The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-10-25
THE JOURNAL.
GRANT.
BY COL. c. L. L. HOLMES

BY COL. @. L. L. HOLMES
We want leader-the record of death,
From sea cost to prairie-on mountain and |
heath,
Alone furnished proof that our armies were
there,
And strong hearts were doubling and weak
hearts despair.
But harkI from the Prairies an ominous roar,
Like rushing of waters which sweep on before
The breath of the tempest, and leave but
wreck,
OF barriers leveled and crushed in their track.
With quiOk'ning of pulses, and straining of
ears,
We catch the first tidings dispeIling our fears.
"Our forces are moving" the first line is
s'pastr"
"Our armies have found commander at
lastP
The promise of victory each message con-
firms
''Listl" Donelson fallenl" "the foe asking
termsP'
No halting or doubt, in the quick answer
turks
Surrender at once or 1 move on your worksI"
Scarce waiting to tally his pris'ners of war.
Our chiftain pressed on till the terrible roar
On Shiloh's red field told the nation at last,
The day of delay and inaction was past.
Twas hot work at Shiloh, as though over hell
Had burst wild tempest Of bullets and shell;
Both sides fought like demons, with steel eros
sing steel,
And backward, outnumbered, our torn col
umns reel;
Slowly back, inch by inch, but still unsub-
dued-
Every inch of the track with dead foemen
strewed,
Till the shudring sun hid his face in the west.
And pitying night forced both armies to rest.
All day through that terrible maelstrom of
death
All day, everywhere-at all points in breath,
All day, where line seemed to waver OF fall,
Rode the soul, the inspirer, mover of all.
And where shall find you, my general pray9
Asked his Anticipating with orders that
day;
"Seek that part of the field, wherever it be,
Where firing is hottest-report there to me-"
All night through the camp where the wear
led hosts lay
He passed to inspire them once more for the
fray
"Cheer up, bOysI cheer upl No gloomy fears
borrow,
Wen fire the first gun at the rascals to-mor-
row."
At dawning they rallied again with the sun
At noon they were victOrs, and Shiloh was
The bsrbed shafts of envy and jealousy's
rage,
Were leading the press, with column and
| page;
Still fought he right on and in silence en-
dured.
For his brave heart knew well, his fame was
assured
And this noble speech, to his silence was
key
any deeds, not my speeches, shall answer for
me-"
Through calumny. hatred, revilling and rant,
was ever hero SO steadfast as Grant
Still onward, right on, with blow 70 flowing
blow,
He laid the proud hopes of our enemies low;
Till closing his lines, like net that is cast,
He held the Southwest in his Samson-]ike
grasp;
And vicksburg was ours, and Sherman set
free.
To cut that wide swath from the plains to the
Relieved in the West, where his labors were
done,
And called to regain what was lost at Bull
Run;
He kindled new hopes where all hopes had
proved vain,
And marshalled his hosts for that final CAM
caign.
No halting-no doubting-no wav'ring-no
fear
His brave heart beat calm while his triumph
drew near.
"what tidings from GrantP" was the cry on
each tongue,
While fierce cannonades through the wilder
ness rung-
Listl list to the answer, calm, manly and
clear
The chiftain in front, sends the chief in the
rear,
"Though the summer may pass and autumn
suns shine,
I shall fight the thing out, right here, on this
line"
He did fight right on, till treason went down,
And freedoms flag waved Ger each hamlet
and town,
From virginia's hill, whence the fugitive
chief,
Disguised--in wild terror-stole out like a
thief:
To the bayous and swamps of our souther-
most zone,
And wars thunders ceased, for the great stake
was won.
"No trials for treason, no dungeon for Lee:
He fought like asoldier-surrendered to me-
Now, my life for If, he shall go with his men
And, northman and southron, be brothers
again;
Let war be forgotten-let pickering cease;
The conflict is ended; now let us have peace.