He said, "I charge thee, comrade, of the friends in days of yore, Of the far, far distant dear ones that I shall see no more-- Tho' scarce my lips can whisper their dear and well-known names, To bear to them my blessing from Richmond on the James. "Bear to my brother this sword, and the badge upon my breast To the young and gentle sister that I used to love the best; But one lock from my forehead give the mother still that dreams Of her soldier boy near Richmond--near Richmond on the James. "I wish that mother's arms were folded round me now, That her gentle hand could linger, one moment on my brow, But I know that she is praying where our blessed hearthlight gleams, For her soldier boy's safe return from Richmond on the James. "And on my heart, dear comrade, lay close these auburn braids, Of one that is the fairest of all our village maids; We were to have been wedded, but death the bridegroom claims, And she is far that loves me, from Richmond on the James. "O, does the pale face haunt her, dear friend, that looks on thee, Or is she laughing, singing, in careless, girlish glee? It may be she is joyous, and loves but joyous themes, Nor dreams her love lies bleeding near Richmond on the James. "And tho' I know, dear comrade, thou'lt miss me for a while, When their faces--all left to love thee--again on thee shall smile, Again thou'lt be the foremost in all their youthful games, But I shall lie near Richmond--near Richmond on the James." The land is fill'd with mourning from hall and cot left lone, We miss the well-known faces that used to greet our own, And long shall weep poor wives, mothers, and titled dames, To hear the name of Richmond--of Richmond on the James. RICHMOND IS A HARD ROAD TO TRAVEL. Dedicated to GEN'L A. E. BURNSIDE. [The music of this song can be procured of the Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, Mass., owners of the copyright.] Would you like to hear my song, I'm afraid it's rather long, Of the famous "on to Richmond" double trouble; Of the half a dozen trips, and half a dozen slips, And the very latest bursting of the bubble? 'Tis pretty hard to sing, and like a round, round ring, 'Tis a dreadful knotty puzzle to unravel, Though all the papers swore, when we touched Virginia's shore, That Richmond was a hard road to travel. CHORUS.--Then pull off your coat and roll up your sleeve, For Richmond is a hard road to travel; Then pull off your coat and roll up your sleeve, For Richmond is a hard road to travel, I believe!