I Goes to Fight mit Sigel (or I'm Going to Fight mit Sigel) is a song written during the American Civil War by John F. Poole and set to the tune of The Girl I Left Behind Me.[2]:307–308 The song is named for German-American major-general Franz Sigel[3]:83 and the lyrics parody the language and culture of German immigrant soldiers.[2]:307[4]:118
Franz Sigel was a German commander from Baden.[3]:xiv After immigrating to the United States, he was appointed to a brigadier-general position by Abraham Lincoln, serving from 1861 to 1864 with a generally poor military record.[5]:243 However, Sigel's popularity among German-Americans and German immigrants was generally unhampered by his poor military performance, as German-Americans generally preferred German leadership.[3]:xvi Particularly during the early years of the Civil War, Sigel's German heritage was influential in attracting immigrant German volunteers.[5]:243 Many of these volunteers generally had no military experience and spoke very little English.[3]:55 The phrase "I fights mit Sigel" was a rallying cry for Germans expressing support for the Union, and a "passport" to join the Union army.[3]:55 The song was popular among minstrel impersonators after the Civil War.[4]:118
Lyrics
The song is generally considered to be a comic ethnic joke about German soldiers,[5]:243 but others consider the song to a genuine celebration of the loyalty of German soldiers under Sigel's command.[3]:83[4]:118 The song's lyrics are written in English with elements of thickly accented German throughout:[2]:307
I’ve come shusht now to tell you how
I goes mit regimentals,
To schlanck dem foes of liberty,
Like dem old continentals;
Vat fight mit England long ago,
To save the Yankee Eagle,
Un now I gits my solger clothes,
I’m going to fight mit Sigel,
(Chorus)
Yaw, das is true I speak mit you,
I’m going to fight mit Sigel.[1]
The language, along with references to lager, sauerkraut, and pretzels, reinforce a stereotype of a "typical German-American".[2]:308 "Fighting Joe" in the final stanza of the song refers to General Joseph Hooker:[2]:308
For rations dey gives salty pork,
I dinks dat was a great sell;
I petter likes der sauerkraut,
Der Schvitzer-kase und bretzel.
If Fighting Joe will give us dem,
Ve'll save der Yankee Eagle,
Und I'll put mine vrou in breech-a-loons
To go and fight mit Sigel
Confederate lyrics
A parody of the song was written by Confederate soldiers to mock Sigel's poor military performance and German immigrant soldiers:[3]:84
Ven first I came from Lauterbach
I works sometimes by baking,
Un next I runs my beer saloon
Und den I try shoe-making
But now I march mit musket out
To save dot Yankee eagle
Dey dress me up in soldier clothes
To go and fight mit Sigel[3]:84
