You probably know all this David, but...
"What can you tell me about this song ballad?
This appears to be a poignant Confederate Civil War-era ballad (or poem/song) known variably as "Adieu, Adieu—A Long Farewell" or more commonly referenced by its recurring refrain "I'll Return No More".
It is not a widely published or commercially known folk song like "Dixie" or "Lorena," but rather a personal, soldier-composed farewell piece that was preserved through family and local historical records.
Origin and Author
The ballad was written by Malcolm McLeod (also spelled MacLeod or McLeod in some records), a Scottish-descended Confederate soldier born around 1824.
He was likely from a family with Scottish immigrant roots (possibly connected to clans like Colquhoun or areas in North Carolina/Mississippi with Highland Scottish settlers).
Malcolm served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
On August 10, 1863, while stationed at a Confederate camp near Morton, Mississippi (sometimes called "Alabama Camp" in references, possibly a local or unit nickname), he wrote this farewell ballad/poem.
He dedicated it to his wife and little children back home in Alabama.
Tragically, Malcolm died shortly afterward in 1863 (likely from disease, wounds, or camp conditions, common in the war), so he never returned home as he foresaw in the lyrics.
The text you provided matches versions preserved in genealogical records, family histories, and local archives (e.g., Lauderdale County, Mississippi, historical documents and WikiTree family profiles).
Themes and Style
This is a classic "farewell" or "dying soldier" ballad common in Civil War literature on both sides:
It expresses a soldier's premonition of death.
Themes include permanent parting, the journey to battle ("to meet the foe"), the hope of heavenly reunion ("Canaan's peaceful shore" — a biblical reference to the Promised Land/heaven), and instructions to his family not to weep.
The language is formal, poetic, and religious, with repetition of "I'll return no more" as a mournful refrain.
It blends homesickness, stoic acceptance of fate, and faith — very typical of Southern soldier poetry/songs from the era.
Slight variations appear in different transcriptions (e.g., "My friends and neighbors, all farewell" vs. "Good friends and neighbors all, farewell"), but the core text is consistent.
Historical Context
Written during the middle of the war (1863), after major Confederate setbacks like Vicksburg (July 1863, near Morton, MS).
The camp near Morton was in a region where Confederate forces regrouped after defeats in Mississippi.
Such personal compositions were often shared in letters, camp newspapers, or orally among soldiers, and some were later collected in family Bibles, scrapbooks, or postwar memorials.
It's a touching, lesser-known example of grassroots Confederate soldier expression — more a family heirloom and historical artifact than a widely sung popular ballad. If this comes from a family collection, old book, or local history source, it likely ties directly to descendants preserving Malcolm McLeod's memory."
Your grandfather Ira is my:
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2026/01/full-11798-283310-screenshot_20260126_010535.png)
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2026/01/full-11798-283311-screenshot_20260126_011123.png)
Keith
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![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2026/01/full-35779-283298-img_1914.jpeg)