Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-13

BAY BILIY-A VETERANS STORY.

You may talk ofhorses of renown,
What Goldsmith Maid has done,
How Dexter cut the seconds down,
And Fellowcrsfts great run,
Would you hear about horse that once
A mighty battle won
Twas the last fight at Fredericksburg
Perhaps the day you reck,
Our boys, the Twenty second Maine,
Kept Earlys men 10 check.
Just where Wade Hampton doomed away
The fight was neck and neck.
All day we held the weaker wing,
And held it with a will,
Five several stubborn times VIC charge,
The battery on the hill,
And Eve times beaten back reformed,
And kept our column still.
At last from out the centre fight
Squared up generals aid,
The battery must silenced be ~
He cried as past be sped,
Our colonel simply touched his cap,
And then with measured tread,
To lead the crouching lines once more
The grand old fellow came.
No wounded man but raised his heal
And strove to gasp his name,
And those who could not speak nor stir,
"God blessed him" just the same.
For he was all the world to Us,
That hero, gray and grim,
Right well he knew that fearful slope
We'd climbed with none but him,
Though while his white head lead the way
We'd charge hell's portals in.
This time we were not half way up
When midst the storm of shell,
Our leader, with bis sword upIaised,
Beneath our bsyonets fell,
And, as we bore him back, the foe
Set up joyous yell.
Our hearts went with him. Back We sweep
And when the bugle said;
up, charge again" no man was there
Bat hung his logged head
"We've no one left to lead US now"
The sullen soldier said.
Just then, before the laggard line
The Colopel's horse was spied,
Bay Billy, with his trappings on,
His nostrils swelling wide,
As though still on his gallant back
The master sat astride.
Right royalty he took the place
That was of old his wont,
And with neigh that seemed to say,
Above the battles brunt,
How can the Twenty-second charge
II am not in front Z"
Like statutes we stood rooted there,
And gazed q little space,
Above that floating name we missed
The dear familiar face,
But we saw Bay Bily's eve of fire,
And it gave US heart Of grace
No bugle call can rouse US all
As that brave sig had done,
Down all the battering line we felt
A tightening impulse run.
up up the hill we followed Bill,
And captured every gun
And when upon the conquered height
Died out the battles hum
Vainly, mid living and the dead,
We sought our leader dumb.
1t seemed as if q spectre steed
To win that day had come.
And then the dusk and dew of night
Fell softly DER the plain,
As though DER mans dread work Of death
The angels wept again,
And drew nights curtain gently round
thousand beds of pain.
All night the surgeons touches went
The ghastly rows between
All night with solemn step paced
The torn and bloody green,
But who that fought in the big war
Such dread sights have not seen.
At last the morning broke The lark
Sang in the merry skies
As if to cen the sleepers there
1t babe wake and arise
Though but that last trump Of all
Could open their heavy eyes.
And then once more with banner gay,
Stretched out the long brigade,
Timely upon the furrowed field
The troops stood on parade
And bravely mid the ranks were closed
The gaps the fight had made.
Not half the Tweniy-seconds men
Were In their place that morn,
When Corp'ral Dick who yester noon
Stood six brave fellows on,
Now touched my elbow in the ranks
For all between were gone.
All who forgets that dreary hour
When, as with misty eyes,
To call the old familiar roll
The solemn sergeant tries.
One feels that humping Of the heart
AS no prompt voice replies.
And as in falt'ring tone and slow
The last few names were said,
Across the field some missing horse
Toiled up with weary tread,
1t caught the sergeants eye, and quick
Bay Billy's name he read.
Yes! there the old bay hero stood.
All safe from battles harms,
And ere an order could be heard,
Or the bugle's quick alarms,
Down all the front from end to end
The troops presented aims
Not all the shoulder-straps on earth
Could still our mighty cheer.
And ever from that famous day
When rang the roll call clear,
Bay Billy's name was read, and then
whnla ltpa q ns odd
San Francisco Ne9s Letter.