The warrior's name would be a name abhorred; -H. W. Longfellow. The Reveille. H ARK! I hear the tramp of thousands, And of armed men the hum Lo! a nation's hosts have gathered Round the quick alarming drum, Saying, "Come, Freemen, come, Ere your heritage be wasted!" said the quick alarming drum. "Let me of my heart take counsel War is not of Life the sum; Who shall stay and reap the harvest When the autumn days shall come?" But the drum Echoed, "Come! Death shall reap the braver harvest!" said the solemn-sounding drum. "But when won the coming battle, What of profit springs therefrom? What if conquest, subjugation, Even greater ills become? But the drum Answered, "Come! You must do the sum to prove it!" said the Yankee answering drum. "What if, 'mid the cannon's thunder, Whistling shot and bursting bomb, When my brethren fall around me, Should my heart grow cold and numb!" But the drum Answered, "Come! Better there in death united than in life a recreant come!" Thus they answered-hoping, fearing Some in faith, and doubting some Till a trumpet-voice, proclaiming, Said, "My chosen people, come!" Then the drum! Lo! was dumb, For the great heart of the nation, throbbing, answered, "Lord we come!" The Battle-Field. NCE this soft turf, this rivulet's sands, Were trampled by a hurrying crowd, And fiery hearts and armed hands Encountered in the battle cloud. -T. B. Hart. Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her braveGushed, warm with hope and courage yet, Upon the soil they fought to save. The timid good may stand aloof, Now all is calm and fresh and still; And bell of wandering kine, are heard. No solemn host goes trailing by The black-mouthed gun, and staggering wain; Men start not at the battle cry, O, be it never heard again! Soon rested those who fought; but thou Through weary day and weary year; Yet nerve thy spirit to the proof, The sage may frown-yet faint thou not. Nor heed the shaft too surely cast, The foul and hissing bolt of scorn; For with thy side shall dwell, at last, The victory of endurance born. Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again— Yes, though thou lie upon the dust, Like those who fell in battle here! Another hand thy sword shall wield, 66 IVE me but two brigades," said Hooker, frowning at fortified Lookout, "And I'll engage to sweep yon mountain clear of that mocking rebel rout!" At early morning came an order that set the general's face aglow; "Now," said he to his staff, "draw out my soldiers, Grant says that may go!" Hither and thither dashed eager colonel to join his regiment, [tent to tent; While a low rumor of the daring purpose ran on from For the long roll was sounded in the valley, and the keen trumpet's bray, And the wild laughter of the swarthy veterans, who cried, "We fight to-day!" The solid tramp of infantry, the rumble of the great jolting gun, The sharp, clear order, and the fierce steeds neighing, "Why's not the fight begun?"— All these plain harbingers of sudden conflict broke on the startled ear; And last, arose a sound that made your blood leapthe ringing battle cheer. The lower works were carried at one onset, like a vast roaring sea Of lead and fire, our soldiers from the trenches swept out the enemy; And we could see the gray coats swarming up from the mountain's leafy base, To join their comrades in the higher fastness-for life or death the race! Then our long line went winding round the mountain, in a huge serpent track, And the slant sun upon it flash'd and glimmer'd, as on a dragon's back. Higher and higher the column's head push'd onward, ere the rear moved a man; And soon the skirmish lines their straggling volleys and single shots began. Then the bald head of Lookout flamed and bellow'd, and all its batteries woke, And down the mountain pour'd the bombshells, puffing into our eyes their smoke: And balls and grape shot rained upon our column, that bore the angry shower As if it were no more than that soft dropping which scarcely stirs the flower. Oh, glorious courage that inspires the hero, and runs through all his men! The heart that failed beside the Rappahannock, it was itself again! The star that circumstance and jealous faction shrouded in envious night, Here shone with all the splendor of its nature, and with a freer flight! Hark! hark! there go the well known crashing volleys, the long-continued roar, That swells and falls, but never ceases wholly, until the fight is o'er. Up toward the crystal gates of heaven ascending, the mortal tempests beat, [God's very feet! As if they sought to try their cause together, before [The battle was fought in September, 1513, between the forces of England nd Scotland. The latter were worsted, and King James slain with eight thousand of his men. Lord Surrey commanded the English troops.] Shall, watchful, for thy weal prepare- But, if we conquer, cruel maid, He waited not for answer there, Blount and Fitz-Eustace rested still No hope of gilded spurs to-day. And sudden, as he spoke, Told England from his mountain throne Of sudden and portentous birth, O, life and death were in the shout, And triumph and despair. Long looked the anxious squires; their eye Could in the darkness naught descry. At length the freshening western blast But naught distinct they see: Amid the scene of tumult, high Of gallant Gordons many a one, With Huntley and with Home. Far on the left, unseen the while, And with both hands the broadsword plied, The Howard's lion fell; Yet still Lord Marmion's falcon flew The Border slogan rent the sky! A Home! a Gordon! was the cry: The pennon sunk and rose; As bends the bark's mast in the gale, It wavered 'mid the foes. No longer Blount the view could bear: "By heaven and all its saints, I swear, I will not see it lost! Fitz-Eustace, you with Lady Clare I gallop to the host." And to the fray he rode amain, The fiery youth, with desperate charge, But darkly closed the war around, Then Eustace mounted too; yet staid, Lord Marmion's steed rushed by; To mark he would return in haste, Then plunged into the fight. Ask me not what the maiden feels, |