The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-08
poetrp.
THE AGED SOLDIER.
BY pR. sEoRaE wHrrrrrrLp WARD.

III
The poetry which follows was contributed Il
the Philadelphia Inquirer OF July 4, 1855, and
the incidents prompting 1t would seem to have
transpirej during the Southern secession agita,
tions in former times. The writer's name wil
at once be recognized by many Of our readers
az that efs former resilient OF Lowell, now de-
ceased -
A FRIgSD or rHE USIoN-So dosr % that tW
eHs teal" The Atlanta Oia) Republic says '-"On
che day of the meeting Of the seccssionsts Al Ming
ston, Evolutionary soldier returned to hts resi-
dence In CObb County, ON the railroad, though MS
eyr- dim that he could not very well see
ale was told they were trying t. sct up the people
Go dissolve or secede from the Union Nhcreupon,
he dropped his withered face, and seemed 90 be IN
deep distress for 0ne Or two minutes, alter which
he raised up his head, amt with a ALTERING voice
said oh. don't do that TIL am dead :" While he
uttered these words, the largc tears chased each
other down his way.Won checks. lie uastold that
a great number of men would try tO prevent them,
90 which he replied-"DOnt let them do that I'LL |
an dead"
"Oh, don't do that tlll am dead"
The good old sar-woTn veteran saiG
Ills thoughts to other DAYS recurrcd,
The DAYS that pstriot-sPirits stirred,
When sire and sou with ardor glow,
Nent forth 10 meet the invading Zoe.
Where side by side they nobly fought,
And freedom Cor their country boaghti
lie thought q Many battlefield, ,.,,.
or LexNgtOn and Bankers heights.
Where Frremen fought for fsemeu's rights,
And proudly threw the gauntlet down
In bold defiance OF the Crown.
lie saw anew, aud heard again
The hurried march aud battles din,
The midni ght watehhres 0n the lea,
The morning san and Teyclllei
lie tse Chief that sVmmcd the ase,
The soldier, Patri"t anu Ssgei
Old Putnsni sternly leave his plow,
-Cgyoke his team, aud heard his vows
lsf daxn the vista's leagthenng train
The seierans Allen, stark and Wayne,
Niarshsll'd their as1 with ardent real,
Which none but loftiest patriots feeli
Mont ieOmeTy's shade bef1re hlm.TOss,
And Wsrren's. Sinting =, his r,ss
&. saw the dark pail. aIrl heaLd the knell,
When the lamentsd Mercer iell
He saw the brave Pulaski tall
fDekals. beloved aid mour.ssd by alli
uc d.lt the keen, the Ind xusnt pain,
That thrilled, when died. tbs noble layne.
>1efOre hlm Iose la long review,
Tho scenes cur fathers struggled through,
When dark the cloud of f0rtule frOwned.
And few 10 brave It's st2ra we're iouni,
The thou ght came fresh his mcmOry Ger,
Ofhelds enriched with human ~bre,
Ofleuely hearth. from Kindred lost.
The fearful price that frcr,ioun cost
lie heaui NyUming's startling shrek,
When feV were spared IT. fate 10 speak,
Where riuisd In human life,
The tUmahawk aud scalpln s-kniie.
lie saw the torch In savage hand.
The captive lei by warrior hand.
The JlsIng dwellings midnight glare.
And lOns-deserted ruins there.
lie saw far up the lludson's tide,
Where nature gloved In sylvan pride,
The hitcliHs host an dark ally.
S.iyo war itself deeper dNe,.
lie heard the tramp Ur MaTicn's men.
A. huTTyiHg past frOm wOUd aud glen,
Thoy struck TctuCte the sui lden blow,
Ari ohec kcdI terce taaraudtag tOe-
saw the quick gathering IN the wood,
Where yalor on f'T numbers stood,
The secret expedition planned.
.Nnd meagte chance Of vict0Ty scanned,
The rustic gathering az the tunA
N9cn courier swiftly dashCg NJ
The faces deep with Interest fraaght
" Ecw. Ot rScest hattie tougA!
The lons,ieb.ts When dss MAS aone'
0fsattie lately lost or vJn,
Astliin-s god. the w.ld hurrah, |
Tfs baling torch. the rude cclat,
Alg.sthc line Of vision stoOd.
The gallant, brave, the great and good
There cue, whom none will here t0rget,
The bold ant generous - Fayette.
Here Greene la solemnsOlgUlns moved.
And Morgan there the rifle proved,
Posting his troops with martial SAN. go
aatos. onward pressed, With sturdy will.
Lee hoklly charged tlss advancing foe,
Ahl more than bTOke the Impending blow
While sumter promptly sweeping IOund,
Thundcred along the battle gTound,
Aad Sullivan wheeling into line,
Rushcd fdWsrd like the bursting mine
Throughout the long AMI drcary nlshI,
lie saw the CLEAN "a Freedoms lighL
The British LiOE turn AMI cover.
Before the Eagles growing power,
The battle cloud O'vr Bennington,
Rising. reveal a N,ctaty Ncns
NUl n1W on SaTato-l's plain.
The flAg oi trUHPb waves again
Then Tar aloHg the Dcltwarc's shore,
lls heard the frequent Cannnns ruG,
Trenton eur arms With yictury crowned,
When Erintctuu ecksivl back the sound.
lie hes rl anew when NUTkt0wuicll,
The iOyOus shout and pcaliRs b,ll,
Felt the Yindictiye tic Nas crushed.
Ami ali the noise 81 battles hu>hcd,-
The fricndly grasp, when war was Ucr.-
Ills heart Nas rlll. DC could uu more,
Nah streaming eNc he unly said,
ssUh duu't do that til am dead"