Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-26

my invaded our territory,-our brave old
chieftain with bis little band, upon the from.
tier was surrounded by countless hordes Of
the enemy. A general fear lest they might
be overpowered pervaded the land. And the
call TO arms pealed along from North to
South. These two companies were among
the first to offer themselves to the Governor
of their State, to go to the rescue of their
comrades. They were accepted. And then
there was in that city one day an assemblage
of faces as beautiful and formes as manly as
any here to-day. And some fair lady, with
trembling hand, and heart anxious tor the
future Of these brave men, entrusted TO their
valor a banner, and told them when far away
in the land of the stranger, on some bloody
battlefield around which war murky hor-
rors spread the canopy of death, while every
peal of the rafting thunder shattered the
bleeding ranks, to lift their eyes to the ban
ner she that day presented, and to remember
that once his duty done full manly, the bright
eyes of those he loved best would sparkle
with rapture TO greet the soldier safe return
ing, or would weep forever him who fell in
the battle, faithful to his honor and his native
land. And so with sad hearts these holiday
soldiers marched away to meet the enemy.
At Monterey, when the br.lvest gave way be-
fore the storm OF shot and bursting she'll, brave
hearts and strong arms bore ever onward
with honor, antil at length, proudly victori-
GUS, they waved it, the first American flag
placed on the hard won heights. At Cerro
GordO, over the bloOd-stained bills and plains
around the city OF Mexico; on every field of
battle. it fioated on the breeze ever in the
place of danger and of honor. And when
the war was over, the Scared and crippled
remnant OF that gallant band brought back
the flag. bearing in every fold sore marks of
lax.N III 4
who bad given il to their keeping, saying
we bore it ever where the strife was deadliest
we defended it with our lives, We have cover
ed it with glory at the expense of our blood,
take it back, take it back
These Tennessecans were some of the men
who composed your Bloody First" who by
playing soldiers in the time of peace learned
to act as soldiers in the hour OF sore trial.
So would we be prepared
And who with prophets ken, can look into
the dark mysterious bosom of the future, and
FAY that we shall never be called to act our
part in tragedy more fierce and bloody than
any these modern ages have seen? God
grant that peace, like the golden clouds of a
summer evening, may forever guide our land
with beauty God grant that the eagle on
this bright banner may never clap his wing
in wild deliriOus JOY over field OF carnage
But. should we be forced to show how well
we have prepared ourselves to defend our
affairs aud our homes, and those we hold
dearest, Oh, believe me ladies, hearts as
true and arms as strong as any in the
Bloody First" shall bear these coloIs
wherever honor and glory may point the
way. And perchance some here to-day, may
in the years to come. see another crippled,
bleeding remnant return to lay this flag torn
and shattered by the storms OF battle, at the
feet OF the women of Nashville, saying. as
did their brethren, I'VE bore it where the
strife was dcadliest. In the hour of danger
we formed around it rampant with our
bodies. We gave our lives to defend it. The
glory that bursts from each siken fold was
bought by the blood of soldiers. 1t is now
worthy to be placed side by side with that
one, which in the hands OF Tcnnesseeans
waved first over the nights of Monterey. We
have done our duty. Take it back!