The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-18

Margaret Preston. Richmond. NV. Isaii-
Golph. II mo, PIP "a.
There has been little even decent poetry pro-
duced by the war that it Is refreshing TO come
across something that has as much OF the nns OF
,Ec inspiration as this little volume. Mrs Preston
!. well known to the literary public OF Virginia
ie.ucci.llv by her maiden name OF Miss Junkinl as
,l author of some OF the sweetest productions that
have adorned our public prints. But none OF them
lye risen to the height Of this effort, which, II 1t
e the place il deserves, will pass into the stand
ard roetical works of the age, and be read year
hence as Il valuable contribution to the history OF
hi, struggle It's beauty and power consist in the
fac, that it is simple tale of this terrible war, told
with 20 much truthfulness and pathos that few
leaders will be able to refrain from tears. 1t con-
,s.s Of ten short cantos each presenting separate
rcture increasing III the intensity OF interest until
reaches the mournful close. And through it all
uere brea,hes pure and lofty spirit that the
elect Of the whole is to and inspire, and not
u deprrss We can better give our readers an idea
G! il by ieT extracts
| Berchelblook is beautiful cottage IN the Val
,y O, Virginia the house OF Colonel Dunbar, who
respond. to the first call to arms. The first caEto
ribes tie preparation Of the soldier for the
I held, and thus opens:
"rIerc is sorrow in Beechenbrook Cottage the
day
Ia, been bright with the earliest glory OF May;
The blue OF the sky is a. tender Ii blue
A. ever the sunshine shimmering through:
The songs Of the birds and the hum Of the bees.
H. they merrily dart i'll and out OF the trees,
The blooms of the orchard, as sitting Its SHOWS,
Il mirrles It's doors with hawthorn and rose;
The voice Of the brook as it lapses unseen,-
The laughter OF children at play on the green'-
Insist on a picture SO cheerful-so falr,
Who ever would dream that grief could be there ~
The second eanto includes the first battle Of Ma
nassas, and opens with this exquisite gem:
'The irathe1y foliage has broadened its leaves,
And JuIt-With It's beautiful morn l1gs and ewes,
! lis magical atmosphere, breezes and blooms,
It's woods all delicious with thousand perfumrs,-
flat-tosn Of the Summer,spoiled pet of the year
June, delicate queen OF the seasons, Is here"
Not less claSsieally beautiful is the picture Of
1 July, further on:
"Jun.'s lower-wreathed seeptre is dropped with
] and forth like empress, steps stately July:
She str all unveiled, amidst sunshine and baims,
+ As Zenobla sat in her City OF PALMS."
In this battle, Colonel Dunbar, Douglas as his
VIE calls him, is wounded, and the next canto
describes his confinement and convaiescence, under
I the Of his wife.
lAtn follows picture OF WINTER campaigning,
4 which thus opens:
j 81 am weary and worn,--I am hungry and chilli
And clttingy strikes the keen blast Ger the hill;
] All day have riden thrO' snow and thro' sleet,
with notfiinS-not even a cracker-tO eat
But now rs rest by the bivouac fire,
j Whose blaze leaps up mcrTily, higher and higher,
impatient is Roland who ncighs to be fed,
for Caleb TO brng me my bacon and bread,
III VAIN my cold heart, that is aching and lone,
3 by thinking Of you, love,-my Alchemy own"
"a In this canto is the Song Of the Snow, more
sS,erily touching than Hoods Song Of the Shilt
! We append two verses:
"shvering midst the darkness,
Christian men are found
81 There deyoutly kieeling
On the frozen ground
"a Pleaiing for their country,
I Ia ITS hour Of Woe
~ For It's soldiers marching
81 Sh0eless tlrO' the snow.
sl "Iost in heavy slumbers,
Free from TOT and strife
III dreaming Of their dear ones
III Home, and child and wife,
Sj IeIltless they are lying,
~ While the fires burn low
sd Lying III their blankets,
81 Midst DeccmbeT's snow"
q Then follow other scenes Of the war, ending in
81 another battle scene, nearer hone where young
n SOLDIER falls, whose dying thoughts given in
II 9ns that will doubt be set to suitable music, Of
Which We give the two last verses:
III only priYate;-and yet know,
When heard the rallying call,
Was one Of the very first " 60,
And Pm one Of the many who fall:
ba, as here lie, it is sweet to feel,
That my honor's without a stain -
That only fought for my Country's veal.
Anu never for glory or gain.
Only e,-Yet he who reads
Through the guses Of the heart,
Looks not ut the splendoT Of the deeds,
but the way We 10 our part;
Aud wLea lie Shall take by the hand,
-, And our small service own,
ih"reii u glorious baud Of priyates stand,
( And ylctors, around the throne''
1 iheh comes picture Of scene 10 sadly common
Oafihs the Last few months, in which Beechenbrook
'''sse Is laid IN ashes. II il thus described IN &
*sssr itom Alice: