The following is taken from a point near the middle of the eleventh chapter on "All For Me Grog's" history.
...During the Civil War a great disaster befell the Union Navy on September 1, 1862. On that day a U.S. Navy Department order ended the tradition of the US Navy serving rum & water as a regular ration to its sailors. This prohibition truly brought a sad day for the Union Blockade fleet and its sailors.
On August 31, 1862, the USS Portsmouth in honor of the death of this cherished tradition held a boisterous wake. A large supply of rum had been hidden aboard to get the crew by, but as the party progressed, the participants drained the hidden reserves. A sailor named Casper Schenck composed a parody of the British drinking tune "Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl," which became "Farewell to Grog."
Jack's happy days will soon be gone
to return again, oh never!
For they've raised his pay five cents a day
But stopped his grog forever.
Come mess mates pass the bottle round
Our time is short, remember, for our grog
must stop, our spirits drop,
on the first day of September
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
for tonight we'll merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober
Yet memory oft' well backward turn,
and dwell with fondness partial
on the days when gin was not a sin
nor cocktails brought court martial.
Come mess mates pass the bottle round
Our time is short, remember, for our grog
must stop, our spirits drop,
on the first day of September
For tonight we'll merry, merry be
for tonight we'll merry be
Tomorrow we'll be sober
