The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-16
by AJhx. DAbbitEimEn.

CUSTER.
ny ALEX. pALsuEfMEn.
He left the angry Capitol.
shaft of iron In his soul
His naughty spirit scorned tho wound
That scared heart which valor crowned
That dared deface q gallant name.
The flower aud prototype Of fame.
Returned him from tho craven thtong
. That reveled In the wanton wrong
They wrought upon his soldier cro5s,
And branded on h warrior breast;
A soldier reft VI his command,
He turned him 10 his soldier band.
Nor need had he Of epauletto
TO sway the sturdy band ho met
lie wore a woftbier rank by far
In tho deep loves Of those sons OF war.
He proudly stillcd his fierce unrest
And bent his footsteps to tho Wost-~
Far outward TO the setting sun
TO win again what ho had won
Nor ala his course an instant lhg
He felt that once beneath that Tag
Tint erst was bis 10 guard protect.
His country then might reeolleot
4 he glorious record Of bis past.
And righttha erYina wTusan nt sass
T7''
The war whoop sounded DER the plain.
The battle-giow came back again
His vivid soul flashed from his oycs-~
His nature anafled the savage cries
That woke the rock bound trcnchrous dell
with echoing mImicry of hell;
He greeta the red skins dark array.
Exultng like boy at play.
What cnred his dnuntleas spirit then
For twenty times ten thousand ment
What rocked ho now2-bis foe was thero--
He'd tracked the tiger to bis lair.
Each gallant eomrade knew his chief
lie was the tree. each one leaf:
They clustered round the parent atonn.
What fear bad they2-he was with them.
The hugle atartlos NIL the glon
That frowns upon those gallant men.
Who only waited for u word.
The finishing OF that knighily sword.
That of hal CLEANED far In tho van
or many u brave and conauoriug clan
Forth lcapod his blade 10 greet tho light.
Swift spraug tho handful to tho fight,
Each courscr by horo backed.
Sped like nn angry catiIract;
Upon the willy Indian braves
They charged from life to bloody graves.
How Jared the reckless leader thcn
The brnyoet of those fearless menP
Had he forgot the cruel stain2
Or did Il ranklo in bs brain
Or while he waved his steel on high
Did burst from him u bitter cry
A vow-an oathto shame tho decd
That patcred with his soldier crood2
Alas we wis not. no'cr shall know
His thoughts In that last battles glow.
But bravo and silent tears shall flow
For him, our modern Iyanhoe.
The first dash sweeps the foe away.
'Twer6 more than human power TO stay
The might. that crashed through lodge and
rancho
or that undauntcd avalanche
He cared not II support WAS nigh
He could do nothing more than die:
He counted not unnumbered zoos
Though thick they stood as earthly woes:
With eyes that gemmed the combat fair
4" His long locks ycllowing the air.
He met the surgine. shrieking brood
As poured their hosts from rock and wood.
His stalwart arm and dripping sword
Gave answer to the savage horde.
With every stroke, his hope was bent
On Fame wide as the Continent.
He strove for immortality
And this was his ThermopylGi
The towards who assailed his name
Should shrink beneath his burning famel
His brother warriors lay around
In sullen dejh upon the ground:
His remnant. strangers TO retreat.
Confessed not. though they knew defeat.
They scorned to bow before the Sioux
They'd die embarrassed in their blue
As side by side they fought and fell
him they loved so WE'LL
He fell upon the topmost peak,
where noble death must speak
In glorious type unto the skies
OF him who for his country des.
His proud chivalric soul had won
fame as peerless MS the sunl
Or all the band, his form alone
rnscarred, unmutilated shone;
rhe beauty that had marked his lifo
Survived In death the deadly strife. !
Nor bloody hand nor savage breath
his sacredness in death.
He FELL the chief Of all his race
In all soldiers dauntless grace
Dh ye. whose souls have felt the throes
That the victorious shout Of foes
Awakes upon the battle plain.
As ye lay wounded mid the slain
Oh ye. before whose fading eyes
Passed In review those hallowed ties
That winged your thoughts to distant climes, |
Where gilded dreams Of happier times
inspired the halo of your lives
With love of mothers. sisters. wivos-
fe, who survive the latest fate.
Alone can to the world relate
rhe horror Of the warriors doom
Who yields In death ambitions plumel
)h. rear no marble to his name,
lis deeds without ii are the same:
md children yet unborn shall chaunt
he epic OF his lifes romaunt.
set nature in her glory tell
he spot whereon her soldier fell:
liz fame-that rugged mountain peak
hall always to the ages speak.
Jew Orleans. July IA. 1876.
Local Personals.
{ Is pleasant thing in journeying through
TO witness the consummation Of the hopes
others. and to mark events which promise