The Portland daily press., 1870-08-26
Poetry.
Anniversary Poem Of the ls,b Regiment

The following are exstracts from the poem
by CIV. Verrill, Esq, an officer in
he 18th Regiment, at the celebration of its
eighth anniversary in this city on the 18th
INST. We give them to the public at the re-
quest of some who were present and wish to
have the poem in pint:
We sing retrospective sorg
OF grand. heroic days departed;
And need no foreign aid to ieau A.,
RemembTances, when larry staiteu'
Things of the past are soon forgot;
Roses of June SHOWS OF Deeemper.
Marches and biyouacs battles and WOUNDS,
1rma e,iru1loue, we scarce remember
i in called to mind in some odd way.
A wayside rivulet, cool and CHEEKY,
NAV vet recall the dusty march
In summers heat. when, hot and weary,
river would not quench our thirst.
The L tes, from open window stealing
OF some old song, as we pass by,
NAV kind 'e yet the dormant feeling
That thrilled US with the battle cry.
And then once on the line uf march
The rest Will follow in review;
Our old campaigns; our fields OF strie
Our victories and no victories, too;
Our DAYS OF fire; nights of ice
That chilled the heart late iercely beating;
Our sickly hopes when ordered "in''-
More sckiy grown when oft retreatng.
Our lite in camp; our drills, parades,
Reviews, inspections-thrice too Oft
Oft corps, divisions and brigades,
Our spirits and esprit du corps
The latter much, the former 'snary,
So tar suttlers KEEP. them up
Or Uncle SamuePs Commissary.
They learned to love the cannons' roa-,
(The Rebel roaring is excepted)
The shrek OF shells was music sweet
when by the Union guns ejected)
They thought the military balls
The liveest they e'er attended;
And many giddy quickstep there
They danced, till the assembly ended.
Oh, habit Is a glorious thing!
1t gives a charm to bayOnets' rattle,
relish for the powder smoke,
In fact, stomach tor the battle!
How dreaded we our maiden tight!a
Our claim to wear she patch" deciding
BY steady ranks and nerves across
The Rappabann0ck darkly gliding!
ul-omened river! thrice aga II
With bridge of pontO0ns stretching over,
We crossed It's traitorous, angry flood
mot like Leander to his lover)
And thrice recrossed with saddened hearts,
With many conf adeS lett behind us
Witn thought, II Richmond were our goal,
Imprisoned there, our friends would find us.
And yet once more we ''waded in"
And Ton thar line'' we fought all summer
No bugle sounded our advance;
We needed then no roll of drummer;
No songs, except the wbippoorwil's;
No shouts, unless for victory cheering;
In night and snenee worked our way
With cannon hailed the morn's appearing
we Will not count our many scars,
Nor name how they originated.
A modest solder is the brave
By deeds, not boasts, his worth is rated
1t were a serious task indeed,
And time would fail us in the telling,
To slight our battles O'er AGAIN.
1t we're tar worse than hot (clan) sheling
Enough for us 10 point with pride,
To those torn cOlOrs that We cherish!
Both full and true the record there!
A record that will never perish.
Palmer than words their tatters speak
The praises OF the men who bore them
From Fredericksburg to Sailor Creek
Through all the savage storms that tore them,
In what good way each played his part
We will not ask-let conscience answer
Such overwhelming task we leave
To State Reports, or the romancer
A faithful servant earns reward;
All merit needs some recognition:
We trust grateful country, then,
May give to such ''soit" position:
Some easy puDlic chair to fill
For Uncle Sam, or State or connty--
veteran will ne'er refuse
pension or an "extra bounty,
Some few already have attained
Promotion-rankng as post NJ aster-
We trust their stamps will multiply
Increase in size and-well-s ,ick faster.
And yet mat eIial is lett
VI war and "hopes deferred" survivors
10 make most any thing you want
FROM President to cat lie drivers
full many fought who cid not jall--
y. .;ch TACT We hope is moi Iegre ted -
Full many did not tight at all.
And these. perehanee, may be breyetfed.
They fo1ght-Well, in general way
Aud. .GeatrGtiy have been rewarded
Ambition crowns her votaries yet
Whose hopes are rank bnt never sordii.
But many, Ia any braveiy fought
With hearts tor victory strongly beatingt
Proud courage beaming in the eye,
Hot valor and stern purpose meeting!
Forward and forward pressed their way,
Nc thoughts, no gances backward stealing:
Where hottest grew the wicked strife,
Where fercest conflict death was dealing;
There heaviest fell their sturdy blows;
There Aang their cheers with fire infected;
There gave their te-hloOd for the cause
mat heaven sanctioned and protected.
There sleep our heroes where they iell!
Their country's banner still waves o'er them,
They did their utmost dnty well,
With homes behind and foes before them.
They closed their eyeids ere they wept
Al hard wrought warare's glorious ending;
Quiet their footsteps where they slept
While ours were lightly home ward tending
flushed are their voices; stilled their hearts.
"A dear-bought soil with bosoms pressing,
No more their pulse, quick bounding, starts
At bugle's call, or loves earessing.