Today, I thought I’d post the lyrics of a song I often perform in schools with my Civil War program, “The Fighting Tigers of Ireland.” When I ask, students always know that the mascot of LSU is Mike the Tiger.  Few if any know that the mascot has its origin in a famous Confederate fighting unit.

You can read about the history of Mike the Tiger here:

Another great site on Mike the Tiger is right here:

The above site says this about the origin of LSU’s mascot and the term, “The Fighting Tigers.”
According to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD. and the “Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865” (LSU Press, 1989), the name Louisiana Tigers evolved from a volunteer company nicknamed the Tiger Rifles, which was organized in New Orleans. This company became a part of a battalion commanded by Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat and was the only company of that battalion to wear the colorful Zouave uniform. In time, Wheat’s entire battalion was called the Tigers.

That nickname in time was applied to all of the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The tiger symbol came from the famous Washington Artillery of New Orleans. A militia unit that traces its history back to the 1830s, the Washington Artillery had a logo that featured a snarling tiger’s head. These two units first gained fame at the Battle of First Manassas on July 21, 1861. Major David French Boyd, first president of LSU after the war, had fought with the Louisiana troops in Virginia and knew the reputation of both the Tiger Rifles and Washington Artillery. Thus when LSU football teams entered the gridiron battlefields in their fourth year of intercollegiate competition, they tagged themselves as the “Tigers.” It was the 1955 LSU “Fourth-Quarter Ball Club” that helped the moniker “Tigers” grow into the nickname, “Fighting Tigers.” Thanks to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD., a historian at the Pamplin Historical Park, for contributing to the above information.”

Here are Jed Marum’s lyrics for his song, “The Fighting Tigers of Ireland.”  Used by permission. You can purchase Jed’s CD’s at his website:

Let me tell you a tale of those brave Irish boys
Of the Sixth Louisian’
From New Orleans to Richmond and back again
They fought and died for all Dixieland

Led by young Henry Strong who at Sharpsburg fell
He was proud and Irish born
And then bold Colonel Billy Monaghan
Gave his life at Shepardstown

Chorus:
They Irish born
They were heroes all
And they fought for Louisian’
From New Orleans to Richmond and back again
The fighting Tigers of Ireland

Now when old Billy Monaghan sounded the call
Back in eighteen sixty one
Every Irish lad joined him one and all
To keep those Yankees back in Washington
Chorus:

At Port Republic and Bristoe and Fredricksburg
Many valiant and good men gone
They fought with honor and courage at Gettysburg
And reached the gates of Washington

They followed Jackson and Early and Master Lee
And the fiercest in all the land
On this old Marshall Robert and Grant agreed
Were the men of the sixth Louisian’
Chorus:

They Irish born
They were heroes all
And they fought for Louisian’
From New Orleans to Richmond and back again
The fighting Tigers of Ireland