My country, my country, thou art loved next to God!
Though man's blood has reddened thy emerald sod
Till faith has been palsied, we'll wake from the spell,
And hope till the watchman shall cry "All is well.
My country, my country, there is joy for thee yet;
Thy sun, with its glory now dimmed, is not set;
And the kingdoms of earth, that rejoice o'er thy woe,
Shall bow at thy feet when their pride is laid low
BEFORE THE ATTACK ON AGUSTA, KY.
WITH head erect and lips compressed,
He throws his hammer by;
The purpose of his manly breast
Is now to do or die.
He seeks the camp: "Put down my name,
My boys will mind the shop;
If my country wants my heart's blood,
I'll shed it drop for drop.
"And here comes now the oldest boy;
My son what would you do ?”
"Father my brother will drive the trade;
I've come to fight with you."
"God bless him! Well, put down his name
I cannot send him home,
But here's the other boy, I see;
My son, what made you come ?”
"Father, I could not work alone;
The shop may go to-grass;
I've come to fight for the good old flag ;
Stand off here-let me pass."
"Yes, put him down-he's a noble boy;
I've two that are younger still;
They'll drive the plow on Flushing farm,
And work with a right good will,
My God! and here comes one of them!
My son you must not go!"
"Father, when traitors are marching on,
I cannot plow or sow
"Well thank God, there is one yet left-
He will plow and sow what he can;
But he is only a boy, and can never do
The work of a full grown man
With a proud heart, the blacksmith turned,
And walked to the other side;
For he felt a weakness he almost scorned,
And a tear he fain would hide.
They told him then his youngest boy
Was putting his name on the roll;
"It must not be," said the brave old man;
No, no, he's the light of my soul!"
But the lad came up with a beaming face,
Which bore neither fears nor cares :
"Father, say nothing-my name is down,
I've let out the farm on shares.”
Now they've marched to the tented field,
And when the wild battle shall come,
They'll strike a blow for the Stars and Stripes,
For God, and their Country and Home.
AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH, MISS.,
OCTOBER 4TH, '62.
THUS once a Spartan mother spoke-
"My son go forth to war,
And in the battle's deadly shock,
Be fame thy guiding star;
Disgrace not Sparta's honor'd name,
But death prefer to loss of fame.
"I'd rather see thee, O my son!
Borne home upon thy shield
After a victory nobly won
Than think that thou could'st yield, Or leave thy arms, to aid thy flight, From foes, however great their might.
"Remember Sparta's martial laws;
Think of Termopolea
May all the Gods defend thy cause,
And send thee back to me,
Enriched with spoils, but richer far
In honors gained in glorious war."
Ah! vain attempt to tell the joy
That filled that mother's breast, When she beheld her darling boy
Return among the rest
And heard 'mid shouts of loud acclaim
Her son, their youthful leader's name.
Mothers in every age should be
Like this brave Spartan dame,
And tell their sons, the same as she,
The worth of deathless fame,
And yield them at their country's call
To conquer for her, or to fall.
A. F. a., 2D REGT., N.Y.N.G.
BATTLE NEAR PERRYVILLE, KY.,
AWAKE, ye bards, your torches now ignite,
And spread throughout the land a glowing light;
Illume the world around, both far and near,
Sustain the emblem of our country dear;
Hold up the Stars and Stripes, in ev'ry State
Denounce the wicked but uphold the great-
The truly great-who, like our Washington,
Would bask in happiness 'neath Freedom's sun,
Or wade through blood our honor to maintain;
Hurl to eternity the servile chain,
The cause of turmoil in our noble States,
And quench the fire of would-be potentates,
Restore to happiness the land we love;
If war it must be, why then war approve,
And let the eagle proudly soar above.
REBEL INVASION OF CHAMBERSBURG PA.,
"ON comrades, to the charge!
Boys, do your duty well!"
Thus cheering forward to the fight,
Our brave young captain fell:
We clustered round his prostrate form,
We bore him from the field-
Nerveless the arm that never more,
A patriot's sword might wield.
He fell that Christian soldier,
In manhood's strength and power;
Bright rose life's vista on his sight,
In that first fearful hour!
He fell at duty's post no more,
Fresh honors to obtain ;
He fell, while fighting manfully,
The cause he loved to gain !
"Art thou resigned (the question came,
As pierced by wounds he lay,)
Thus in the glorious prime of life,
To pass from earth away?' "Aye I'm resigned, I soon shall gain My everlasting rest!"
Fear or repining found no place
In that brave soldier's breast!
|