The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-08-17
Auehy.
New York SUM-
THE BALLAD OF GETTYSBURG.

Thrice near the town of Gettysburg orr brav.
est soldiers failed,
And twice in vain the lines OF Lee by Sickles
were assailed,
The woods and hills were all ablaze with riaed
battery,
And well they swept our thinningSranks with
their artillery;
As Ger the road to Emmitsburg the Southern
soldiers burst,
Our bravest troops were driven back diminish
| ed and dispersed,
The gallant Lee surveyed the field with bold
but anxious eye,
And ordered up his last reserve, his latest
chance to try.
At Gettysburg, at Gettysbarg. how fast his
Generals ride,
clouds at eventids.
And twice ten thousand veteran troops in
stately column tread.
Their cannon blaze in front and Hank--Long-
| street is at their head;
Steady they step from out the woods, steady
| they climb the hill,
Steady they load. steady they fire, moving right
onward still. =
Betwixt the woods and Roundtop's sleeps, as
through furnace blast,
Through ramparts, trench, and palisade, and
grapeshot showering past;
And in the open plain between they marched
and kept their course,
With ready fire andgrim resolve that Knocked
at hostile force;
Der Plums Runs bloody stream they marched
while thinner grew their ranks,
And broke as breaks the Zuydsr Zee on Hol.
lands ocean banks.
To meet the shock and drive 1t back corps
after corps had tried
To stop the stream Of chivalry or stay its
headlong tide;
Bombshsll and grape and round shot tore
still on they marched and fred,
Fast from each volley cavalry and infantry
retired.
"Homes, friends. affairs are involved. brave
Meade imploring cried,
But on they came-no power, It seemed.
could stem the swelling tide
Across .he road to Rmmitsburg; and Meade
had turned his rein.
"Retreat not yet," Fate interposed; "the
Second corps repainl'
And Gettysburg, famed Gettysburg, had been
| Bull Ran too, 8l r
Were not our gallant Hancock there, brave;
vehement. and true.
"Hanoook," he says. "ysu have your wish,
there are the Unions foes;'s
And Meade could scarce repress smile. SO
furiously he goes.
Then proud the look that Hancock wears, his
voice is clear and gay.
The treasured hopes of centuries are in his
sword to-day.
The sacred Unior must not fall, the States
must ever be
A glorious band of brotherhood, united
strong and freel
On mounted stesd, with cap in hand, and
lightning in his eye,
He waves them on to deeds of fame and glo.
rious victory
At Gettysburg, at Gettysburg, nor ever yet
elsewhere
Did mounted chisftan look SO grand as Han
cock then and there.
His very voice is hoarss with joy, IS gaily
he commands:
"Chsrge! comrades, charged" Like mountain
storm rush on his fiery bands.
Thin is brave Longstreet's columns now, and
faint his volleys grow;
Yet mastering all his towering strength, he
makes gallant show.
They dress their ranks near Round Top Hill
and face the battle wind,
Their bayonets the breakers foam, like rocks
4
One volley crashes from their line, whom,
through the surging smoke,
With shout and cheer and flashing sword,
the headlong Hancock broke.
At Gettysburg, at atttysburg. hark to the
fierce huzzah;
The Union saved, the country freed, when
Hancock leads the var.
Like lions leapins at fold, when mad with
hunger's pang,
Right up against brave Longstreet's ranks
these Union heroes sprsng,
Bright was their steel; tits bloody now; their
gums are filed with gore;
Though shattered ranks aud severed files
and trsmpled hags they tore.
Confedsratcs stroye with desperate strength,
paused, rallied, staggered, hed;
The green hillside is matted close with dying
and with dead;
Along the road to Hagsrstown passed on the
| hideous rack,
While sword and shell and musketry famed
ON their Southwark track.
At Gettysburg. at Gettysburg, an eagle in
| the sun,
With bleody plume our Hancock stands; the
field is fought aud won.
July the Fourth, AZ Gettysburg, our wounded
| leader lay;
Another Hancock's name is born upon this
glorious day;
The gallant Reynolds risked his life, and for
the Union died,
And Barksdals fell, soldier true, upon the
other side;
And those who fought, and those who fell,
| the living and the dead,
On either side, shall honored be, by bravs
men whom they led.
The Southern harp shall speak their fame
who bravely fought with Lse,
And Northern song shall sing their praise
who struck for unity.
But praise the Lord, from lake to gulf, that
| we have seen the day
When Hancock's name unites the hosts that
wore the blue and grayi
J WILIIAx z Robinson.