Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-08

A claim from the county sheriff for $50
for ex-oficio services was presented, but
upon being met with some opposition was
withdrawn until tomorrow.
Adjourned Cat 12:30) until tomorrow at
10 O'Clock A. NJ.
CHARGE OF THE FIRST TENNFs-
SEE.
AtPerryviIIe, KY, Oct. 8, 1862.
BY B. P. STEELE.
Fo-dsy7is the anniversary of the cele-
brated charge of the First Tennessee at
Perryville, KY, in 1862; and we take pleas
ure in republishing Mr.. Steele's admirable
poem, written in c0mmemoration Of the
rare prowess displayed by that regiment on
that occasion. 1t was first published in
1866, and met with much favor both for its
merits and the famous event which 1t so
graphically sets forth. Mr.. Steele has
kindly furnished us with an accurate copy,
aud In presenting 1t we are confident that
we supply desideratum to Tennesseesns,
while we but pay on this fitting occasion q
| just tribute to the memory of those who
fell, and merited compliment t6the valor
of those who survive of that valiant $50. As
| yet we can hardly refrain from going back
in our enthusiasm to the event ITSELF but
the poem that describes it Is one seldom
| equalIed in martial description. It may be
read again and again as the years roll round
| and always with undiminished delight by
every true patriot Of Tennessee:]
Far and wide on Psrryyille's enssnguined plain,
The thunder and carnage Of battle resounded;
And there, over thousands OF wounded and
1865 slain,
RiderIess steeds from battles shock rebounded.
| Cheatham's division was fercely attacking,
And proudly from his men rose cheer after
| As before them McCook was sul1enly backing,
Calamity fighting as he moved to the rear.
| On Cheatham,s left, Stewards guns reared and
And in the center, Donelson onward bore;
| On the right, Maney's brigade charged and
| bsttled,
| Vallantly driving the stubborn foe before.
| Twas there, held in reserve, impstiently lay,
The First Tennessee, the stKnights of the Kid
Eager and chaHng to join the bloody fray
| Help their brave comrades, and their own
proves prove.
Soon was their impatient valor to be tried,
Soon were they to charge to the cannon's
Soon upon the battles crimsoned wave to ride, -
Soon to prove themselves worthy "Sons of the
South"
For soon, at headlong speed, there came dash
His steed hecked with sweat and foaming at
the mouth
The warrior bishop,-he of the "Sword and
Gown,"t
Who with like devotion served God and the
South.
Every eye and ear of that gallant band,
Was eager turned TO catch the old hero's
words;
On the guns more firmly clenched was every
hand
And from their scabbards quick leaped two
score Of swords;
For all knew by the flash of the old chiefs eye,
That he had hot work for every trusty gun;
And ready was each man TO fight and to die.
In the bloody work then and there to be done.
A moment along their solid ranks he glanced,
And with just pride his eagle-eye bsamed DER
them
Assured by their firm main, that when they ad-
vanced,
No equal numbered foe could stand befoIs
-.-. them.
He noted the firm set lip and flashing eye,
And on their sun-burnt cheeks the brave mans
And knew they had the spirit to Hdo or de-
For Southern honor and with Southern valor.
Then pointing towards the cannon-crested
height,
Where LOOMS guns yolleyed in death dealing
wrath,
He seemed as war-god gathering mis- might,
To hurl missiles of destruction on his path,
And with a look that plainly said, "You must
FOrthe sake of the Sunny Land that bore
you"
He shouted above the battles fierce din,
Forward! and carry everything before you'll
Forth they sprang, four hundred, less fifty, all
told;
With true discipline. fearless courage and bold,
They closed their files aud rushed on over the
dead.
With unwavering line the heroes rushed on;-
OH truly was 1t q glorious display
fcourage,-worthy thefame the sold Guard
All dressed By the right with veteran skin,
They moved on their way with step steady and
true,
And guns at shoulder, to the foot of the hill.
AS If ON parade, for the fsoldiers in blue"
But then their muskets spoke, their wild shouts
5000 eaped,
As before them. in rout, a regiment fed; [Sl
Many of which their bullets halted and heaped,
In bloody confusion, the wounded and dead.
Now more dreadful the carnage volleyed and
...r- rOared,
A volcanic crater the hills frOwning crest,
Down whose bloody sides, deaths fiery lava
poured,
Sweeping the young and the brave upon its
breast
"Like scar leaves before the autumn blase they
But their undaunted comrades pressed on Ger
them
Pressed on, with quick, steady step and closed
Hurting death into the blue links before them.
/
A., tried tried, ,,d +,on s.,o,, ri. t..., ,,o,r..
wv e.aey $1,000 49, -. as'e1i
tfS ana mere a
Dg nc ~, - h h "a loA :. ~ dt OH
LOOMS ana Godses went 70 6 5ns aust
anu IL n.;i 10 Ao1o Jugs "0io 0u oHN
stu;
A few more quick bounds and baYonet thrust,
And the "kid glove soldiers" hadeaptured the
hill.
But then came stern Rousseau, Federal
Hbrave,
mand,
And threw 1t like torrent, wave upon wave,
Against the brave First's shattered and bleed
| iUg band.
But they met II as meets the breakers nrm rock,
| The wild, towering waves Of the storm-lashed
| sea-
| Met it to hurl it back with fearful shock
Back, ike the fooled, rock-broken waves OF the
| ,-..-- sea.
| But just then the cry was passed along the line,
"They are thanking by the lefti fall back! fan
| backi"
AS with ttad face to the f0e' they retraoed their
4 Proudly, their reluctant backward way they
with sgilsn, defiant nien, firm step and slow,
And moved more To tbe left in tbe plain below.
| - st1o "a ), x,yaa AGAIN fro chaariDer