The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-12-05

tory of the most fierce and bloody ba,,Jo
fought during the present war-that of Rail.
Bluff, near Lees6urg, Va, and during which
action Col. Baker, the commander Of the ~,
MON forces, was killed
They tell me that my vine clad home, ne'er,
The purlmg stream, the meadow, and our e..
vorte trysting tree
The mossy lawn that sparkled with tho e,,,,,
morning dew,
Ere the sun broke forth in splendor, and ts
golden tinted hue
Beamed upon our lovely valley and reflected
back the stream!
Al the future seems to me so dark-tbe ms,
a pleasant dream.
The tocsIn sounded through the land md
was first TO GO,
And with my trusty rifle went to battle with
Where e'er the army went marched. in vic
tory or defeat,
Nor felt the chilly Winters blast, nor suI,rv
Summers heat
oft was with the fororn hope, who brayeIv
won the day,
Disprting inch by inch the ground, wbere
friend and foemen lay.
Near by Potomac's rapid stream our armv
long had lain,
Till orders came to press the foe, and drive
them on again.
We shouted loud, and waved our caps, and
shouldered muskets then
Oar martial tread and loud buzzas re-echoed
through the glen.
We crossed the deep, broad river, but scarce
reached the other side,
Ere the foe into our scattered ranks, poured
their deadly fearful tide,
We shrdnk back from the storm of death, and
formed oar line again
And charged upon the unseen foe but, ah.
the leaden rain
Had thinned our ranks and drove Us back,
cen to the rivers side.
One look behind then forward pressed, and
nohly fought and died.
We knew some one had blundered, yet our
duty there was plain,
And, though despairing of success, charged
and re-charged again.
For hours had we held our own, and like a
stag at Day,
Fough 1t with the madness of ofdespair-for we'll
We knew the day
Was lost when our brave leader fell*-his
voice rang stern and clear
Amid the thickest Of the fight, our dropping
hearts to cheer.
Death all around above, below-;o the rear
dark waters Law.
Then came the order to retreat-We cannot
tciR The dag.
Head-Iong. pell-mell, ogr men dashed on, nor
stopped TO look behind.
Not cen the threat'ning riyer-iheir fear had
made them blind.
Fearless and uadly plunged in the blood
stained, d,rking wave,
And those that 'scared the rifle shot there
fonnd a watery grave.
We thought not OF our comrades, who lag
wounded on the ground,
And saw US leaving them to die, though Death
reigned all around.
We fought as mcn ne'er fought before, but
hopeless was the task;
We had done all that men could do, more
our country could not ask.
The arms strong strength will wea kened be-,
and strong nerved men grow pale,
When hopeleSsly they battle against such
leaden hail.
We fought till hope had left US, and despair
had seized on all,
And then We broke. and wildly fed, unheed-
ing comrades call.
l went where duty led me on, in the thickess
OF the fray,
And many foe my rife sent to his long
home that day;
wonder how | 'scaped so long the bullets
falling fast,
Aii around. above, about me--yet the murd'-
rouS ball al last
Made one more widowed, lonely home. AS
my liie's blood ebbs away
Twill soon blot out the memory Of that most
fatal day.