FREDERICKSBURGH. Each man grasping his rifle-piece tight, Sudden flashed on them a sheet of flame Fifteen thousand in wounded and killed, At least, is "our loss," the newspapers say. This loss to our army must surely be filled Against another great battle-day. "Our loss!" Whose loss? Let demagogues say That the Cabinet, President, all are in wrong: What do the orphans and widows pray? What is the burden of their sad song? 137 'Tis their loss! But the tears in their weeping eyes Hide Cabinet, President, Generals, — all ; And they only can see a cold form that lies They cannot discriminate men or means, Is thy face from thy people turned, O God? NEW YORK, December 17, 1862. "MY MARYLAND." * Ан me! I've had enough of thee, Dear land, thou art too dear for me, I'll take the nearest ford and go, You've dashed my hopes, ungrateful State, Go! bless your stars I came too late, I meant to dress you well in black, Oh, where are Longstreet, Hill, and Lee? And "Stonewall" Jackson, where is he? Four coat-tails streaming in the breeze, Better than dangling from the trees, Gray geese are flying southward, ho! Maryland, O Maryland! This parody of the most spirited and most popular of the Rebel Songs celebrates the failure of the insurgent forces to take and hold Maryland, which was General Lee's object in his northward march, and which was defeated by the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. BOSTON HYMN. It's getting cold up there, you know, I should have thought it rather warm, - Maryland, O Maryland! Blood-red my hand, and dead my heart, Thy flag is like a sword of fire, Harpers' Weekly. 139 *Read at the Emancipation Meeting at Boston, January 1, 1863. Where tyrants great and tyrants small Might harry the weak and poor ? My angel, - his name is Freedom, He shall cut pathways east and west, Lo! I uncover the land Which I hid of old time in the West, As the sculptor uncovers his statue, When he has wrought his best. I show Columbia, of the rocks I will divide my goods; I will have never a noble, Fishers and choppers and ploughmen Go, cut down trees in the forest, Call the people together, BOSTON HYMN. And here in a pine State-House They shall choose men to rule In church and state and school. Lo, now! if these poor men And ye shall succor men; "T is nobleness to serve; Help them who cannot help again; I break your bonds and masterships, Free be his heart and hand henceforth, O North! give him beauty for rags, 141 |