The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-01-20
IN MEMORIAM.
Who fell in the Wilderness, May 9Th, 1864.


1t seemed to me impossible, though oft that
dreadful day
Came soldiers from along the lines, with
tidlngs Of the fray,
And all agreed that thou hadst fallen, death
smitten in the wood,
When first the foe was turned and driven,
in terror and with blood.
Full we'll knew the dangers of, that dark
|. encangled place,
For thou and thine we're thrust in front,
and dashed into the face,
OF masscd battaiions hurrying on, elate
with victory
Der lines of men who nc'er before, were
known to yield or fly.
The yesterday we met those hQrdes, with
our own little band,
And broke their heavy ranks, and drove
them back on every hand, -
But now at morn they moved upon US IN
their full array,
And swept the bruised and wearied line,
that strove to stop the way.
Lee, stern old warrior, stayed the fight,
and Hill of eagle eye.
Alas! to small effect, fort seemed, we should
but stand to die;
Till Longs,reet brought his close brigades,
of soldiers fresh and brave,
Aud rushed upon the toemen like stormy
oceans wave.
The battle joined tn opposing columns
met in deadly shock,
With shout ands shrek and roll of arms,
that made the earth to rock,
Charging AND Staying, til! the foe fell back
or every side,
And then lay'st down in Victory's arms,
and sank, and smiled, and died
Oh, for the weakness Of the heart, the
blindness of the mind -
l could not feel that thou vert dead, and
even daredto find
Reasons within Hy wayward soul, to show
thy valued life
Should be preserved immortal through this
long, this mortal strife.
I felt that thou shouldst live tc see our
country freed from chains
To see the light Of peace once more smile
DER her wasted plains
To see the triumph and the power of thine
own favorile cause,
And help complete the fabric of our liberty
and laws:
l felt that thou shouldst live to bless the
hearts that loved thee So
That Love and Wealth and Fame and Pleas
ure ronnd tlAe full would flow
Aud, finally, in good old age thy spirit pass
away,
Like summer sun in golden clouds after a
long, bright day
Yet thou art dead-dead e'er thy life hal
reached it's golden prime
Thou of the stainless heart and mind, thou
of the soul sublime!
And we who loved 10 plan for thee long
usefulness and fame
Are left alone to grasp a fading memory
and name.
0 for thy mighty heart of steel, thy firm
and steady hand!-~
Thy courage, truth and purity, that like the
rocks did stand!'
0 for thy kindly voice! and D thy sweet
and sunny smile,
So potent every weary heart of sorrow to
beguile!
Yet are these not lost, though thy mortal
form has passed from sight:
Well bear them with US through the storm
of Liberty's great fight,
And they shall tell US how to brave, to
battle with the wrong,
And cheer us On to seek and strive, to bear
and yet be strong
They gid the psst with beauteous light,
they future treasures ope,
Enlarging our contracted thoughts into a
wider scope,
Till rising past our daily life, beyond our
country even,
They draw US up where thou art gone, unto
the blissful Heaven!
Sleep on, brave soldier Take at length
thy we'll deserved rest!
Light lie the sods of rative earth upon thy
pulseless breast
The fragrant winds of evening softest muir
murs DER thee wave,
Springs fairest, purest blossoms flower upon
thy quiet grave!
Sleep on! secure from care and toll, from
every pride and hate,
Beyond the reach of battles roar, beyond
the shafts of Fate
Sleep on aud may kind providence grant
US an end like thine,
To fall at duty's post and pass into the life
divine! c.