The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-24
THE BALLAD OF eErrrsnuRo
Br WILLIAM E. ROBINSON.


Thrice near the town of Gettysburg our brav.
est soldiers failed,
And twice in vain the lines of Lee by Sickles
were nssalled,
The woods and hills we're all ablazc with
rhed battery,
And we'll they swept our thinning ranks With
their artillery;
AS DER the road to En.mettsbdrg the South.
ern soldiers burst,
Our bravest troops were driven back dinlln.
ished 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 dettysburg, at Gettysburg, how fast his
Generals ride,
ana mastering come his chosen troops like
clouds at eventide.
And twice ten thousand veteran troops in
stately column tread,
Their cannon blaze in front and fank-IiOnR.
street is at their head
Steady they step from out the woods, steady
they climb the Ill.
Steady they load, steaoy they FIRE, moving
right onward still,
BetwiXt the woods and Round Tops sleeps
as through furnace blast,
Through rampant, trench and palisade, and
grape-shot showering past;
And in the open plain between they marched
and kept their course,
With ready fire and grim resolve that Knocked
at hostile force;
Over Plum Runs BIZ ody stream they marched
while thinner grew their ranks,
And broke as breaks the Zuyder Zee on Hol
lands ocean banks.
To meet the shock and drive 1t back corr,
after corps had tried
70 stop the stream of chivalry or stay 1T
headlong tide;
Bomb-shell and grape and round-shot tore
still on they marched and fired,
Fast from ehch Volley cavalry and infantr!
-. retired.
"Homes, tiresidcs, altars are involved" brav,
Meade imploring cried,
But on they cameA-nO power, 1t seemed, coulC
stem the swelling tide
Across the road to Emmettsburg; and Mead,
had turned his rein. 90.
"Retreat not yet" Fate interposed "the Sec
ond Durps remainl"
And ettysburg, lamed Gettysburg, had beel
Bull Kun, too,
Were not our gallant Hancock there, brave
valiant and true.
"Hancoek," ne says, ''you have your wish
there are the Unions foes |"
| And Meade could scarce restrain smile, s
furiously he goes. - ;.
Then proud the look that Hancock wears, hi
voice is clear and gay,
The treasured hopes OF centuries are in hi
sword today
The sacred Union must not fail, the State
A glorious band of brotherhood, united, stron
! and free
On mounted steed with cap in hand, an
lightnns in his eye,
! He waves them on to deeds OF fame and gle
riOus victory
! At Getty shui g, at Gettysburg, nor ever yC
! elsewhere .
Did mounted chiennln look SO grand as HaT
cock then and there
His very voice is hoarse with Joy, as gayly h
| commands:
"Charge! comrades, charger Like mour
tain storm rush on his fiery bands.
Thin is brave Lnngstreet's column now, an
faint his voleys grow; .t .,
Yet mastering all his towering strength, b
makes gallant show.
They dress their ranks near Round Top hill
aud face the battle wind,
| Their bayoneis he breakers foam, like rock
the men BEHIND; e.
One volley crashes from their line, whe
through the surging smoke, ,....
With shout, and cheer, aud flashing sword
the headlong Hapcock broke.
At ltlsburg, at Gettysburg, bark to ia
fierce huZza; b.. l-
The Union saved; the country freed, whe
Hancock leads the war.
Like lions leaplng at fold, when mad wit
hunger's pEng, -..s, %.
Right up agalnst brave Longstreet's rank
these Union heroes spraug;
Bright with their steel; ,tls bloody now, thei
gups are filled with,gOre:
Through scnttered ranks, and severed file
and traI1pled flags they tore.
COnlederates strOve with desperate strength
paused, rallied, staggered, fed; ~.
The green hillside is matted close with dyin
and wish dead;
Along the road to Hagerstown pressed on tn
hideUus rack,
While sword, and shell. and musketry fame
on their sOuthwQrd track.
AT Gettysburg, at Gettysburg, an eagle /
the sun, Eco.
With bloody plume our Hancock stands; tn
field fought and won.
July the Fourth, at q Gettysbuag, o6r wounde
Another Hancock's name is born upon TIL
RlOriOns day.
There gallant Reynolds rlsked his life, ON
for lhe Union died. t...
And Barksdale Tell, a soldier true, upon til
other side;
And those who fou. hit, and those who fell, tn
living and the dead,
On either side. shall hOneTed be, by brave me
whom they led.
The southern harp shall speak their fam
who bra7ely fought with Lee,
And northern song shall sing their prais
who ruck Tor unity.
But praise the Lord from lake to gulf, tina
We have seen the day
] When Hancock's name unites tie hosts thI
wore the blue and gray!