Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-28
(EN CUsrERs LAST CHARGE.

nEADi Is II possiblei He. the bold rider,
Custer, our hero. the nrst in the nght,
Charming the bullets Of yore to ny wider,
lShunning our battle kings ringlets OF light
leadi our young chieftain, and dead all forsakeni
no one TO tell ua the way Of bis fali
shin n the desert, and never to waken,
Sover, not even to victory's callt'
omndes, he's gone, but ye need not be grieving:
- No, may my death be like his when diei
ny regret wasted on words / am leaving,
falling with brave men, aud face to the sky.
Datb'e but journey, the greatest must take It;
hme IL eternal and better than ALL
Coz though the bowl be, It's fa.e that must break
Cory can hallow the fragments that fall.
Prod for his fame that last day that be met them
Al the night long he had been on their track,
Scoring their traps and the men that had set
them,
Then on the hilltop be halted, and saw them,
Lolges all looseled aud ready to ny;
Hurting scouts, with the tidings TO awe them,
Tod Of his coming before he was nigh.
All te wide valley was full Of their forces.
Catered to cover their lodges retreat;
Warrbrs running in haste to their horses
Thmsands OF enemies close to his feeti
ItrAn the valley the ages had followed
- = lay the sitting Bulls camp for preyi
.siss.sol pssz,F' at rocked hei What rocked those
kfn who had fought ten to one ere that day
Out twept the squadrons, the fatod three hundred,
lno the battle line steady and full;
The down the hill exultingly Numbered,
Tito the hordes Of the O,d sitting BULL
wiz ogaallah, Arapahoe: Cheyenne,
Wild Horse e braves and the rest of their crew,
Shnnk from that charge like herd from lion,
1hen closed around the great hell Of wild Sioux
Right to their center he charged, and then facing
Hlrk to those yellsi and around them, obi seei
Oyeithe hill-tops the devils came racing,
Coming as fast as the waves Of the seal
Redwas the circle OF Ore about them;
NJ hope Of victory, no ray Of light
Shot through that terrible black cloud without
them,
BDoding in death over Clusters last a0ht.
Thei, did he blanchf Did he die like craven,
Begging those tOrturing fiends for his lifei
Wa. there a soldier who carried the Seven
Finched like coward or ned from the strifef
No. by the blood Of our Custer, no quRilingl
There in the midst Of the devils they close,
Henmed in by thousands, but ever assaillng,
Fithting like tigers all bsYed amid foesl
Thicker and thicker the bullets come singing,
Down 20 the horses and riders and all.
Swiftly the warriors round them were ringing,
Cirding like buzzards awaiting their fall.
See tht wild steede OF the mountain and prairie,
Savage eyes cleaning from forests OF name,
Quivering lances with pennons so airy,
Wsr-bainted warriors charging amRin.
Backward again and again they were driven,
Shrinking to close with the lost little band;
Never cap that had worn the bright Seven
Bowed till it's wearer was dead on the strand.
Closer tnd closer the death circle growing,
Ever he leaders, voice. clarion clear,
Rang out his words Of encouragement glowing:
"Wecan die but once, boys, SELL YOUR LIVES
DEAR"
Dearly they sold them, like Berserker's raging,
FaciIg the death that encircled them round
Death't bitter pangs by their vengeance assuagng,
Marking their track by their dead on the ground
Comrades. our children shall yet tell their story
Clusters last charge on the Old Sitting Bull;
And ages shall swear that the cup Of his glory
Needed but that death to render 1t full
-Frsdaick Whitaker, in Army and Nary
,TOurlA1I