All day the weaker wing we held, Five several stubborn times we charged And five times beaten back, re-formed, At last from out the centre fight To lead the crouching line once more No wounded man but raised his head And those who could not speak nor stir, "God blessed him" just the same. For he was all the world to us, That hero gray and grim. Right well he knew that fearful slope We'd climb with none but him, Though while his white head led the way We'd charge hell's portals in. This time we were not half-way up, When, midst the storm of shell, Our leader, with his sword upraised, And, as we bore him back, the foe Our hearts went with him. Back we swept, And when the bugle said دو Up, charge, again! no man was there But hung his dogged head. "We've no one left to lead us now," The sullen soldiers said. Just then before the laggard line Right royally he took the place And with a neigh that seemed to say, Like statues rooted there we stood, Above that floating mane we missed But we saw Bay Billy's eye of fire, No bugle-call could rouse us all And when upon the conquered height We sought our leader dumb. And then the dusk and dew of night As though o'er man's dread work of death And drew night's curtain gently round All night the surgeons' torches went, All night with solemn step I paced At last the morning broke. The lark As if to e'en the sleepers there And then once more with banners gay, The troops stood on parade, And bravely mid the ranks were closed The gaps the fight had made. Not half the Twenty-Second's men Ah! who forgets that dreary hour To call the old familiar roll The solemn Sergeant tries, And as in faltering tone and slow Across the field some missing horse It caught the Sergeant's eye, and quick Yes! there the old bay hero stood, And ere an order could be heard, Not all the shoulder-straps on earth When rang the roll-call clear, Bay Billy's name was read, and then Frank H. Gassaway. 66 Goshen Pass, Va. THROUGH THE GOSHEN PASS. MATTHEW F. MAURY'S LAST WISH. TOME, HO - bear me home at last," he said, "And lay me where my dead are lying, But not while skies are overspread, And mournful wintry winds are sighing. "Wait till the royal march of Spring Carpets your mountain fastness over, Till chattering birds are on the wing, And buzzing bees are in the clover. |