The New York herald., 1876-07-15
CLUSTERS LAST CHARGE

On through the mist OF the morning,
On through the binding glare;
A hard rough ridc by the Rosebuds side,
Cutting swaths through the sutry air.
with ,,ch,encd girths and with brides free,
Their sabres gathering beside the knee;
Pistol and carbnc ready at hand
Ana one brave heart In the wide command,
Rode the sun Drowned troopers till eve grew red
Rode Custer right at the columns head
s.small rest o-night; by to-morrow's sun
Wen strike the red mans trail,
put an hour 10 breathe till the tight is won,
Till the bright rcdecming deed Is done;
Till the climax caps the tale"
A wild, aercc lights IN tho hero's eyes,
For a storm Is in his soul
Bitter and sweet in the charged clouds meet
And the souls low thunders roll;
And they roll and repeat as the stars come out,
And the troopers spring to tho saddle once morc:-
"Dcath is better than shame or doubt
Better because of the name bore.
Ripn, seems Wrong when the rights disgraccd,
when the honor bear IN my hearts mid-ccre
Is touched by jcer when my name displaced
Is a iibe for the varlets at Cnsar's door.
Life worth living means shame chaced-
Means Custer higher than Ger before;
And there by my mothers God swear,
WHAT devil would dream Of viii Custer darei"
And he pointed over the high divide.
son by the stars, scan well the trail
And mis- not an Indian sign"
Now the dawn is gray and the stars are pale
And hope is high on the widened line
The hope, half JOY, OF the soldiers trust,
That waits not trump or drum.
oscat,sr out, my lads, so the heavy dust
Shall not tell the Sioux come"
And the chieftan rode by his brothers twain,
And his sisters husband was by his side,
And his sisters son drew easy rein
AT his heels as they faced the high divide
Again the dark hills round them r,se
And a cloud Of dust beyond
Brings the coming light fore the troopers eyes
Like the wave Of wizards wand.
And Custer still at the columns head
Spurs on, that may share
The lrst glance down the river's bed
The game he's hunted there
"Hurrah for Custer's luck Tho Sioux
Have met face to face
The game, lads, is for me, for you
Who would step rc,racc'
Not one, not one. Tor meier bcfors
Such chance 10 gwen,
To pluck up honors red with gore
Since yon steep crags carthquakervsa.
Gross you tho river; ride them down;
God how the pranci ng devils swarm
The squaws shall wall
Through the mc-widc vale
When sweep We down II hike storm
l with three hundred sabres bright
Shall meet you on your way.
Forward" Their blades. like sudden light,
Leap out, and carbines cooked at hand
Flash ghnting long the brave command
And behind the biuns they speed
with thundring hoofs 10 do the deed
Shall bring them higher soldiers meet
Than ever fell to warrior band
Rough and steep till they reach the crest
Rough and Jagged when the hill;
"Press on the swifiest e now the best;
Here Famo shall drink I'll II has its nli
And nc who blurred my soldiers name
Shall see the heart that his pcnscrape crossed.
Now lads ride on like a roaring flame;
You follow man who has never lostiv
Over the mile-wde valley lowered the cloud Of Fate,
Not the bitter wrong,
Not the brave heart strong,
Not the wrath of the mighty cherished long
Or wild hope clatc,
Could rob one gloom nom the cloud that huAg
over the bold and over tho young,