Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-09
COZ. THEO GORE o,HARa.

no ioiOHlDB IS l6 Direct V6rS on
the beautiful elegiac poem of Col. Thee
dOre O'Hara. Il was written by him on th
occasion Of the burial of the Kentucky sol
diers who fell at Buepa Vista. The autbo
was one OF the gallant army that won tn,
donors of that field, and wss selected as th
orator 10 deliver the sddress when the re
mains of bis fallen comrades were broueh
to Frankfort for interment. The poem ha
been so often mutilated that correct yer
sion will be priced by every lover of liter
allure as well as every patriot in every en-
lightened land. This copy was repeated BY
the author to Col. Wintsrsmith, and by hin
written down and submitted to the author
for correction, in the year 1868, when thest
gentlemen met in the city of Mobile. Col
O'Hsra died in Georgia, in the year 1867
Last winter the Legislature of Kentucky
made provisions for the removal of his re-
mains to the ground consecrated by his
genius to the spirit of patriotism. 1t is q
matter of congrasulstion that some sacred
spot can be found where can repose the dust
of the man whose gallant conduct honored
his country, and whose spirit has given
expression TO the sentiments of all enlight-
ened people for their heroic dead. Ii the
patriots that fell at Marathon could have
commanded such an orator, he would have
become the honor and glory of Greece and
The nation would have claimed
bis ashes and devoted some sacred spot for
their preservation. 1t is doubtful whether
The remains of OHara could find resting
place in any national burying ground. Ken
lucky, that bis genius has adorned, has not
forgotten b-r gifted SOD, and has given him
= place among her sacred memories. There
genius and wor, h, at least, are not deter
mined by geographical lines:
THE BIvoUAC OF THE DEAD.
The muffled drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo:
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 Glory guards with solemn round
The bivOuac 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 braying horn. nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.
Their shivered swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed
Their naughty banner trailed in dust
Is now their martial shrOud;
And plenteOus funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.
The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout are past;
Nor wars wild note, nor glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that never more may feel
The rapture of the fight.
Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That sweeps his broad plateau,
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain,
Came down the serried foe.
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break DER the field beneath,
Knew well the wstchwOrd of the day
Was "victOTy or DEATH"
Long had the doubtful conflict rageJ
Ger all that stricken plain,
For never tiercer fight had waged
The vengeful blood of Spain;
And still the storm of battle blew,
Still swelled the CORY tide
Not long our stout old chieftainR knew
Such odds bis strength could bide.
Twas in that hour his stern command
Called to a martyrs grave
The flower of his own loved land,t
The nations flag to save.
BY rivers of their fathers gore
His first-bOrn laUrels grew,
And well he deemed the sons would pour
Their lives for glory, too.
Full many a Norther's breath hath swept
Ger Angostura'st plain
And long the plying sky has wept
Above its mOuldered slain.
The ravens scream, or eagles flight,
Or shepherds pensive lay,
Alone awake each sullen height
That frowned DER that dread fray.
Sons of the clark and bloody ground,"5
Ne must not slumber there,
Where stranger steps and tongues resound
Along the needless air;
Your own proud lands heroic soil
Shall be your filter grave
She claims from war his richest spoil,
The ashes of her brave.
So meath their parent turf they rest,
Far from the CORY field,
Borne to a Spartan mothers breast
On many bloody shield
The sunshine of their native sky
Smiles gladly on them here,
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The herO's sepulcher.
REST on, embalmed and sainted dead.
Dear as the blood We gave,
No impi0us 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 spot
Where ValOr proudly sleeps.
Your marble minstrel's vOiceful stone
In deathleSs song shall tell,
When many vanished age hath flown,
The story how We fell;
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winters blight,
Nor Times remorseless doom,
Can dim one ray of holy light
That gilds your glorious tomb.
Zachary Taylor.
Gen. Taylor was a Kentuckian, and Ken
Icky troops are here referred to.
7 Mexican name of the battle OF Buena Vista
pass.
5The In,iian name Kan-tuck-ee means ''The
ark and bloody ground"