DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE CONFEDERATE STATES, MAY 4TH, '61.
HAIL, chivalric brothers of the South,
And of each Northern State give ear;
List to the voice from Reason's mouth-
The day of your destiny draws near!
Aye, it draws near, 'mid discord and din-
The offspring base, of all human sin!
Ah! where in the world has fled your love
Of Freedom and Truth, that formed the tie
Which long has held you above the sway
Of base Political Insanity?
Corruption's pow'r in Church, and in State.
Oh! my loved country-what is thy fate?
Say, where is the hope of sire and son,
As wounded to death, they laid them down,
While fighting for cause so nobly won,
On which you, their sons, presume to frown;
Presume to frown on, when you declare
"Freedom all sham!" and "the Union air!"
Where, now, is the cry of babe and wife
Mother, and sister, in heart-felt grief,
Mourning the work of musket and knife
And calling on God to give relief?
To give relief, which you now deride,
Ye senseless sons of folly and pride!
Where, now, is the tramp of Despot's heel,
That once left its imprint on your sod?
Are you ready, now, to smirk and kneel
To some Potentate, instead of God?
Instead of God, for such is the fate
Of those whose laws are discord and hate.
Ah! where is the hallow'd memory
Of Washington's worth, and Henry's zeal? Has it, with them, sped to eternity,
And left you now blind to woe or weal? To woe or weal-to honor and fame;
Ah! brothers now pause, Where is your shame?
Say-where is that SCROLL, held in such awe,
Your forefathers' gift-bearing their seal?
Is it still sacred as it was of yore,
Or press'd, like dead leaves, 'neath your base heel? Press'd, like dead leaves, when summer has fled, And laid all its joys on the graves of the dead!
And where are the words of truth and light
Left by our grand-sires to guide the way
To the goal of peace, of glory, and might,
Thro' darkness and storm, to calm and day?
The calm and day, such as Freemen know,
When brotherly love thro' their systems flow.
Ah! where is the scorn that flushed each brow,
When statesmen and sage first breathed the tho't
That you
would prove faithless to the vow
Of Union and Freedom, so dearly bought?
Too dearly bought which heaven forefend,
When strife is its Alpha, and woe its End!
And where is the fire that lit each eye
As star after star rose to your gaze, In that cluster bright, spread out in the sky, And dazzled all earth with its mighty blaze? Has it vanished, as does the lightning's flash, To be felt, anon, in the bolt's sharp crash?
For such is the end, if you but dare
To draw the first stone from the Arch of State,
"Twill crumble and fall—a thing of air—
Precedent, too oft, shapes human fate.
Shall history's page your dishonor tell?
And woe fill the land, as sin fills hell?
Do you know that the eye of God is bent,
As that of the world, on this spot of dust,
Watching each movement with gaze intent,
To pronounce and hear the verdict just?
Say, will you prove true to God and State ?
Oh! my loved country-what is thy fate?
FIRST UNION OFFENSIVE OPERATION AT SEWELL'S POINT. MAY 18TH, '61.
MIDNIGHT upon the placid stream,
All nature seems at rest;
The silver moonbeams lightly beam.
Upon the harbor's breast.
But hark, from yonder ship à sound
Disturbs the silence reigning 'round;
It is the frigate's midnight bell,
And watch proclaiming "All's well!"
"All's well!"-the lonely watchman's cry
Succeeds the stroke of midnight bell;
The ship is safe-no foe is nigh!
The hour is peaceful-" All's well!"
"All's well!" Then rest in
In port now safe at last;
The fearful scenes you've battled thro'
Are naught, for danger's past!
The noble ship secure doth ride
Upon the harbor's mirror'd tide,
Far from old ocean's restless swell.
Sleep on, brave crew, for "All's well!"
"All's well," the lonely watchman's cry
Succeeds the stroke of midnight bell;
The ship is safe-no foe is nigh!
The hour is peaceful-" All's well!"
"God of our Fathers," speed the day
When the fierce storm shall cease,
And bring our Ship of State, we pray,
Safe to the Bay of Peace.
Soon may we hear the watchman's voice
Proclaiming to the world, "Rejoice!"
Wide let the welcome tidings swell-
Freedom hath triumphed-" All's well!"
"All's well!"-the lonely watchman's cry
Succeeds the stroke of midnight bell;
The ship is safe— no foe is nigh!
The hour is peaceful" All's well!"
UNION ADVANCE INTO ALEXANDRIA.
THE dark night is ended, the skirmish is done,
Of wounded there is none, our dead, only one,
Lies out 'neath the stars in mute grandeur alone,
Where the moonlight falls 'round him,
And the rustling leaves, like a spirit's low tone,
Are his requiem sounding.
No songs 'round the fire, no laughing word said;
There's a hush in the camp, the sentry's firm tread
Falls softened and low as it passes the dead,
With pure, holy light streaming o'er his young head, Death's shadows defying.
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