was next transferred to Richmond and remained there during
the siege, in the final operations commanding a brigade
composed of the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Virginia cavalry and
Thirty-sixth Virginia battalion, in Munford's division. At
the battle of Five Forks, April 1st, he was again badly
wounded, and was sent to Richmond to rejoin the army.

During the evacuation he failed to reach his corps and took
refuge near his old home, where he was captured on the night
of Lincoln's assassination. Carried into Washington the next
day, he narrowly escaped violence at the hands of the
populace, blindly enraged by the terrible crime of the night
before.

He again suffered prison life at Johnson's island, after the
actual close of the war.

Since the return of peace he has devoted himself to the
practice of law, also serving in the legislature of Virginia
in the session of 1879-80. He was married in May, 1852, to
Mary Elizabeth Winston Payne, daughter of Col. W. Winter
Payne, who represented the Sumter district of Alabama in
Congress in 1841-48. Ten children were born to this union, of
whom eight survive.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 645

 

[Vicksburger]

There is a wonderful website which tells the history of the Black Horse cavalry and General Payne, just google "Black Horse Cavalry" and you will find it.

 

[thomas aagaard]

I always loved the tune used in that youtube clip. (it is different than the one James posted a link to)

 

[redbob]

Welcome aboard from Alabama.

 

[CMWinkler]

Welcome.

 

[MRB1863]

Hello and welcome from 35 miles north of Gettysburg!

 

[nitrofd]

Welecome from the sunshine state.

 

[Gandycreek]

Welcome.

 

[reading48]

Hello and Greetings from Penna.

 

[cwwriter]

Expired Image Removed

Brigadier-General William Henry Fitzhugh Payne, a
distinguished cavalry commander of the army of Northern
Virginia, was born at Clifton, the homestead of his family in
Virginia, January 27, 1830.

His family, prominently associated with the history of the Old
Dominion, was founded in America by John Payne, who with his
brother William came to the colony in 1620. Fourth in descent
from John Payne was Capt. William Payne, who was born in 1755
at Wakefield, Westmoreland county, the birthplace of George
Washington.

He did an extensive business as a merchant at Falmouth and
Fredericksburg, served three years in the Continental army,
including the battles of Guilford Court House and Yorktown,
and died at Clifton in 1837.

By his second marriage, to Marian Morson, of Scottish descent,
he had one son, Arthur A. M. Payne, born at Clifton in 1804,
who was a prominent man, and widely known as a breeder of fine
horses, among them Passenger. He married Mary Conway Mason
Fitzhugh, daughter of Judge Nicholas Fitzhugh, of the District
of Columbia, and granddaughter of Augustine Washington.

The eldest of their six children is General Payne, who has
well sustained the ancestral reputation of worthy citizenship,
and faithful service, both in civil and military life, in the
best interests of the community and the commonwealth.

After completing his education in the university of Virginia
and preparing himself for the practice of law, he formed a
partnership for professional work with Samuel Chilton, at
Warrenton. In 1856, at the age of twenty-six years, the
ability he had demonstrated warranted his election to the
office of commonwealth's attorney, which he continued to fill
with satisfaction to the public until 1869, except during the
period he passed in the military service.

He was among the first to answer the call of the State
immediately after the passage of the ordinance of secession,
and as a private participated in the occupation of Harper's
Ferry. Soon after his arrival there he was promoted to a
captaincy in the Black Horse cavalry, a rank which he held
from April 26th to September 17, 1861, when he was promoted
major and assigned to the Fourth Virginia cavalry.

With this command he participated in the early operations of
the Peninsular campaign. In the battle of May 5th at
Williamsburg, Colonel Robertson being sick and Lieutenant-
Colonel Wickham having been wounded on the previous day, he
commanded the regiment in a fierce fight on the Telegraph
road, and received, as stated in General Stuart's report, " a
very severe, and I fear, mortal wound in the face. "

His capture followed and he was held as a prisoner of war two
or three months. As soon as exchanged, though not yet fully
recovered, he returned to duty early in September, 1862, and
being promoted lieutenant-colonel, was assigned to the
temporary command of the Second North Carolina regiment of
cavalry, with which he held Warrenton, Va., with about 3,000
wounded Confederate soldiers, also capturing a number of
Federal prisoners.

In November he was ordered into hospital at Lynchburg, but on
his application was given command of the troops at that post.
In February, 1863, he was able to rejoin the Fourth regiment,
and held command, in the absence of Colonel Wickham, until
March 20th, when he was again given command of the Second
North Carolina.

The gallant Col. Sol Williams, the regular commander, returned
to his men on June 8th, but on the next day, in the battle of
Brandy Station, lost his life, and Payne continued to lead the
regiment, and in that capacity took part in Stuart's
Pennsylvania raid.

When Stuart was confronted by Kilpatrick, Payne with his
regiment was thrown against the rear of Farnsworth's brigade
at Hanover, Pa. So gallant was the charge that one Federal
regiment was scattered, and Kilpatrick's command might have
been routed had adequate support been at hand.

But here Colonel Payne's horse was killed under him, and he
himself, with a severe saber cut in the side, again fell into
the hands of the enemy. After a long imprisonment at
Johnson's island, Ohio, he was exchanged, and being promoted
brigadier-general, commanded a brigade of three cavalry
regiments, the Fifth, Sixth and Fifteenth Virginia, in Early's
campaign in the Shenandoah valley, including the battles of
Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.

He was next transferred to Richmond and remained there during
the siege, in the final operations commanding a brigade
composed of the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Virginia cavalry and
Thirty-sixth Virginia battalion, in Munford's division. At
the battle of Five Forks, April 1st, he was again badly
wounded, and was sent to Richmond to rejoin the army.

During the evacuation he failed to reach his corps and took
refuge near his old home, where he was captured on the night
of Lincoln's assassination. Carried into Washington the next
day, he narrowly escaped violence at the hands of the
populace, blindly enraged by the terrible crime of the night
before.

He again suffered prison life at Johnson's island, after the
actual close of the war.

Since the return of peace he has devoted himself to the
practice of law, also serving in the legislature of Virginia
in the session of 1879-80. He was married in May, 1852, to
Mary Elizabeth Winston Payne, daughter of Col. W. Winter
Payne, who represented the Sumter district of Alabama in
Congress in 1841-48. Ten children were born to this union, of
whom eight survive.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 645