With their arms in good order, their eyeballs kept bare—
When, an hour before midnight, there came quick and hard
The trample of horse charging down on the guard;
And we met them—a squadron of dare-devils they—
But a sharp edge of bayonets kept them at bay,
While we emptied some barrels, with never a corse,
Though we wounded one rider and crippled his horse.
The rider pitched over; his comrades they heard
His yell as he fell; but they turned and they spurred,
For by this time our camp was aroused and poured in,
And the visitors stayed not their laurels to win;
When what does this Hotspur but spring to his feet,
And, ready a regiment singly to meet,
Draw weapon, and there, right in front of our line,
To guard bring his sabre, and cross it with mine.
’Twas a regular duel: our men gathered round;
Save the clash of the blades there was never a sound.
’Twas cut, thrust, and parry—the fellow fenced well—
But at last on his shoulder a heavy blow fell,
And his sword dropped to earth—in an instant he felt
With his left for a pistol that hung at his belt,
And he fired. O’er my temple the ball ploughed its track,
When I tripped him, and threw my bold youth on his back.
I said as I held him, “This rage has no use;
You’re two-thirds a lion and one-third a goose.
Do you want to fight armies! This passes a joke;
Surrender at once, or your throttle I’ll choke.
Stop the struggling, my madman, and tell us your choice—”
“I give my parole.” ’Twas a musical voice,
With a rather thin treble. Conceive my annoy
When I found I had wasted my strength on a boy.
’Twas a boy of sixteen, with his lip free of down,
Whose ball cut a groove ’twixt my temple and crown,
And who handled his sabre as deftly and keen
As a master of fence. Yes, a boy of sixteen.
And I said, as I looked on him there where he stood,
Defiant, though conquered, and dauntless in mood,
“You crow well, my cockerel, ere you have spurs;
Has your mother more such in that rare brood of hers?”
Then he laughed, and his forefinger rose, as he said,
“You carry the mark of my spur on your head—
Who’ll give me a drink?” as at word of command
A dozen canteens were thrust ready to hand;
But ere he could choose, from his features there shrank
The blood till he paled, then he staggered and sank.
We raised him; I stooped there and pillowed his head
On my knee; and I shivered—I thought he was dead.
But no, sir, he rallied. We bore him away,
When we crossed o’er the river, ere break of the day,
Where our surgeon soon healed up his wound, and I nursed
The boy, and grew fond where I’d liked from the first,
Till, ready for prison, but hating confine,
He fled one dark night and got over the line;
And I never laid eyes on my bold shaver since.
That’s his sword, and a weapon would honor a prince.
You smile at the story—I’ve seen you, but where?
What name did you carry? “George Gaston!”—well—there!
Let me grapple your fist, boy? I’d never have known
You, with all of those whiskers. Why, how you have grown!
Twelve years! well, it _does_ make a difference, I see,
In you, as it probably _has_ made in me.
I can’t tell how glad I’m to see you at last.
Sit down; take a pipe; and we’ll talk o’er the past.
_AN AMBUSCADE._
The incident which gave rise to the following poem happened about
1861, in Western Virginia, somewhere in the Gauley River region.
The story may be correct, or not. I do not vouch for its accuracy.
At all events, I have considered it to be _si non e vero, e ben
trovato_, as the Italian proverb has it. If it be not true, it is
well feigned.
_THE CHARGE BY THE FORD._
Eighty and nine with their captain
Rode on the enemy’s track,
Rode in the grey of the morning:
Nine of the ninety came back.
Slow rose the mist from the river,
Lighter each moment the way;
Careless and tearless and fearless
Galloped they on to the fray.
Singing in tune, how the scabbard
Loud on the stirrup-irons rang,
Clinked as the men rose in saddle,
Fell as they sank with a clang!
What is it moves by the river,
Faded and weary and weak?
Grey-backs—a cross on their banner—
Yonder the foe whom they seek.
Silence! They see not, they hear not,
Tarrying there by the marge;
Forward! Draw sabre! Trot! Gallop!
Charge like a hurricane! Charge!
Ah! ’twas a man-trap infernal;
Fire like the deep pit of hell!
Volley on volley to meet them,
Mixed with the grey rebels’ yell.
Ninety had ridden to battle,
Tracing the enemy’s track;
Ninety had ridden to battle,
Nine of the ninety came back.
Honor the nine of the ninety,
Honor the heroes who came
Scathless from nine hundred muskets,
Safe from the lead-bearing flame.
Eighty and one of the troopers
Lie on the field of the slain—
Lie on the red field of honor:
Honor the nine who remain.
Cold are the dead there, and gory,
There where their life-blood was spilt;
Back come the living, each sabre
Red from the point to the hilt.
Give them three cheers and a tiger!
Let the flags wave as they come!
Give them the blare of the trumpet!
Give them the roll of the drum!
A NEW FOLK SONG.
The following is an attempt to add one more to the few patriotic
songs of the country. Whatever may be said of the words, the melody
and the music are undoubtedly marked by spirit and vigor.
_FLAG OF THE RAINBOW._
PATRIOTIC SONG—SOLO AND CHORUS (MIXED VOICES).
WORDS BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH. MUSIC COMPOSED BY MAX BRAUN.
[Illustration: _Marciale._
_Soprano and Tenor._
Flag of the rainbow and banner of stars,
Emblem of might and the shield of the lowly,
Never to droop while our soldiers and tars
Rally to guard it from outrage unholy.
]
_Words—Copyrighted, 1880, by Arthur English._ _Music—Copyrighted, 1885, by Max Braun._
[Illustration:
Never may shame or misfortune, attend it,
Enmity sully, or treachery rend it
While but a man is alive to defend it—
Flag of the rainbow and banner of stars.
_CHORUS.—Soprano._
_Alto._ _Tenor._ _Bass._
Flag of the rainbow, resplendently streaming,
Banner of stars in the blue above gleaming,
]
[Illustration:
Ensign, whose story is record of glory—
Flag of the rainbow and banner of stars.
]
Flag of a land where the people are free,
Ever the breezes salute and caress it;
Planted on earth, or afloat on the sea,
Gallant men guard it, and fair women bless it.
Fling out its folds o’er a country united,
Warmed by the fires that our forefathers lighted,
Refuge where down-trodden man is invited—
Flag of the rainbow and banner of stars.
CHORUS.—Flag of the rainbow, etc.
Flag that our sires gave in trust to their sons,
Symbol and sign of a liberty glorious,
While the grass grows, and the clear water runs,
Ever invincible, ever victorious.
Long may it ’waken our pride and devotion,
Rippling its colors in musical motion,
First on the land and supreme on the ocean—
Flag of the rainbow and banner of stars.
CHORUS.—Flag of the rainbow, etc.
The Orchestra Music (eight instruments) can be had from the
Composer, at Newark, N. J.
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Transcriber’s Notes
pg 117 Changed: Yelped the dark and red-eyed sluthhound
to: Yelped the dark and red-eyed sleuthhound