Kit Carson of the U. S. N.

Fremont talked with the Commodore

On his ship at Monterey:

"They sent me out on a scouting trip,

And I've captured California!

"T had no orders for to fight-

Didn't know the war was on!"

The Commodore said, "You did right;

I like what you have done.

"But I am in command here-

I rank you, don't forget;

You'll have to serve in the Navy now,

Though your feet were never wet!"

Said Fremont, "All the men I brought

Had never seen the sea;

They called it a big prairie

Without a single tree!"

"Never you mind," said the Commodore,

"TN muster them in today;

I'll make them the Navy Battalion

Of Mounted Infantry!"

He loaded them into the sloop Cyane

And sailed away that day

To capture San Diego,

Four hundred miles away.

Kit Carson lay in the scuppers

As sick as man could be,

And every scout in the outfit

Was just as sick as he.

Kit groaned, "If I could get to land,

I'd never ask to be

A recruit in the Navy Battalion

Of Mounted Infantry!"

Said Kit, "If I could get to land j

And stand on the firm prairie,

I'd ruther fight all the Kioways

Alone, than go to sea!"

When they got to San Diego

The Spaniards ran away;

It was lucky for Kit and the other men

Of the Mounted Infantry.

For the sea had made them as quiet

As any Quaker's grave;

They were so weak that one old woman

Could have thrown them in the wave.

Kit Carson was sent to the President

With news of the victory-

Glad to escape from the Navy Battalion

Of Mounted Infantry!

Structure

48 lines · 7 stanzas