This inked manuscript song was written by Major George Burton Dyer, 9th Maine Vol. Infantry while in the field near Petersburg, Va. on July 9th 1864, during the Army of the Potomac’s siege of the Army of Northern Virginia. It is on single lined letter sheet and headed : ‘Lines Suggested by hearing some Officers sing of Home joys-July 9th, 1864’ The song has five 4 line stanzas reading as follows: ‘Sing not of home; twill only make/The sadness bosom more regretful/To mention scenes it could forsake/And still not grow forgetful./ Who meditates o’er joys resign’d/Must ever feel this loss severest,/For those we oft’nest call to mind/Are always held the dearest./ Ah! Who obeys Mars stern commands,/And meets its dangers proudly fearless,/Must tread, in evil hostile lands/With cheek forever tearless./ And he, whose path yet onward leads,/Can watch no beacon light behind him,/In part must flame the light he heeds/O Duty to remind him./ Oh! Sing not of home; twill make./Each pensive bosom more regretful/To brood o’rs joys it could forsake,/And still be unforgetful.’ The song is headed at bottom with: ‘In Camp Near Petersburg, Va.’ An interesting and hauntingly sad melody written on the field during the long siege of Petersburg, Virginia. George enlisted as a private in co. B, 9th Maine Vol. Infantry in Oct. of 1862, was promoted 2nd Lt. in 1863, Capt. In Aug. of 64 and Major in Sept. 64. Promoted by Bevet to Lt. Col. In 1865. It appears likely that the song was written when the 9th Maine Infantry Regiment was transferred to Petersburg during a period of Union fortification building, which required a large amount of labor.

Normal folds with slight separation at same and removed from album.