Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-11-27


monument on the battlefield of Tippecanoe. B.
Lines.
Suggested by risi 10 the Tippecdnoe Battle Ground
in October 1915
MRS. SARAH T. BOLTON.
Ny heart was still within me, for stood,
in trembling awe, on consecraied ground
Upon The soil made sacred by the blood
of Western chivalTy and though found
No stored marble there to proudly sound
The of those who fell, or bear a
OF gratitude the old trees stood around,
Like giant-sennes, to guard the place,
Wearing the bGlle-scars time could not all effsce.
Oh there are times when the unfettered mind
Goes out from its clay tenement, and strsys,
In dreams all fancful and underlined,
Amidst the moudeIng records Of old days.
Dim forms up before raise,
In fancy's light, the dark mysterious seal
Of buried years shadows are there; we gaze
Upon the terrible. hear, and feel
Things that no sign, no word hath power TO reveal.
Thus was l spell-bound there, and fancy wrought
thrilling scene before 1t was night
Within a green old forest, and thought
A line of watch-fres, burning strangely bright
Sent up phaDastic streams Of itful light
Amidst the summer leaves. Then tents arose
And warlike weapons CLEANED upon nv sight,
And men, unconscious Of approaching foes,
Wrapt in that sweet oblivion, toil-earned Tepose
Many a one, forgetting every care,
Had wandered far away, and in his trance,
Was sitting in his quiet home, and there
Recouniing his strange pes, aud perchance,
He smiles 10 see how dangers past enhance
The Joys around him. Sleeping solderapour
The wealth Of thine affection in that glance
At thy he rt's idols. for thy days Ger;
Thou thy home, thy brighteyed children more
A death-shot rang upon the midnight air.
Hank bark Oh God, that wild unearthly yell,
Told but too truly that the foe was there
And froze the very life-blood where it fell.
Then from prairie, thcket, stream and dell
Arose the sound Of the unequal strife,
And ere half-awakened could tell
From whence the deah-blows came, the ground was r
With many CHASTITY and crimson stream OF life
Secure within the tall prairie grass
That grew in wild luxuriance round the scene,
The painted warriors firmly kept the pass,
And still behind this slight but fitting screen
Took fatal aim, themselves the while unseen
Oh God, there is full of dread,
As such a battle in the night ween
The rallying cry, the shrieks the groans the tread
Of marching squadrons DER the dying and the dead.
The sharp, shr ife-note and the clashing steel;
The lightning flashes, smoke and streaming gore,
As ranks advance, make ready, charge and wheel,
Many of whom perchance, will charge no more.
The loud command, the deep ncessaht roar,
As volley after voey loudly tells
Its tale of blood. repeated Ger and DER
Along the deep ravines and secret cells;
Amidst the craggy rocks where bsbblng echo awells.
Long long they fought and bravely, but the foe
Had the advantage; where the watch-fres threw
Along the broken ranks rudy glow,
Like winged lightning shafts the bullets few
With the unerring aim, so strangely true
OF savage maIksmen; not single eye,
Quaed as the dreadful contest deeper grew;
They counted il a little thing to die;
n
AT length streak Of light, all cold and gray,
Slowly along the dim horizon spread;
Then the dark battle-cloud rolled up and lay
Like strange pail above the unshrouded dead.
No dirge was sung. void Of prayer was said
As weeping comrades took their mute farewell,
Ere they departed hence, with stealing tread,
Leaving the hastily made graves to tell.
Where many a gallant soldier nobly fought and fell
My dream departed; the blue sky above
Was bending down as beautiful and faIr
As if the spirit Of Almighty love
AID Gods omnipotcnce were resting there
The forest leaves waved 10 the morning air
Caressingly, and there was not one stain
On the bright pebbles or green sward 10 bear
The record Of the batte-strfe, the pain,
The groans, agony, the deathwounds OF the slain
The scene was sadly changed since that sad night
Then soil grass, bramble-bush and stream were red.
Now, all were fresh green, beautiful and bright;
The fower-emhrodered carpet nature spread
Was fair enough grace an angels tread.
The dew drops tTembled IN the passing breeze
And fell in fairy showers upon my head;
The wid-birds carolled in the leafy trees
As though they with strange variety to please.
The memory of that lovely spot doth seem
To iTemble DER my heart-strings with thrill,
Like some bright fragment OF broken dream.
A gentle stream, narrowed TO a Till,
Winds like line Of sunbeams, round the hill,
And ripples DER the shining stones That pave
It's narrow channel, with soft low trill
OF music to the flowers that stoop 10 lave
Their petals in the spray kiss the laughing