regiments with a battery behind Centreville on the road to Fairfax, and in the rear of the wagons, the field would have been saved, for there is no doubt the rebels were stunned by the force of our charges and the extent of their losses, which must have been comparatively much heavier than ours. This is almost conclusive, from the fact that they did not pursue in any considerable body, supposing us, undoubtedly, to be occupying the ground at Centreville in sufficient force to maintain ourselves, and following out their apparently settled policy of keeping behind their intrenchments, and risking nothing in the open field. I omitted to state yesterday, as another proof of the confidence which Gen. McDowell appears to have felt in the success of the attack, that while the engagement was going on, say at 3 o'clock, in addition to the army wagons with which the Warrenton road was encumbered, there were six wagons heavily loaded with oak timber, about midway between Centreville and the "run," intended for rebuilding the bridge which the rebels had undermined. One of these was abandoned on the road before the retreat commenced, the horses being unable to draw it up the hill. These multiplied incumbrances, in such unusual and unnecessary situations, added greatly to the confusion; for teamsters with only whips in their hands can hardly be expected to preserve the steadiness of troops on the field. And now, with regard to the retreat, I was at the hospital near the scene of action, for three-quarters of an hour, and left the ground only ten minutes before, as it is reported, the rebel cavalry made a very loose and ineffective charge-assisting the wounded who were being constantly brought in; and while there, before any alarm was spread, my attention was called by an officer to clouds of dust on the right of the rebel line, and I was told that an attack was expected on our flank by the rebel cavalry. One of the Vivandieres standing near us observed it first, but the dust soon subsiding, I did not think more of it. We started soon after on the road to Centreville, and there was then no confusion apparent, when about half a mile from the hospital we were overtaken by an officer, and desired to convey a message from the general to Col. Blenker, desiring him to look out for a cavalry attack on our flank. We met Blenker a mile further on at the head of his brigade, marching to the scene of action; we gave him the message, and he immediately quickened the pace of his column, and if he did not get in soon enough to encourage our men to stand, ho at least covered the retreat, and displayed the conduct of a good and brave officer. I ought to say here, in justice to the few civilians who went to this extreme post, and who, within my personal observation, sought by every possible effort to rally the men; that the very officer on horseback who brought us the message to Blenker, was afterwards overtaken by us, far ahead of the troops, riding leisurely to the rear on the Fairfax road. I confidently believe that there was a repulse, after the almost superhuman exertions of our men, who had been fighting on empty stomachs, by fresh cavalry; and I think it will be found that a retreat had been ordered. It was not a panic of baggage wagons, or civilians; or if it was, wagons had been in the rear of Centreville and properly supported, there would have been no panic at all. the The reason why I conclude that a retreat had been ordered, is, that on our approach to Centreville Gen. McDowell was leading his reserves across the road, and to a position where he could make a stand, either to cover the retreat of his advanced corps, or to resist a cavalry attack. Simultaneously with this movement a large drove of cattle had come up on the side of the road, and from being pressed forward as they had been towards the "run," were immediately headed to the rear, and driven at a rapid rate back over the road which they had just left. This could not have taken place without orders, and was before the stampede of the wagons. The conclusion of all this is, that the battle ought not to have been fought under the circumstances. If Gen. McDowell had been content to intrench himself at Centreville, of which he seems to have had some intention, for his men were at work upon an intrenchment which was not occupied, a successful day would have come for us, and our troops would have been saved from the demoralizing influence, not of defeat, but of a disorganization and retreat almost unparalleled, considering the comparatively short distance, for fatigue and suffering. Having been separated from the wagons, the men were necessarily without food. We rode out of the stable yard shortly after the rush of wagons commenced; we did this for the purpose of getting out of the way of the movements of the troops. There were then ahead of us at least one hundred to one hundred and fifty wagons, with four horses to cach, and half as many behind, rushing down the road like a torrent. We got wedged in among them, and were obliged to follow or be crushed. Ahead of us was one containing a soldier wounded in the foot, which a comrade beside him was holding up and trying to keep from being hurt by the movements of the wagon. Another wounded soldier clung upon the back of our carriage for a considerable distance, until we were able to place him on one of the wagons. Soon the drivers commenced throwing out the contents of their wagons, until the road was filled with bags of grain, boxes, coils of rope, shovels, pickaxes, and every imaginable thing. Over all this litter we were obliged to drive, with no chance to turn out, there being a constant pressure behind. It was a scene to be remembered, but not to be experienced, I would hope, a second time. As to where the responsibility should rest for this great waste of human life and valuable materials of war, which were so necessary to our progress, that must be determined by those who have a right to inquire.-Boston Daily Advertiser. RECEPTION OF THE NEWS FROM MANASSAS-HOW THE TROOPS REGARD GEN. PATTERSON. HARPER'S FERRY, Wednesday, July 24, 1861. The army under Gen. Patterson came to camp in this place on Sunday, A. M. The men are now impatient, and well-nigh demoralized. The news of the battle near Washington came to camp last night, and the effect was most disheartening. The result of that disaster is attributed to our division of the army. At Charlestown we were within four miles of Johnston, as he passed. News of his movement to join Beauregard at the Junction was carried to Gen. Patterson, but he took no notice of it, and allowed the transferment. All sorts of things are upon the field until 11 o'clock P. M., five hours after the stampede commenced, and during the eveniug meeting and repulsing a considerable body of cavalry which came down in the rear of our retreating army. He passed along the lines yesterday, and heard the opinion of the troops. They assaulted him with all sorts of epithets. "Go home, you old coward," "Duck him," "Hang him," "Throw him In vain were the attempts of Blenker's men, himinto the river," ," "He's an old secessionist," "Shoot self, or his officers, to check the tide that set so dehim"-these and other shouts fell on his car. He terminately toward the Capital at that unlucky mostopped in front of the Rhode Island troops, faced ment. And when the day was announced to have them, and rose in his stirrups as if to defy them. been lost, none of all that five-and-twenty thousand But if the thought was to intimidate them, it was Union-loving soldiers felt more keenly the disapin vain. The men called out the louder, and he pointment and chagrin of the hour, than did Gen. passed on.-N. Y. Times. Blenker, his officers, and his men.-N. Y. Times. BLENKER'S BRIGADE-THE RESERVE. WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July 23, 1861. At the late battle in the valley along Bull Run, I was present, and in all the accounts given of the part taken by different divisions, brigades, and regiments, I have not yet seen in print any detailed statement in reference to the important duty assigned to, and so well performed by, the brigade under command of Gen. Louis Blenker, late colonel of the New York German Rifles. Gen. Blenker's command was appointed as the reserve, and consisted of four regiments-the German Rifles, Garibaldians, and two other German regiments-in all, something less than four thousand men. They were selected for this post of honor on account of the large experience of both officers and men in the battle-fields of Europe, it being well-known that the leading officers, and very many of the private soldiers, had already been in five, ten, or twenty battles upon the continent, and the most experienced and trustworthy of all our army could only be placed in the all-important position of the reserve force, in case of emergency-or, if needed, to cover a retreat. A NEWSPAPER HERO.-The poet tells us, with a happy felicity of expression, that "tis distance lends enchantment to the view." In the case of Mr. Russell, special correspondent, &c., of the Times, this is indisputably true. Here, he figures as a gentleman who described a battle which he never came within five miles of, and a retreat in which he contrived to take the lead, distancing the most panic-struck fugitive. In England he figured a second Chevalier Bayard, who vainly endeavored to rally a panicstruck army, and at last withdrew, more in sorrow than in anger, because his single voice could not speak trumpet-toned into the cars of thousands, and because his single arm could not smite Goliath Beauregard down into annihilation. Some people's geese are swans. Mr. Russell, just now, is the particular swan of the London Times, which wants to make the world believe that at the battle, (known as that of Russell's Run, so far as he was concerned,) he was bravest of the brave, unalarmed and cool throughout "Among the faithless, faithful only he." While exalting his own surprising courage, evinced by the rapidity of his flight, it was scarcely chivalAll day long this brigade were left upon the hill ric, or even courteous, for Mr. Russell to "hint a this side of Bull Run, ready and anxious to enter fault and hesitate dislike" in the case of any other the field, and panting for the opportunity to serve gentleman-particularly of a gentleman and a brave their adopted country in a way that they felt them-soldier. In his second letter to the Times, dated selves able to do; but all day long they were only July 24th, (three days after the battle, and thererequired to rest upon their arms, and had the oppor-fore not to be excused away on the plea of haste,) tunity only to look on, while the battle was so fiercely raging beyond them, in which they so ardently desired to participate. No order came from head-quarters for their services until after 5 o'clock P. M., when the battle really had been lost. At 5 o'clock, however, an order came for them to go on to the field, and they sprang to arms as if but one man, and at doublequick pressed down the Centreville and Warrenton roads, with the sternest alacrity and satisfaction. The error of the day seemed to be in not calling upon the reserve at least two hours earlier. This command is composed of fighting men. They are soldiers, who understand their profession. They have been educated to the soldier's life, and are as hardy as they are brave and experienced. It was a singular mistake that they were not sooner called upon, for thus the day might easily have been saved to us. They marched upon the field at last, and pressed forward some two miles or more from their original position. What was their consternation and disappointment, as they entered, to find the army retreating, and in the wildest disorder, too. The brigade was drawn up into line, and right gallantly they covered the retreat of our forces, remaining Mr. Russell goes out of his way to cast an arrow of unjust reproach and insinuation against Meagher, once the Irish Patriot, and now the American citizen soldier in a regiment filled with brave Irishmen who are proud of his companionship and gallantry. After praising the good conduct of Blenker's Germans, of the 79th, and of the 69th, Mr. Russell slyly insinuntes: Captain Meagher, indeed, I am told, yielded to the universal panic, and was seen on foot at Centreville making the best of his way toward Fort Corcoran, with exclamations which implied that, for the moment, he recognized the Southern Confederacy as highly belligerent." This infamous accusation, so disingenuously insinuated with tho prudent "I am told," is unworthy of the country of Mr. Russell's birth, and, we will add, of the honorable profession of journalism to which he belongs. It is wholly untrue, and we are inclined to think that Mr. Meagher will obtain its retraction.-Philadelphia Press. THERE is a story that Gen. Beauregard, in his anxiety to learn the plans of Gen. Scott previous to the battle of Bull Run, attached a wire to a telegraph of the Unionists which communicated with the head-quarters of the Department of the Potomac. The coating of this wire was of the color of dry leaves, or of a dead limb, not readily attracting notice. The early reports of the defeat mentioned that the rebels knew Gen. McDowell's programme beforehand. Perhaps it was in this way that they learned it, and that the final council of war, at midnight, was only one instant in reporting itself from one camp to another.-Independent. AFFECTING STATEMENT.-The solemnity of the battle-field and the true nature of the work of war, have an impressive exhibition in the following: A soldier, who was in the battle of Bull Run, said that, after the first fire of the enemy upon our troops, a great many men fell, wounded, all around. And from many of them the cry went up, "God have mercy on my soul." So earnest was the cry, and so contagious, that I found myself making, almost unconsciously to myself, the same prayer, over and over again, as I was fighting, "God have mercy on my soul." He said that for two or three nights after leaving for home, and arriving here, he could not sleep. Ringing through his cars, through all the hours of a wakeful night, was the impassioned, carnest cry, a cry which he could never forget"God have mercy on my soul"-such a cry as none but men passing into eternity could utter.-Louis ville Journal. AFFAIRS AT MANASSAS-BALTIMORE WANTED FOR WINTER QUARTERS. "Se de Kay," writing to the Louisville Courier from Camp Bartow, near Manassas, under date of August 23, says: " A week of chill rain storms has served to remind us not only of the personal discomforts of camp life, but of the rapid departure of summer, and the near approach of the season of "mist and mellow fruitfulness." The "last roses are indeed blooming, though it was but the other day that I plucked one on the battle-field, where it had opened its delicate fragrance upon the tainted air, amid the wreck and desolation of horrid war. We still linger in possession of our dearly-bought position; our forces occupying, at present, no more advanced lines than before the 21st of July. Aside from the moral effect upon the whole world--and that is momentous-our immortal victory has availed us but little. We barely hold our own; but then the month of apparent inaction has been wisely employed by our generals in preparing for the decisive blow of the contest. When we shall strike, quien sabe. No one, save General Johnston, who closets himself in his little yellow brick head-quarters, a mile west of our camp, and diligently engages himself in reorganizing the army, and making ready for the conflict which shall result in freeing nine millions of people, and reëstablishing the ark of liberty, so long desecrated by the impious North men. That there will be a forward movement soon, we have every reason to believe, and no reader of the Courier need be astonished while sipping his morning coffee, if he sees the announcement of our occupation of Maryland, and the hemming in of the Federal Capital. We must have winter quarters, and Baltimore would furnish splendid accommodations for our forces. It will be recollected that Jeff. Davis, in his speech at Richmond after the battle of Bull Run, stated that the rebel forces had captured provisions enough to last an army of fifty thousand men one year. A gentleman attached to the Government service has computed the details of this assertion. It would require thirty-six and a half millions of pounds, and over twelve thousand wagons and forty-eight thousand horses to transport the amount. The official returns show that we lost but twenty-one wagons, and due allowance can therefore be made for the idle boasts of the rebels. THE BATTLE AT BULL RUN. Now that the smoke of the late battle fought near Bull Run has measurably cleared away, all minds are coming rapidly to perceive how great is the misapprehension under which the public has been permitted to labor, and how signal has been the injustice done to the great mass of the national troops by the exaggerated representations that have been made in the sensation press respecting the alleged "panic," which is said to have converted an orderly retreat into a "rout." It is now known that, save in the case of an inconsiderable number of Gen. McDowell's forces, there was neither " panic " nor "rout" on Sunday last, and that it was to unmilitary teamsters and still more unmilitary civilians and sight-seers on or near the field of battle, that the country is indebted, in the first place, for the exhibition made of both these phenomcna at the close of the engagement, and in the second place, for distorted and erroneous views respecting the magnitude of the disaster that befell our troops. It is apparent that the first accounts, given by most of these returned fugitives, partook of the wildness into which they alone, and not the great mass of the national forces, were thrown in effecting a retreat from Centreville. It is now universally conceded, that for hours our troops actually engaged fought like veterans, charging and re-charging, and performing a series of remurkable movements no less difficult than daring. In the midst of a tornado of shot and shell they loaded and discharged their pieces as coolly as though protected by impenetrable works. Volunteers never fought better, and but for the loss of many officers, the ignorance of the roads, and the want of rallying points, the retreat, unexpected as it was, would have been made in entire good order. The confusion, where it existed at all, was the natural result of a hasty withdrawal from the field, and manifested, neither in its cause nor its effects, the presence of a "panic." We speak of soldiers, and not of teamsters or amateur spectators. In confirmation of this fact, we have only to cite the fact that Gen. Blenker and the brigade under him, consisting of his own regiment, the Garibaldi Guard, and the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania regiment, occupied their reserve position near Centreville until late in the evening, and then, in perfect order, covered the retreat to Arlington. Morcover, it is said that soon after sunset a portion of our troops repaired to the position occupied during the day by Gen. Tyler's division, and recovered six brass pieces, left there by our artillery companies, who could not bring them off on account of the loss of their horses. A well-known citizen of New York, the eminent publisher, G. P. Putnam, in a letter published on the subject of the battle on Sunday, which he witnessed, writes under this head as follows: "It is due to our brave troops, and to the New 그림 a York troops especially-not one of whom was to be seen on the road-that this disgraceful and demoralizing impression should be promptly removed. We should be wholly disgraced before the world if these stories had been true. The truth should be shown, whatever the consequences; but libels on our whole army, after the noble stand and heroic service done that day, are more than wicked. Let me add, that it was the First New Jersey regiment, Col. Montgomery, coming up from Vienna at 4 P. M., which so promptly and effectually stopped the stampede, put the wagons in perfect order, regulated every thing on the road, and then, at 5 P. M., marched on towards the battlefield. They deserve all credit for this important service. To show how effectual it was, I need only repeat that Mr. Tilley, of Rhode Island, and myself, remained till half-past 6 o'clock at the very spot where the stampede was stopped, where we had the melancholy satisfaction of aiding with a cup of pure water the wounded and sick men who came limping from the field. The whole panic was stopped in twenty minutes. It was causeless and disgraceful during this time and at the place where it occurred. The day was lost by it; but, as far as the retreat or flight was concerned, it was stopped within two or three miles, and in less time than it takes to write about it." Another intelligent gentleman, writing from this city under date of the 23d instant, in referring to the temporary panic, states its origin, on the authority of well-informed soldiers, who were engaged in the conflict, as follow3:— "The baggage wagons, by the hundred, were stationed on a hill, in view of a large body of the army engaged. A park of our artillery was ordered to the ground occupied by these teams, and the teamsters were ordered to leave the ground as fast as possible. They took the order for an alarm, and began to drive wildly from the field. The civilians in the same neighborhood took flight along with them. The troops saw this, and a brigade, being in motion to take up a new position, mistook the movement for a flight or retreat, or converted the movement into a retreat. Then commenced the panic, and it quickly became a sea of confusion. The battle was a grand victory up to this time, and it stands at that yet, notwithstanding the retreat, for there were twenty-five thousand of our troops on the field that were not brought into action. The burden of the day, from 8 in the morning till 6 in the evening, was borne by unrelieved troops, thousands of them without their breakfast, and all without food, except a cracker or two cach. This seems to be a great blunder; but where the fault lies, it is difficult to determine. I think it covers the field officers generally; but this is to be explained hereafter. The men all declare that, under McDowell, they can take the batteries again easy. There is no breakdown in the spirits or temper of the troops. They have realized their own bravery in the most severe battle ever fought on this continent. And please remark, that there was no pursuit. Spectators on foot all night out, wandering in the neighborhood, saw no troops of the rebels. The retreat was not anywhere attacked. Men were twenty-four hours getting down here, and were unmolested. The rebels did not leave their intrenchments, and they never will till they are driven out. They have adopted the Indian tactics, with the help of artificial defences, screens, and ambushes."National Intelligencer. A POETICAL AND PATRIOTIC GEM. BY THE DESCENDANT OF AN "F. F. V." On the memorable twenty-first of July, the day of the great battle near Manassas, a party of civilians, consisting of C. T. Greenleaf, Esq., of this city, G. P. Putnam, Esq., of New York, Rev. D. Torrey; of Ithaca, N. Y., and one or two others, were at Fairfax Court House, Virginia, and on the spot where the Virginia Rifles had been stationed, Mr. Greenleaf picked up a paper carefully and legibly written in blue ink. It proved to be a gem of rare merit, a rough diamond, indicating that the Muses and the school-master are abroad, and for the edification of our readers we are permitted to give below a verbatim et literatim copy: 'My harp is hung on the willou tree, Its of to the war I will gou slonder My peace home has no charms for me, Ilo meet them on the potomac slow Thare is a war a kindling fast tis on land & sea, And we must and face our enemee Great Britain eighty years a gou, whilst we were young and She nimt at us a mortal bow, but GOD was our defender JEHOVAH saw her horid plan Great WASIHINTON ho gave us IIIs holiness inspired that man With power and skill to savo She sent her fleets and armies oro To ransack kill and plundor Our heroes met them on the show And did beat them back Our Independance we possest And with tharo hands they like thunder Us assind it But on thare hearts twas near imprest And never could wo find it We bore it untel forbarranco twas degrading They wood rob our ship at sea and stop Us from furron nation a trading The WASHING has built his fame with credit and renoun He has planted a tree of libertee that Britteans cant pul down The roots they reach from Show to Show the Branches reach the sky Tis oh for freedom welo a dow Will Conquer foes or dio for JAMES SCHOFIELE (from Lynchbug virginia for JAMES P. CHRISTIAN -Bath (Mc.) Times. JOHN BULL AND BULL RUN. Editor of the Evening Star :-The battle-roar of Bull Run has been echoed back from the columns of the Thunderer--the London Times-in which, as was expected, Mr. Correspondent Russell figures lengthily as delineator of what he saw of that fight. By his own account, he saw nothing of the battle. He arrived at a late hour of the conflict at Centreville; saw not a shot fired; saw not one soldier of the rebel army, horse or foot, but was a spectator merely of the panic and the rout. In no respect, perhaps, has he given an exaggerated picture of either; but Mr. Russell has not hesitated to rest on his limited opportunities of seeing derogatory comments upon the character of the conflict he did not witness at all, and upon the behavior of our troops, successfully engaged for hours before and up to tho time of his arrival-the first flying portion only of which he saw, and among whom he was himself (on testimony presently to be quoted) soon found in hasty retreat to Washington. The editor of the Times, also, has doubtless based his bitterly sarcastic criticism upon the battle and the conduct of the volunteers, upon the same unfair, slender means of judging either, furnished by his purveyor. Without adverting to the animus in quo pervading the effusions of both, let us glance at the self-complacent sketch Mr. Russell gives of himself near the field of battle. After having lunched at Centreville, he is en- | and clinched fists, were heard to exclaim, "This must couraged by the report of an officer from the scene be avenged; they were in greater numbers and be of strife, that the rebels are whipped," and Mr. hind intrenched camps; they dare not meet us face Russell, mounting his horse, tries to get "in front" to face in the open field." Others of more nervous of the battle. He soon finds himself in the midst temperament seemed almost frantic, and gave utof a panic-stricken crowd of fugitives, among whom terance to some very forcible expressions, natural, he appears to be the only unalarmed person, going but scarcely fit to print. Everywhere the feeling the other way. As he bravely pushes towards evinced was not of fear as to the final result, but "the front," the signs of disastrous rout thicken, of regret and indignation. "It will re-arouse the the cannon sounds nearer, and to his puzzled que- North; and though they may have killed a thouries as to the cause of the panic, not a man or offi- sand through the bad management of one of our cer passed is able to give a coherent reply. An generals, a million will take their place," was the occasional shell bursts over the fugitives, and in general observation. The few traitors in our midst the midst of his calm exhortations to them, his kept quiet-very quiet-and showed no signs of taste for the active scenes of battle "in front," jubilation. Indeed, it was well that they did not, which he "went out for to see," suddenly disap- for men's passions were aroused to an unwonted pears. Near as was the prospect of personally wit- degree. It would not have been difficult to raise nessing materials for his written account to the a brigade for the war last night in this city. From Times, he suddenly recollects that he must leave this our readers may form an idea of the feeling the field at once if he wishes to secure the mailing that exists in the loyal cities of the North. The of his letter by the steamer of Wednesday! great battle has surely given vast proportions and "Punctuality is the soul of business," is an axiom a different aspect to the war now raging for the not to be driven from the considerate mind of the preservation of the American nation.-San Frangentleman, even amid falling shells and the boom-cisco Alta. ing of cannon! Faithful correspondent! to be thus punctual, even if you had to turn your back upon the scenes you had not time to stop and witness. Then follows a detailed account of the retreat, during which Mr. Russell represents himself as the only self-possessed man visible, as alternately engaged in reproving runaways for their "causeless panic," trying "to save Uncle Sam's property," and considerately telling all the pickets he passes that it was only a "falling back upon Centreville-no defeat, no rout." Now this is certainly a very impressive picture of the chaotic sea of routed soldiers and civilians, amid which he alone moved along the impersonation of calin disdain of "causeless panic," of philanthropic efforts to save "Uncle Sam's property," of eloquent reproofs to craven officers, and ingenious comfortings to anxious pickets; but it is in strange contrast with another sketch by another artist, of this same devoted hero, as he appeared ou the road to Washington. Could a sudden fear of being caught and supplied with an unseasonable suit of tar and feathers, promised him by Southern journals for his strictures upon the Southern people, have caused the change in his aspect which the following sketch represents? Or must we attribute the change to the contagion of the "causeless panic," and put the correspondent in the same category with our troops-showing nerve and courage to "get to the front," but shaky and rather hurried in retiring from the field. Here is what is said of Mr. Russell by Mr. G. P. Putnam, of New York, in an article in the Knickerbocker, entitled, "Before and After the Battle." (Sec Doc., p. 99.) In subsequent letters Mr. Russell indulges in further strictures upon the battle, and says it was "unattended by any desperate struggles save made by those who wanted to get away! Does not the above roadside sketch establish the gentleman's claim to the first honors in that species of military daring? UNION. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED IN CALIFORNIA."The remarks of the various groups who stood upon the street corners and in public places showed the feeling that prevailed. It was one of intense bitterness. Men, with pale faces, compressed lips, THE SHATTERED LOCKET. BY JOHN ATCHINSON. Aha! the fight is over, and our boys at last have run; Well, I'll rest me here in the clover, away from the burning sun, For heavy and hot upon us his rays have beat all day 'Twas that, and want of ration, that forced us to run away. How the sweat pours down my forehead!-I'm black as a contraband Face blood-besmeared and horrid-look, ain't that a dainty hand? And this gaping gash on my check here, from a "Black Horse," whom we met; But you gave him a gash will never heal, my bully bayonet. Oh, what if my Sweet could see me, as I lie here Do you think she'd believo 't could be me-would But here I've her beautiful image, in this locket, Let me gaze on the cherished features-look again on the tiny curl She fixed in the case so nicely-oh, sweet, ingenuous girl! What, broken ?-my God, with a bullet! has it dared seek such a place? Yes, shattered, and smashed, and broken-no vestige of curl or face! To retreat was enough for my spirit-I thought destruction were best And though I sought death in the battle, was carried away with the rest; And rather than come back beaten, I'd have them bring me dead But to think that traitorous bullet has defiled one hair of her head. |