CAPTURE OF ELIZABETH CITY, N. C.,
FEBRUARY 11TH, '62.
ARM for the fight! The cry goes forth,
Thro' the Eastern States, thro' the West and North,
As loud as the surge of the mighty sea
It bursts from the lips of the brave and free,
Strike for God and the Right!
Traitors shall never Our Union sever,
Our Flag shall wave o'er the land forever,
Patriots! Arm for the fight!
Arm for the fight! There has blood been shed,
And vengeance must fall on the traitor's head;
We have sued for peace-but we sue no more-
That vain hope is past, that dream is o'er.
Strike for God and the Right!
Unfurl your flag to the winds of Heaven,
And let three cheers as it floats be given,
Patriots! Arm for the fight!
Arm for the fight! Hear the eagle cry,
As wounded he soars 'mid the clouds on high;
From his trembling pinions drips the gore,
And it falls on the City of Baltimore-
Strike for God and the Right!
By the force of arms keep Our Nation free; *
Let our country's flag wave o'er land and sea,
Patriots! Arm for the fight!
WHERE MY COMRADE IS SLEEPING.
CAPTURE OF EDENTON AND PLYMOUTH CITY, N. C.,
FEBRUARY 12Tн, '62.
SOFTLY now the shades of evening
Gently fall through twilight air,
Nature drapes the sun in darkness,
As some weary maiden fair
Droops with sleep her jetty lashes
O'er her eye, so piercing bright,
While afar on distant mountains
Sweep the noiseless wings of Night.
Lonely dreams now pass before me,
Dismal hues my thoughts assume,
While the deep'ning stealthy shadows
Stamp my soul with half their gloom;
And I mourn my dearest comrade,
Sleeping in his silent grave,
'Neath the shadow of that fortress
Looming o'er the Southern wave.
Have ye seen a Northern cottage,
Underneath whose hanging eaves
Gleam the sceptres which old Winter
There in sparkling beauty leaves?
Saw ye sunbeams in the morning,
Quench their life blood with their fire?
As they melt they gleam the brighter,
Smiling sweetly, they expire.
Thus the soul of the departed
Saw in death no hideous gloomShudder'd not to see before him
A short pathway to the tomb.
Fixed his eyes on bright-winged seraphs,
Saw their crowns of starry hue,
Smiled to hear their shouts of welcome,
As his glad soul upwards flew.
Like the breast of some huge sea-bird,
Sleeping on the tossing foam,
Crowned with plumes of shining emerald
Climbs to Heav'n-his island home.
There, with tear-wet eyes, a mother,
Long with ceaseless grief will mourn,
And her gray hairs grow yet whiter,
Weeping for her brave first born.
Take, oh grave, the earthen casket
To its kindred dust again,
But the gem that gave it beauty,
Sparkles now where seraphs reign; Should the gold forever glitter Undisturbed, in native clay? Rather cleanse it, till its brightness Pictures back the heavenly ray.
CAPTURE OF SPRINGFIELD, MO.,
FEBRUARY 13Tн, '62.
THE march was o'er-the toilsome march,
Through forest dark, and tangled wild-
Each soldier sought his couch of leaves,
And slumbered like a wearied child.
The swift Potomac coursed along
Beside them, like a silver thread,
And mingling with its rushing tide
Came echoes of the sentry's tread.
The watch-flre's out-no tell-tale light
Must point the foe to where they lay,
While thus they slept beneath the trees,
And dreamed the starry night away.
In hours like these, of hurried rest,
In whom to trust they knew full well;
They slept in peace beneath the care
Of tried and trusted sentinel.
He, with careful, steady step,
Walked to and fro among the trees,
With eager ear to catch each sound
That reached him coming with the breeze. The rustling branches, sighing winds, Each dying leaf that slowly fell, Were heard, and not a sound escaped The trusted watchful sentinel.
CAPTURE OF BOWLING GREEN, KY.,
FEBRUARY 14TH, '62
FREEMEN! one more sacred pleasure
Should our festal day employ;
Seraph voices, tuneful measure
To express a nation's joy.
Bright eyes gleaming, banners streaming,
Gay bells pealing through the land;
All uniting, all are plighting
Heart to heart, and hand to hand;
For our country undivided,
For the pledge our fathers signed, For that law supreme provided
Race and sect as one to bind.
And though treasure without measure
We must lavish to defend,-
And though perish all we cherish,
We will neither yield nor bend,-
Till our flag, in honor planted,
Float again o'er sea and shore,
And what rebel hands have flaunted
Shall usurp its place no more !
Then regretting and forgetting
Fancied wrongs and needless war,
God that made us one, will aid us
One to be forever more.
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