Daily Republican., 1880-06-08
A Tribute.

Ben. Redheffer, o veteran soldier Of Go. A
0lst Pennsylvania Volunteers, Is buried II
the upper corner OF the Wilmington an,
Brandy wine cemetery. He was killed on tn
railroad while on his way to the front, In th'
spring oflsoi. ..
Dear cemrade Ban, thy reitiSg place
| ls near to other mounds that hide the dust
Ufrelatives and friends Of mine, most desr,
And when at times turn from In the track
Oh life's stern struggle for tho means TO live
To gaze upon the upheaved earth that o'el
And think awhile of former times; the full
surcrease
or ali earih's woriment that now is theirs;
Then ere turn back to Join LIES fray again,
My Heart, my steps impsl by devious ways
I'LL the Cemetery corner roach,
Hard by the highway, where the headstone
And 1t; record, mark thy honored grave.
Tho psvement's clsnky sound to passing feet,
Che rpmhiv BoiLd OF wheels that hurry by
Unheeded die, while in thought 80 back to
When wars alarms ran through tho anxious
land.
Twas these alarms Of dire portent that did
Our diverse paths converge, for we alike
Took side with freedom and with righteous
Whom traitor tongues and rebel traitor hands
So We eros ed hands In Union blue and struck
A common chord Of sympathy, IN that We
Wore young, aliu eiand had NO thought
f other c0urse than to do III ht, but yet
Were firm, resolved that weighty, narrowing
care
Should not cypress and chafa us 80
That lie to us should daily have
A thornsd and jagged edge.
Oi odd eonceits and comical impulse
A store was yours, asIwell % jovIal spirits that
Fat lightness In your lie, and somewhat
The lie Of all that tiIIed our oompanys ranks.
The drollest mlmicry you to could show;
ARd now think how In those early timei
You gIaysly mosnt chair, faced 10 its
For your war st'ed, while cans or sudsel,
Did pompous duty as your eager sword.
I our feet and other hand put restige life
nto your mount, while your own lips
'snt forth the bugle notes that signal
Imagination ranged serried foe IN front
md ialr into their face. or croling wide
. strike their naked q ink you 9uoped fast.
' 18th cheer and shout and cut and thrust
md rear and plunge, the battle soon was
fierce, II
he death strokes struck 50 sure and fast,
y your strong arm, soon put the foe to rout1
nd ysu came praneing back, bringing o host
Z prisoners In, while, with puffy vaunting5
ou made your vaior and yeur prowess o
known.
ot always thus did you return, for you l
fould sometimes nnd your airy foes 4
'ere far too numerous and bravely set, In
nd you demoralized and terrified
sns cap and sword, In wild retreat
)uRht safety In the rear, and advertised III
he dire dis leter as you went, and mOuHned {,
he glorious Union as beyond reclaim.
,mrades about would fairly rsar and roll 81
'ith merriment, while you would steraly o
chide
nd lecture US for making thus 30 light .
Z such defeat, and such q grave affair. u
nd now we're on the march and as of old, a a
our lips pipe out some homeland tune;
on other comrades take 1t lightly up d
I'd with whistle shrill join In the air; Il
lou5h long and rough the way, our CHEEKY M
ort t,ned 1t some and made our burdens OF
light tb
lie and war went on. for near three years,
hile wars mishaps took many . oomrade
frem our side.
ID we were often roush h'y made acquaint
Ith hanger, thirst and cold, besioe much th
else In
III ylcissltude, that mars soldiers life. ~
It all this time, no messenger To main or ~
kill Gu
at rebel foes sent howiing by our paths tn
d c,me within the inner circuit OF our II,
lives. ~.
d then there oamo tlme when duty held pl
wide apart, for you were kept awhile ba
ar home, whii most OF us still faced NJ
. murderous lot upon the very front" "o
tile began again, and twas such fight no
cath bad never known before. and We DR.
Eht In It's midst, could not help miss UI
ar cneery voice an tall 1.-the form ~
'ough all that wilderness" campaign. II
sn some one brought the news and told us ma
how
4 met your death upon the iron track, NO
nging such sorrow to oar hearts that all MI
these years
70 not wrought out the utmost of its
dol tbs.
Il comrade ben, with each return of spring wh
Decoration Day, whsn loyal hands n.
w flowers on the graves Of those who fell na
reedom's cause for Union and the right, Tt
7 gentlest hands place flowers over yo1 coi
! plant eur c0untry's flag above your dust r.,
Liberty must claim you Tor her own W
rank you with the noblest patriot dead. "B
TAoMAB +. WALTER. mn
late 1st. Serg't 90. A. 81st. p. v. v.
pril go Post 8. q. A. II. Phila. sul
aft