The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-13
Bivouae Of the Dead.
By rHEopoRE o'HARA.


Legislature of Kentucky caused the dead
that State who fell at Buena Vista to be
ought home and inferred at Frankfort. under
'plendid monument. Theodore O'Hara. gifted
soldier and schorlar, was Sc
cted the orator and poet of the occasion,
hence the beautiful eulogy which, alone, suf-
ses to rescue his name from oblivion. The
Dem was written more than twenty years ago.
has the same application to day.
The mufied drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tsttoo:
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread.
And Glo,y guards. with solemn round,
The bivousc of the dead.
No rumor Of the foes advance
Now swells upon the wind:
No troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow's strife
The warriors dream alarms;
Nor Drawing horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.
Their shivered swords arc red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed:
Their naughty banr err. trailed in dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plepteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms. by battle gashed,
Arc free from anguish now.
The neighing troor, the flashing blades,
The bugie's stirring blast,
The charge. the dreadful cannoDade.
The din and ,hout are past:
Nor war wild note nor giory's peal
Shall thrill will fierce delight
Those breasts that never more may feel
The rapture of the fight
Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That swceps his great plateau,
Flushed with the triumph yet TO gain,
Care down the serried foe
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break DER The field beneath.
Knew well the watchw, rd of the day
Was Victory or death. !"
Long had the doubtful conflict ragged
Ger all that stricken plain
For never fercer fight had ragged
The venreful bloud of Il pain -,
And still the storm Of battle blew,
still swelled the CORY tide;
Not long our stout old chieftaip" knew.
Such odds his strength could bide.
Twas in that hour his stern command
Called TO martyrs grave
The flower Of his own loved land,t
The nations flag 10 save.
BY rivers Of their fathers gore ).
His firsf-born laurels grew,
and well he deemed the sons would pour
Their liy, S :or glory, too.
Full many norther's breath has swept
Ger dngostura's plain
And long the riiying sky has swept
Above its meudered slain.
The ravens fcreIm. or eagles flight,
Or sbephed's penisve lay,
Alone awakes each sullen height
That frOwncd DER that dread fray.
Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground
1e must not slumber there.
where stranger steps aud tongues resoun
Along the needless air;
Your own proud lands heroic soil
Shall be your filter grave
She claims from war bis richest spoil
The ashes OF her brave.
So. meath their parent turf they rest.
Far from the CORY field.
Borne to Spartan mothers breast,
On maly a bloody shield: 50 --..--t
The sunshine OF their native sky
Smiles sadly on them here,
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The heroes sepulchre.
Rest on. embalmed and saintcd dead.
Dear as the blood ,e gave;
n" impious footstep here shall tread
The heritage OF your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps
Or honor points the hallOwed sp1t
Where yslor proudly sleeps.
Yen marble mipstrel's yoiceIess stone,
In deaihly song shall tell,
When many a vanished age hath flown,
The story how we fell; r-.
Eor wreck. nor change, nor winters bligh
Shall dim one ray of holy light
That gilds your glorious tomb.
Zachary Taylor.
fGen. Taylor was native of Kentucky. an
the Kentucky troops are here alluded To
tMexicans knew the battle of Bucna Vista
The name AngoStiud-which means Mario
Pass.
The Indian name for Kentucky.