That the Stars and Stripes flutter before them, Ah me! I am only a woman,-. But hark! how the men are cheering, All down along the shore; And the crews of the passing vessels And once more the echoes waken, As the blue-coats answer back,- THE WAY WE WENT TO BEAUFORT. Full fifty sail we were that day, With a feeling of brooding mystery; The man at the helm, nothing knew he, On that morn of radiant beauty; And the ships outspread their wings, and flew One thought alone each man of us knew— Not a breath of wherefore or why was heard, But a spirit of inspiring trust And thus we went-the hurricane's breath But brave Dupont and Sherman knew Where the bolt should light, and each gallant crew And match, and blend, and thorough-blend, in her "And on her brow a softened light, Or of the rising moon behind the rainy vapors of the night. "The sisterhood that was so sweet The Starry System sphered complete, The Four-and-Thirty fallen stars glimmer and glitter at her feet. "And lo! the children which she bred, And more than all else cherished, To make them strong in heart and head, Stand face to face as mortal foes, with their swords crossed above the dead! "Each hath a mighty stroke and stride, And one is Mother-true and tried, The other dark and evil-eyed; But we hoped it was a nightmare, till the news was brought from town, And by the hand of one of them his own dear Mother That the horde of Charleston traitor-knaves had shot The Son stabbed, and the Mother fell; our banner down. In my bitter grief and anguish keen, I felt the an cient ire Of Bunker Hill and Lexington course through my veins like fire, And so she lies-all mute, and pale, and pure, and Till, as lightnings cease when breaks the dark cloud's irreproachable. "And then the battle-trumpet blew, And the true Brother sprang, and drew His blade to smite the traitor through; And so they clashed above the bier, and the Night sweated bloody dew! "Now, whichsoever stand or fall, As God is great and man is small, The Truth shall triumph over all heart upon the land, I wept when, on my thin gray locks, I felt Frank's manly hand, And saw my grandsire's musket gleam within his clenchéd grip, And read the clear and stern gray eye that chid the quivering lip; Read that the eye would smile no more until it saw the foe, Whilst the lips were loth to shape the words, "Dear mother, I must go." Forever and forevermore the Truth shall triumph So I sealed them with a kiss, dried up my tears, and BY G. WILLIS WHITE, JR. He lay on his couch in the silent hour, But his brain was fevered and weary with thought, While his heart beat fast when his memory sought To bring back old times again. He figured his profits-a good round sum A ghostly group of mechanics appear, On that lightning-chord the South breeze sighed a sad Æolian moan, And my heart grew sick, on looking up, to see the dove had flown. Neighbors say there's been a battle, and that we have lost again; Was that dove my poor boy's spirit? Is his name among the slain? NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 1861. ZAGONYI. BY GEORGE H. BOKER. Bold captain of the Body-Guard, My voice is somewhat harsh and hard, I hear thy jingling spurs and reins, The blood runs lighter through my veins, Thy hundred men, with thrusts and blows, With pistol snap and rifle crack Mere salvos fired to honor thee Ye plunge, and stamp, and shoot, and hack The ride they took with thee! No guardsman of the whole command Thy leading plume stream out ahead, So, captain of the Body-Guard, I hope to see thy shoulders starred, Shall laugh at fortune in the fray, -Philadelphia Press. RHODE ISLAND TO THE SOUTH. BY GEN. F. W. LANDER. Once on New England's bloody heights, And by that only Lord we serve, By all that makes the man a king, Take back the idle scoff ye fling, Where freedom claims its own. For though our battle hope was vague Where Slocum stood with gallant Sprague, Before we yield the holy trust Or wrong New England's hallowed dust, We'll print in kindred gore so deep The shore we love to tread, That woman's eyes shall fail to weep O'er man's unnumbered dead. THE WIDE-AWAKE MAN. Dedicated to the Stay-at-Home Black-Capes. Now, while our soldiers are fighting our battles, Each at his post to do all that he can, Down among rebels and contraband chattels, What are you doing, my wide-awake man? All the brave boys under canvas are sleeping, What are you waiting for, wide-awake man? You, with the terrible warlike moustaches, Bring him the bottomless garment of woman! Give him for escort a file of young misses, Each of them armed with a deadly ratan; They shall defend him from laughter and hisses, Aimed by low boys at the wide-awake man. O, but the black-cape guards are the fellows! Drilling each day since our troubles began"Handle your walking-stick!" "Shoulder umbrel las!" That is the style for the wide-awake man. Catch me confiding my person with strangers! Think how the cowardly Bull Runners ran! In the brigade of the stay-at-home black-capes Marches my corps, says the wide-awake man. Such was the stuff of the Malakoff takers, Such were the soldiers that scaled the Redan; Truculent housemaids and blood-thirsty Quakers Brave not the wrath of the wide-awake man. When the brown soldiers come back from the borders, How will they look while his features they scan? How will he feel when he gets marching orders, Signed by his lady-love, wide-awake man? |