Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-11-15
For the Delaware Republican
FORT DELAWARE.

FORT DELAWARE. m
Fort Delaware A potent, magic name,
RI h 10 tbs soldier, who kept vigis there y
nd captive doomed TO languish IN its cells y
J,s. at the mouth Of that long famoua stream n
w1ich ris ny in the good old Empire state, I
Flows through romantic regions, towering q
rocks,
B. classic shades, and BY the busy mart B
Where William Psnn's descendants suh 10 A
thrive,
The o. ker city its shiet boasted pride,
And flowing on in overwhelming COURSE
With gentle tide, lave Jersey. golden sand,
And holds the mirror up to fertile nsias
On that rich level shore, the Diamond S'a'ei
ouite near tue site Of Salems peaceful town,
N,t far from ssaid New Castles ancient pile,
Just opposite to Delaware namesske town,
And on hat small mysterious isle--Pea-Pa'ch,
Il stands; lust where the bay begins Its course,
About half way likewise from either shore'
But thereby hangs a tale Thus runs the
Full many years age the river ran
Straight on Its course where now the isiahu
STANDS;
Or by the ready hand of Natures skull,
OR b, the aid of name device and power,
A lodgusnt N was made, and strange to sag,
1t grew through lapse OF time to what We see,
And peas were seea to flourish 10 Its soil
1t came TO be, 10 course OF ume, sPot
OF wondrous beauty, and TIL abode OF may
Alb ut score of years ago or more,
Before the dogs e war began to osrk
In bud toned thu nders Ger the lana,
Or e'er the Jaws of Janus opened VIDE,
Add war, with CORY hands, and reekrng JAWS,
Began to devastats this land Of ours,
Great heaps Of stone were seen on this lar
spot,
And busy labor piled with equal force,
Aud the pick, the pile, the trowei' hammer
Then Tor years the work went slowly Oh,
And that famed man famed aud deiamsa--who
Fro,. Nv nunoticsd rank to hetah'e of note
And huttsred there. A short, short time lhea
FELL
As far and rapidly as he had risen
Mcclellan, mighty prinos oil euginesrs,
Wrought mere and planned and planned and
wrought the while,
The people wondered and did say "Whenee
this
Great waste and this enormous cost OF time
AID money, when, forsooth, there 10 no need
Thus said the world while Moan putt tne q, sr !,
Aud laughed to think hls worn was Sil In
vain
But pious Noah lsborsd on in faith.
The ara was finished, furnished and sqapped,
With Noah and his family all IN;
pair Of all the animals Of earth,
And food to asst for many days and nghts,
When torrents fell and foods overwhelmed the
EARTH
And SO too, now, Tor scarce had this nne for
Been finished, when the clouds OF war wer'
To all the Souths horison; and from these
The ligutnings flashed and thunders deep and
loud
Reverberatsd through the startled land.
And these short sighted onss were forced
say
That il was done Just in the MEX OF time.
Then rose a fonl conspiracy to get
Possession of the Fort and hold it for
The State against the general government.
But news of this WAS sent to Washington
Ard General Scott dispatched sufficient tore
TO hold it gainst the power OF the foe.
Since then, through tour long years OF BLOOD
war,
This fort has been point Of strong defence
Against the cruel enemies OF right
terror TO the rebels North and South,
Protection to the region where 1t stands
sateguard TO the Union tried and true.
To those who see it from the shore, or deck
OF passing steamers, it has many charms.
They see The Fort in vast proportions rise,
They see it too ia heavy armor Glad
Like some brave warrior resting on his ern
TneT look in fear and awe for well they kn'
j, csn be- fierce when reused and lie prepar
To beloh forth tury from Its hundred mouth
They lear the band AZ guard mount anu u
mite;
Or, from the parapeI at sunset hour,
When thunders forth the evening gan a
when
Tue poud'rous sally port is slowly closed
Thus cut ng of the outer world, and, from
! g lofty srch, the Jag, which rebels loa hs
AID We adore next to cur God, comes doN
Tor from all the labors OF the day,
Aud told self 10 comfort for the night,
Sweet strains OF martial music reach the ca
They see tue peaceful chapel, and they see
The barracks, which the soldiers call til
homes;
They also see those houses by the mselves
Whore rebel prisoners drag out their time,
With here a ID there dwelling having too
Th appearance and the comforts of a nom
AID distance lends enehantment to the vi
But thoe men who have made the Fort IL
homes
Fa7, al-rt upon the cold and heartles5 az
y: pitched their tents upon the open swstc
Who'vo the rats, which, large as rabbi
race
Alou7 he mum rous bitches tree from lear
VINO W fiouudered through the deep perpe
Hus,
Woo've drunk the muddy water, thick
hlacs,
hove irlt The rgor of lite discipline,
Now WOW it with sd a1d b r gaze,
from which the romance has been all VI
drawn.
F1'l many men have served In this strongl
Since It's erection, aud have gone their wa
But let us take one Regiment-the Ninth
OF Delware's brave and noble volunteers,
And let II stand a specimen for all.
From fair Camp Brandywine near Wilminl
I, came in force one clear November day
Paraded through tie streets OF Wilminl
Aud ten took boats tor DelaTare's at
Fort,
The oand discoursing well at intervals;
With feeings mingled and diverse they {
Some, foolish deemed it a delightful ca
While others shook their heads In dout
ness,
Aud some we'll knew the rlgsrs Of the
Once fairly on their Isle their Ills comnen
Tis hard to make their meagre evening
The massachusetts Sixth are still on guar
And occupy the barracks one night more
80 they within the ssssmA,ss cold and hi
Stretch ont their weary limbs upon The 81
And having jacobs pillow for their hes
His starry ovring 10 the vault above
They swe lily sleep until the break OF Ga!
IRE common soldier 10 the patriot true
BE goes for country Lot for paltry gain.
H.s are the harislps his tbs suferngi
He bears tn exposure and the burdens "
De leaves bis uncut harvess In the field
youthful wife, dying child at home,
That cries, mid intervals OF sleep aad
hWhe;es father GA why don'I my
come 2"
On guard he's made foisOoth, ntfs ms
certain number to be 'Vigilant.'
These hours. unsnding hours, on 20