Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-17
BUNKER HILL-JUNE II, 1875.
THE OLD SOLDIERS STORY.
ny JANIS H'cABR
Contributed for the Commercial.

BY JANIS HCABE
Contributed for the Commercial.
Come, comrades, gather round me you have often
wished to know
How we Jared when first in open reld we met the
British foe;
They often feigned to doubt our strength and hold
our valor light,
And said with bitter taunts and jeer. the rebels
would not light.
But well we showed at Bunker Hill, what noble
hearts and true,
When battl ng for their counlry's rights 'galnst
tyranny could do
The picture OF that bloody Held see before me
yeti
All, who that gazed on such sight, could e'er the
scene iOrgetl
1t was the seventeenth of June, still remember
well,
How bright On river and on hill the morning snn-
beams fell,
All nature smiled In lovlness as If It were to show
How soon the wrath of man can change the fa,rest
scenes below.
The hour has come :-acIoss the tide the boats make
for the strand,
And quickly the beach below the troops in order
land.
The word is q ven" Forward !"--to the sound Of
nfe and drum,
In long and threatening array their columns on
ward come,
With ranks close dressed and naughty crest. and
colors floating FREQ
Although our foes. they really were a gallant sight
10 see.
But many one within those ranks who left his
native shore
AT duty's CALL ahai see his home and loving friends
no more!
and glory oil,
Snail, ere the setting Of the SUM- in death lie cold
and sill.
Yet nearer nearer they spproach-we neither spoke
nor stirred,
But hushed IN silence bresthlessy await our
leaders word.
We dreaded not the connict. for though they their
Howe could boast.
host.
We let them come until within some fifty yards or
higher,
When, like lightning from q su mer cloud dashed
forth our sheet of "Fl y
As from the trees In Autumn fall the sere leaves
thick and fast,
When thro' the bleak dismantled wood. sweeps on
the furious blast;
So fell the foes before us-so melted ranks away
SO o'er the field those Wanting troops were scat-
tered In dismay.
Al last their leaders rally them-agan In ranks they
form,
Again with stately steps advance to meet the
deadly storm.
Then as II all the wrath of war against us to COM
blne,
Their ships and noatng batteries open. .hoty on cur
line;
And see they've nred the town below, while like a
funeral pail,
Black clouds of smoke oerspread the neld and
densely cover all;
And the lightning cleaves the sky. so, ever and
anon,
Amidst the haze the cannons blaze in lurld splen-
dor shonel
once more they near our breast-work- again our
volleys pour,
And shout and shrek In concert blend, smidst the
deafening roar.
Think what hldeous sight, my friends was there
to us revealed
When battle shreud aside was cast that hid the
CORY field.
Even those from early youth inurd wars widest
scenes to brook,
Could not on tina. dread spectacle without shudder
lo.k.
But how shall we resist them n0w--our powders
nearly gone,
And for last and desperate charge the enemy
come on.
One whitening volley from US, for q moment bids
them stay,
And then with ready muskets dubbed, we hold
them hard at bay.
With front opposed, and ranks unbroken, reluc'
tantly we yield;
We bore with US the victorYwe left to them the
field,
Yet dear that paltry triumph did the braggar'
minions cost,
Fer their bravest and their noblest the fatal ned
were lost.
This was rst great BATTLE and 1t taught us thai
the foe
VINO deemed themselves invincible, cur power
might overthrow.
And though since then full many deeds have sigma
lized our name,
Ard fortune on our arms has smiled on many Helt
of fame;
stin mid all recoliections that round the soldier
play,
Most purely bright, in memorys hght. shines thai
Immortal day.
And TIL Tunes latest hour Is come, the patriot,
heart shall thrill,
At the light we fought, and the deeds We wrought
nm ulorlnpa Runker rill