Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-04-23
POETS G0RMKR,
ror d. a.llipolis journal.
THE SCOUTS OF TIE oUMBpRLkND
u sovrsA .. BLAEKESsHrr.

Mong the le4ly DOuRnt On E16nI i-rs ---as
And long droyes Of GUNNER songstsr
Down the hili and through the valley.
Rode 4 hand of Mountain Scouts,
Timsd nat were their march by music,
Cheerad not by victorious shouss- "a,
A. tss;r mad tas bsfdy leader, 4tfS
NRonch but gentle soulsd and mild - -
Eert "a hin srect and graceful 2 4 y u !
Rode a youth slmost . child; ~
Yes. twas plain that eighteen summers
Scarce hsd kissed his snbufn hsu,
And his restless eye bstokened rt71 ~
The bold spirit resting there;
And his broad hsnd tightly grssping
Graceful child the msttled stee6,7 esq q
As Its feet did scorn the heather,
Bounding On like eagle freed. 5.-..-
Thirty more composed the party.
AZ they code 10 fearless on, S
No one spoke but eyes kept scanning
Roudd the rising hill beyond, -
Esch rode watchfui by his comrade, ~
Armed with sword and carbine ready,
Marching through the vale romantic
Forward moves the column steady. -
Halt" says Captain Fits. and bresthless
Stood the scouts all listening dcmb, -
While upon the soft air stealing -
Game the sound Of distant drnu-z
"Do We hear IT," spoke the Captain, - q 4
ssThss u from the rebel camp, E-fs ~
Forward, boys, but be ye cautious, -f@-
Cheek your chargers restless tramp,
We must wind around the hillside, ss
Through the cedar covered land
30 that We may reconnoiter i
How the rebel pickets stand. oa
Forward" and the file was single, a.
Through part where cedsrs quiver,
Till ct length they saw the cleaning
OF white tents down BY the river.
Then again the column halted, sa & /.
And the Captain spoke more low
twill not do for all our party
Through yon open space to 60.
! az one Of you, my brave boys,
Must his life in danger risk;
Bee the sun is sinking lower, 5ttss
And our movements must be brisk"
Then up spoke the youth beside him
Captain Fits, just let me 60,
If fall I'll leave no family,
As some of you win, you know.
t'But you lesve mother, Charley,
And trusting sister, too,
Here comes Miles, our Vermont bero,
Eager for the danger true"
Pleading still the boy continued
"Miles, you have loving wife,
Think upon your helpless children,
Risk not then your precious life.
And have widowed mother,
And q sister too, / know,
But they bsde me fight for freedom
Captain Fits says may &c"
Ere another word was uttered,
Charley Welton rode away,
With his eagle eye on the distant camp,
And no one bade him stay;
But the Vermont mountaineer,
Spoke in firm, decisive tone
"Captain Fits, / must be with him
Charley must not 60 alone,
For his brave and manly daring,
Kindness unto me stranger,
Bids me not act the coward's part,
To leave him alone in danger"
4 tear welled up in the Captains eye,
As Miles rode forward too,
A shudder crept over each manly heart,
As the sun sank down from view.
Each eye was turned TO the rebel camp,
And the stars peeped here and there,
An hour passed by and the new moon arose,
Like crescent pale and fair.
The sharp report of a rifle
Came ringing on the air,
Another minute and up the glen
Came the sound of steady speed,
And the heart of each grew sick rs hesaw
Charley Welton's riderless steed,
But the sound of other hoofs were heard
Twas a heavy and weary tread,
And 'tMiles" dashed up with Charles in his
sass arms
All bleeding, lifeless and dead
Charley had entered the lines and spied,
And when he turned to depart,
4 rifle ball from a sentinel
Had entered near his heart.
Miles rushed forth from grove,
And bent o'er his form in sorrow,
He caught the sentence whispered
"TheY will move on our lines tomorrow" !"
The spirit took fight past the quiet moon,
Up. MP to the land Of rest,
As Miles dashed on up the Cumberland
shore,
Pressing him to his breast
Forward they moved with their precious
charge,
Twas solemn burial ride,
For when the dawn peeped over the east,
They paused by the cumberlsnd's tide.
Then took they spade from . cottage by
And shaped him q narrow grave,
They buried him there as the sun arose
By the Cumberland's rolling wave.
No coffin eucumbered the noble corse,
And they reared no marble proud,
His knapsack pillowed his auburn curls,
And his uniform vas his shroud.
lis comrsdes were the only mourners near,
And they wept Ger the patriot boy,
Butthey little thought Of the terrible grie
In his old heme in Illinois. et'F
HMERcERvIkLE, o.