Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-09-05
CUSTER AND HIS THREE HUNDRED.
JoAauIN MILLER.


Wreathing, wrapping battle tents,
Where the giants march and muster,
Mantling columns, regiments,
Through the battles storm and buster
Rose and rode the gentle Custer.
"Where is Custer ?" came the cry, ,.
When men meet to do or die.
Where is CUSTER Cannon's rattle
From the blazing bank Of battle,
Booming, booming, answer back,
"Lo afront the rush and rattle,
Riding down deaths battle track,
Sword in air, and hair blown back,
Lo boy leads men to battle ~
Peace walked down lane of grasses
Laughing maids and merry lasses,
Twining wreathes of rose and laurel
For their hero of the quarrel,
Laughing, blushing, asked for Custer.
"Where the west winds rave and bluster,
Lo the brave boy rides afar,
Like some distant sliding star,
Against the border speck of war;"
Shame walked shameless in the land.
They strike lie, stricken, turns to go,
Dsgraced, degraded. But go where
He does not know. He does not care.
He does not question-scek to know,
Save that it be to front the foe.
And this for all his battles done?
And this for all his glOries won
Where now is CusterH Side by side,
See ! all his blood and brothers ride.
They rally with united will,
As if to bear and share the shame
Thus set upon soldiers name.
For they who knew him love him still,
lie leads They charge They follow fast /!
They fall like tall trees in blast,
They range around with lifted brow
'Tis death or vindication now
o God the dead men FL the food
0 God q brave young brothers blood
q God the tumult Of that heart
Ns he leads them to their death,
As he strikes with bated breath,
As each brave man bears his part
And silent looks his last farewell,
Silent fronts the fearful YELL
Silent fronts the face of hell.
VII.
There's blood There's brothers blood to-
day =
Red blood that shall remain alway
On your hands, wash as you may,
My country's leaders. Loud and vain
Ye sit in your high seat, ana plan
For Presidents. Ne scheme, and scan
Your selfish selves. The while the Sioux
And settlers tanglc in shein
That only sabrCs can cut through.
The long grasses bend the head
lu patient pity o'or the dead
In brothers pity for the brave
Three hundred in their Spartan grave
In mother pity fer the true
Aud country loving ta8ny Sioux.
Perchance in gh, stand once again
They meet along the lNwless plain,
And rove with driving winds and rain.
Yea, who shall enll him rash, or chide
From some safe place this man who died,
With all his kindred at his side
Not his to question wrong or right,
They bade him seek tho foe to fight !
Some rocks with monOgrams of red
OF Custer and his comrades dead.
o Custer and thine comrades, where
Have ye pitched tent in fields of air
Above the Rocky Mountains brow
In everlasting glory now,
le shine like some high shaft of light,
le march above the bounds Of night,
And some strong singer yet shall rise
And lift your glory to the skies
In some grand song Of wild delight.
XII.
Where gcntlest maidens linger long
To weep above tale of wrong
And now where fame and martial elory
Points her proudest page and story,
There shall Custer's war-cry ring,
And II turn to ye to-day
Who sent him to his death and cav,
'Twere better far be Custer dead
Than his traducer, though a king.
Where now is Custer Rock, rayine.
With many brave mans bones between
Make CHASTITY answer. Lo, his blood
Streams Der the cOuntry's outer wall,
Where he has ever led and stood,
Confronting death unto his. fall.
The brave three hunpred dead The blame
Is where Eternal stirring fame
Is theirs, but WhOSe the ddD1ning shame?