The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-04
From the lrsdeU Eeprsss Of Dec. lst. 1864
Epiroas OF rae EXPRESS -
A Poem

n Iu6e on the occdSlOni ana remain, gentlemen,
>ur ooeoJent servant, THE STRANGER.
A Poem,
Celebration Of the Brilliant Campa-g, at
Statewide, N. G., on the eventful night y. Sun.
day, October Esd, 1864:
At Statesvile, when the sun was low,
And night air, chilly, felt like snow,
The W atchman raped, with rafting blow,
Upon her doors most furiously.
Then Statewide saw high old sight
AS men awoke, and in great fright,
Wsre told, "Kirk's raiders are in sight
Approaching town quite rapidly"
By glimmering starlight fast arrayed,
With musket p1ised Ger shoulder blade,
Each man loud swore ''I' N not afraid"
While forming line SO neryously.
Then windows shook with captains shout,
And watchword passed from scout to scout,
While louder than school let out
The ranks talked fast and fuliors!y.
But faster vet that talS shall flow
On Statesville streets at mornings glow,
When her old heroes all shal go
To breakfasts warm delightedly.
But bark! two scouts come rushing in,
Oh, horror! list the tale they spin
Ut deeds they think are done within
Yon woods that frown so glvomily.
Their comrades two. they say went out
Upon very searching scout,
When 70 La shot Is i heard beard a aR gt
They fear their friends the foe has got q
Now who will volunteer, who not, s.a
To 60, In spite Of toeman's shot,
Aud dare the rescue gallantly7
Six heart. of oak to front stepped out,
And quickly were on dangers route,
Determined to go cup the spout
Or prize bring back successfully
While through those gloomy woods they tread
Strange voices soon are heard ahead
In tones that might arouse the dead
Or greenhorns most etfectually.
But this bold band at roadside stop
To give the best they'd in their shop
To any who, at pop Cor pop,
Might dare to face their bravery.
A moment! and the crisis comes:
A shout is heard like voice OF drums,
'sHalt, strangsrs yield we without terms,
Or mince meat we will make of ye."
Then came metamorphosis, .- ...,.
Oh, happy hourl what joy is this
As friends, instead of enemies,
Emerge from that dark canopy.
Those friends the missing scouts did prove,
Who, In their tramp mile above
While on he search through field and grove,
Did fire gun most carelessly.
In triumph now they all return,
While Joy In their brave hearts docs burn
That they bad not to fight, nor turn
had they been whipped ingoriously.
IT'S morn! but scarce yon level sun
Can pierce the dark Clouds rolling dun,
When rank and file give up the gun
So start home with hilarity.
Unframed all part where they did meet
As their warm beds they haste to greet,
Beds which hold not that ''winding sheet"
Blood-stained in Campbell's minstrelsy.
Right glad were they, when morning broke.
To learn that no invaders stroke -
Had s'er been near their hearts Of oak
While they stood guard so anxiousiy.
Now whence arose this foolish fear,
This wild alarm that Kirk was near,
Approaching S atesv lie in the rear
To rend her vitals saragely?
A man while on his way to town,
In fancy saw, (the silly clown!)
A crowd of raiders coming down
On Statesville, bent on cruelty.
w uereupOn. Iuucn scared, ne ruSned IN aste
To statesville, and in dark dead waste
OF night. he gave her some foreta<te
OF what she mi. BIT expect to SEQ
II those wild raide g; dashing in
On her b. Dad streets, with all tn din
and clash OF arms, should oncs .oegin
their deeds of savage deviltry.
Now may fair Statesrie ever be
From wars alarms and dangers free,
Till time itself no more shall be,
Nor earth, nor air, nor clouds or sea.