River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-03-29
BAY BILLY-A VETERANS STORY.


You NAV talk OF horses of renown.
Whist Goldsmith maid has done,
How Dexter cut the seconds down,
AEd PellOwcrait's great run,
Would You hear about horse that once
A mighty battle WONT
Twas the last 6ght at Prederisksburg-
Perhaps the day Won reck,
Our bows, the Twenty-secOnd Maine,
Kept Early's men in check.
Just where Wade Hampton doomed away
The fight was neck and neck.
All day we held the weaker wing,
And held it with Will,
Five several stubborn times we charged
The battery on the hill,
And five times beaten back. reformed,
And kept our column still.
At last from out the centre fight
Spurred up generals aid.
tsTbat battery must silenced be u
He cried as past as he sped,
Our colonel simply touched his cap,
And then with measured tread,
To lead the crOuching lines ence more
The grand old fellow came
No wounded man bat raised bis head
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 we knew that fearful slope
We'd climbed with none but him,
Though while his white head led the way
We'd charge hell's portals in.
This time we were not halt way up,
When, midst the storm OF shell,
Orr leader, with his sword appraised,
Beneath our bay nets tell,
L To-.
Set joyous yell.
Our hearts went with him. Back We swept,
And when the bugle said:
Sup, charge again l'' no man was there
But hung his logged head.
ttWeive no one LETT to lead us now"
The sullen soldiers said.
Jusf fhe... bsfo-a The laQ9ard line
The cOlOnel's horse was spied,
Bay Billy, with his trapping ON,
His nOstrills swelling wide,
As though still on his gallant back
The master sat astrlde.
Right royaIly he took the place
That was Of old his wont,
And with a neigh that seemed TO say,
Above the battles brunt,
GLOW can the Twenty second charge
II am not in frOntr
Like statues we stood rooted there
And gazed little space,
Above that floating name we missed
The dear familiar face,
But we saw Bay Bnly's eye offre,
And it gave US heart OF grace.
No bugIe call could rouse us all
As that brave sight had done,
Down all the battered line we ielt
A lightning impulse run,
Upi 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 dead,
We sought our leader dumb,
Il seemed as III spectre steed
To win that day had come.
And then the dusk and dew OF night
Fell softly Ger the plain,
As though per mans dread work OF death
The angels wept again,
And drew a nights curtain gently round
A thousand beds Of pain.
all night the surgeons torches went
The CHASTITY rows between
all night with solemn steps 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 il 20 cen the sleepers there
Il babe wake and arise
Though naught but that last trump OF all
Could open their heavy eyes.
aud then once more with banners gay,
StFaitened out the long brigade,
Trinity upon the furrOwed field
The troops stood on parade,
And bravely mid the ranks were closed
The gaps the fight had made.
Not halt the Twenty men
Were in their place that morn,
When COrp'ral Dick who yesterday noon
Stood six brave fellows on,
Now touched my elbow in the ranks
For all the rest were gone.
All who tOrgsts that dresry hour
When, as with misty eyes,
To call the old familiar roll
The solemn sergeant tries,
One feels that trumping of the head
AS no prompt voice replies.
And as in talt'ring tone and slow
The last two names were said,
Across the field some missing horse
TOiled up with weary tread.
II caught the seTgeant's eye, and quick,
Bay Billy's name was 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 arms
Not all the shoulder straps on earth
Could still our mighty cheer,
And ever from that famous day.
When rang the roll clear,
Bay Billy's name was read, and then
The whole line answered, "Herer
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