Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-11-11
From the Vicksburg Whig. !
The Song of OssiaH.

Mr.. EDITOR have attempted tribute to the
herosm OF Vicksburg, IN an illusion intended to
be initiative OF Ossian. 1t occurred to me that
prose would be too tame, and mere rhyme too
sickly and common; lace, to record such high
deeds OF chivary and atriot'sm as were recently
enacted by your city At all events, the sub
joined euiogy is quite sincere, and, certainly,
well deserved
THE SONG OF ossIAN TO THE CHILL CITY"
/ sing to thee, oh Queen of the green Soath.
sing to tnee, bright City Of the Hills The stor,
Of thy noble deeds signs IN every gale. Thy
glory is evermore whispered ny the FEATHER OF
Waters.' Queen OF the great river! thou Sites
enthroned on the eternal hills. Tny crown
shines like the sun. Thy dad, m of glory spark
les like the stars. Thou lavest thy feet in the
monarch stream. In thy right hand is the scep
tire of command. On thy spotess brow, oh ra-
dlant Queen of the Sou b ! thou W Arrest the lan-
rel wreath Of Glory. On thv cleaning helmet.
sit Victory and Honor, dazzling as the cherubim
The world is full Of thy fame. The song Of Os-
sian is to thee, oh city of bright flowers! He
strikes his harp hymn thy deeds, far city Of the
South.
| hear the tramp of the invader. The hosts OF
the Tyrant come like the laundering avaianchr.
They are thick as the green leaves OF Summer
From the regions ice they pour, like demons
from the lower shades. From granite mountains
Of the North they come. like the dark storm
cumeth. They feat upon the bosom OF the great
| river. Their monster boats, grim An frowning,
co er the bosom OF the flowing stream. Fry To
| the hills, oh dark eyed daughters OF the South
| the hand Of the Despot is upon thee. Like the
voice OF thunder, ,oar the canons, of the North
men. Like kissing meteors, their deadly shells
fly athwart the sky. Thy goodly mansions fall
with crash. The eternal lis reel upon their
| foundations Art thou doomed to death. oh ev-
ergieen city of my love On, City OF the Hills,
| Is there no arm TO savef
| Oh weeping daughters of he doomed city, be-
hold thy ssDetenders.'' Stalwart warriors, from
| s.the dark and bloody ground,'' man thy thun.
d, ring batteries. Heroes from the orange groves
of the .sPelican State'' serve the flaming guns.
| Knights from fair Tennessee are there. Tney
come from the land OF Jackson, where mountain
| torrents roar. Thy own true sons, oh, Mlssis-
sippi, waive their glimmerng swords. Each
Dtonzed and frowning warrior stands, hrm as a
granite tower L.e cedars of Lebanon, they
stand in thick array. Firm are they, as thy I'M
! yielding Mills, oh, bleeding city! Sons OF thr
evil eye, the bard records thy glory. Heroes o!
the hon heart, the strings OF Osslan's harp trem-
BILE to thy fame. Thy hearts are hearts OF IRE,
| oh, valiant sschildren ot the sum- Inc compat
RACES. Like the fog OF the great river, the wal
cloud rolls. Thy defenders, lovely city, have no
| fear. Their .frowning brows are begrimed by
powder. They move in the flames like enchanted
/
ponderous ball. They toucn the glowing match
and the roaring cannon shakes the hills. The
trees of The forest sremble, like reeds In the wind
Thy brave defenders know no fear; they ssnevel
/ surrender They bleed and tail, but waver 2ot
| They FAINT in the summer sunbeam, yet they
serve thy frowning guns. Thy whizzing ball'
crash through the iron ships OF the Despot.
The blood of thy foes sti cam from the lro'
ribs OF their ships The hosts of the invader fai
4 like autumn grain before the scythe. baneo .n'
crippled the wat r monsters, like wounded ser
penis, craui away. Thy toes melt away, IKE tn
mist of the great river, when the sun mounts III
throne in the east. They sweepto the ols'ant Sc sea
Il I,k. broke en- clouds before the spent storm. Tn
streaming mess of thy giant trees floats as unefa
banners Tor thy foes. Victory is thine, on, etef
nal city of The hills Silence reigns once more
Our weary warriors sleep by ths glowing guns
The cold moon shines upon the silent cl'y. On
mystic city OF 81 ence, whele are .ny .n,onsln
children? Oh, Queen of the oouen, nv om
like is thy lepose Home oi tno oA"'
thy places despolled
The spirit Of Ossian glides down tne strean
time. In the shadow OF coming years, ne feao
the fnture like he murmur OF a dlStant iountail
/ the coming wears speak to the bard. once more
oh. Vicksburg. city OF delight, stanu upon ID
hill and look down upon thee. The sum Ike
Warriors shield of gold, shines upon 'aJ peacs
full halls. Thy streets swarm Win u sol
of the land Of flowers; tiny nappy linz s.ui'i
: glowing angels, fit through my onzAlne slrees
! The breast Of the giant stream bears .nonsa.
floating ralaees of commerce. The VOICE ot the
labor,ng ngines, like forest OF iions'Wakes II
e echoes Of the tangled swamp The soiss o Il
Dor ply the whizz,ng spindle and the ciangl'
loom. Swarthy artisans SWING the ponoerot
hammer. s.The r. II horse'' neghs his coming
: like wild spirit from the shades. From gio'
ing furnaces ike spires from the volcano, {
!, hadre columns Of smoke and vapor ascend
:, n Thy noble merchants roll he gilded car
= commerce their shells groan with the RI
. wares of distant lands" "Klng Cotton Ill
x an aged monarch restored 10 nis Ione, WEI
Of an angel. folds thee benea her pinions, o
: city Of the Brave and Fa r l The history OF t
Pas like the gem Of monarch, sparkies up
8. thy dazzling brow. | gaze upon thee, brig
city, until the evening shadows c. me- The rou
moon, roeed in silver, comes forth like I