The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-07-01

And bis wooden leg thumps Aercely on the
dusty belfry floor =
"Ohl fire away. ye villains, and earn King
Georges shillin's,
But yen waste a ton Of powder before rebel
falls;
You may bang The dirt and welcome. they're
as safe as DanI Malcolm
Ten foot beneath the gravestone that you've
splintered with your balls!"
In the hush of expectation, in the awe and
trepidation
OF the dread approaching moment, we are
well nigh breathless all;
Though the rotten bars are falling on the
Iickety beliry railing,
We are croWding up against them like the
waves against wall.
Just glimpse Cthe air is clearer); they are
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
When tiash-a curling smoke wreath then
a crash-the steeple shake
The deadly truce is ended the tempest's
shroud is reDded;
Like a morning mist it gathered, like thun-
der-cloud it breaks i!
Oh the sight our eyes discover as the blue
black smoke blows over
The red-coats stretched in windows as a
mower rakes his hay;
Here scarlet heap is lying, there q head
long crowd is flying
Like billow that has broken and sbivered
into spray.
Then we cried, "The troops are routed
They are beat-it can't be doubted
God be thanked, the fight ig over !"-Ah the
grim old soldiers smile!
Z" Tell us, tell us why you look so ?" Eve could
hardly speak, we shook sO)
" Are they beaten Are they beaten ? Are
they beaten ?''-'' Wait while"
M, tho frevobIin0 aud fT,a farrOrT For to soo,
we saw our error:
They are bsffied not defeated; we have driven
them back In vain
And the columns that were scattered, round
colors that were tattered,
Toward the sullen, silent fortress turn their
belted breasts again.
All at once, Hs We are gazing, 10 the roofs of
ChRrlestown blazing
They have fired the harmless village in an
hour it will be down
The Lord in heaven confound them, rain his
fire and birthstone round them.
The rObbing, numbering red coats, that would
burn peaceful townl
They are matching, stern and solemn; we
can see each massive column
As they near the naked esrth-mound with the
the Elanting walls so steep.
Have our soldiers got faint-hearted, and in
uoiseless haste departed
Are they panic-struck and helpless? Are
they palsied or asleep?
Now the walls they re almost under! scarce
a rod the foes asunder
Not irelock flashed against them! up the
earthwOrk they will swarm
But the words have scarce been spoken, when
the ominous calm is broken,
And following crash has emptied all the
vengeance of the storm!
So again, with murderOus slaughter, pelted
backwards to the water.
Fly Pigot's running heroes, and the frightened
braves Of Howe;
Aud we shout .'At last they're done for, it's
their barges they have run for;
They are beaten, beaten, beaten; and the
battles over now"
And we looked, poor timid creatures, on the
rough old soldiers features.
Our lips afraid to question. but he knew what
we would asl:
"Not sure" he said keep quiet-once
more, I guess, they'll try it
Here's damnation to the cut-thrOats then
he handed me his flask.
Saying, Gal! you're looking shaky have
drop of old Jsmaiky;
I'm afeaTed therell be more trouble afore the
Job is dOne;"
So 1 took one scorching swallow; dreadful
faint felt and hollow,
Standing there from early morning when the
firing was begun.
All through those hours Of trial bad watched
a calm clock dial,
As the hands kept creeping, creepiDg-t they
we're creeping round to four,
When the old man said, They're forming
with their bagonets fixed for stOrming;
It's the death-grip that's a-coming-they will
try the works once more !"
With brazen trumpet blariDg, the flames be-
hind them glaring,
The deadly wall before them, III close array
they come;
Still onward, upward toiling, like a dragons
fold uncoiling-
Like the rattlesnak q shril warning the re
verberariDg drum
Over heaps all torn and gory-shan I tell the
fearful story,
How they surged above the breastwork, as a
sea breaks DER deck;
How driven. yet scarce defeated, our wornout
men retreated,
With their powder-horns all emptied, like the
swimmers from wreck
It has all been told and painted; for me-
they say tainted,
And the wooden-legged old corporal stumped
with me down the stair.
And when woke from dreams affrighted the
evening lamps were lighted
On the floor a youth was lying; his bleeding
breast was bare.
And heard through all the furry, "Send for
Warren! hurry hurry!
Tell him here's soldier bleeding, and he'll
come and dress his wound "
All. we knew not till the morrow told its tale
of death and sorrow,
How the starlight found him stlhened on the
dark and bloody ground.
Who the youth was, what his name was,
where the place from which he came
was,
Who had brought him from the battle, and
had left him at our door,
He could not speak to tell US; but twas one
of our brave fellows,
AS the hOmespun plainly showed us which the
dying soldier wore.
For they all thought he was dying, as they
gathered rouud him crying
And they said, "Oh how they'll miss him
and what will his mother do?"
Then his eyelids just unclosing, like a child
lhst has been doing. -,
He family murmured "Mother!' and saw
his eyes we're blue.
&c Why, grandma, how you're winking -
Al, my child, it sets me thinking
or a alory not like this one. Well, he some
how lived along;
So we came to know each other, and nursed
hm like Another.
Till at last he stood before me, tall and rosy
checked, and strong,
And we sometimes walked together in the
Eleas ant summer weather;
- Please to tell Us what his name was !'-
Just yOur own my little dear
There's his picture Copley painted; we be-
came so well acquainted,
That-in short that's why I'm grandma, and
YOU children all are here!
Bunker HiH Memorial