Читать книгу Belford's Magazine, Vol 2, December 1888 - Various - Страница 9

The wives and little ones at home who knelt one Sabbath morn,

And prayed for God to save our land, with battles rent and torn,

How little knew the quick reply, while yet they bent the knee,

In Shiloh's fierce and stubborn strife beside the Tennessee!

Oh, may they never cease to pray for our dear nation's good.

Till wrong no more shall lift a hand to claim the price of blood!

For heavy was the debt we paid in noble blood and true,

When Slavery cast the gage of war between the gray and blue.

Bright burst the dawn o'er Shiloh's field, as o'er the northland homes;

As o'er the worshippers that rose to seek their shining domes;

And gentle morn, that whispered low and woke the sleepers there,

Had almost led the soldier back the Sabbath joys to share,

When, lo! a murmur through the trees above the breezes came,

And shook the forest in our front with thunder-sound and flame!

Now all the dreams of peace and home in quick surprise dispelled;

Adown the line and far away the clamor rose and swelled!

Defenceless on a field of war – 'tis terrible in thought!

Then how the holy morn was changed for those who blindly fought!

At breakfast fire and forming line, their life-blood stained the green;

Before them flashed a fiery storm; behind, the river's sheen!

The army smitten in its camps, though flinching, rallied soon,

And steady rose the battle's roar on that red field ere noon,

While, mindful of their sad neglect, up came our generals then —

Alas! they could not form in rank the dead and dying men!

Against a crushing battle-tide right well we fought our ground;

Full oft the foe that smote our ranks the soldiers' welcome found.

That day the swaying underbrush a reaper, all unseen,

Smote with the battle's deadly breath as with a sickle keen;

The scorner of the widow's wail, the orphans' sore lament,

There gathered treasure in his grasp, from hut and mansion sent.

With deadly volleys crashing near, the cannons roll afar,

That Sabbath closed on Shiloh's field, a bloody scene of war.

Ere long the thrilling scenes will fade, the veterans will depart;

But ere we leave the land; my child, write this upon thy heart:

No soaring genius labored there to guide the stubborn fight —

That was the common soldier's day from morning dawn till night;

His stinging volleys checked the foe and laid their leader cold,

As ever near with gleaming front the wave of battle rolled.

Until the western sun was low and succor reached the field,

Madly they pressed the volunteers, Columbia's pride and shield.

The trump of fame has sounded long for those who led us then,

And echoes still where poets sing the praise of mighty men.

But where the commoner is found beneath his household tree,

The soldier's heavy tramp is heard, the bayonet's gleam we see!

Ah! never more in knightly ranks will nations put their trust,

And soon the fabled hero's sword will gather mould and rust:

As war disclosed the true defence in man's unarmored breast,

So has it shown a nation's strength above the dazzling crest.

The stars of union raise aloft that once on Shiloh led;

Give justice to that rank and file, the living and the dead!

And when ye see that flag on high, remember how they fared

Who sprang to meet a cruel strife, surprised and unprepared:

O children, often when I see our standard quick unfurled,

Unconsciously my steps are braced to meet those volleys hurled!

Still burdened with the memories of sad and glorious fight,

The morning breaks among the tents, by the river falls the night.

Remember, 'twas the Sabbath day – the holy, blessed time

When neighbors crowd the roadside walks, and bells do sweetly chime —

Your fathers thronged the gates of death in Shiloh's bloody fray,

Beside the rolling Tennessee: – call that the soldier's day!

And oh, for our dear country pray, that all her laws be good,

That wrong no more shall lift a hand to claim the price of blood!

For heavy was the debt we paid, in noble blood and true,

When Slavery cast the gage of war between the gray and blue.