The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-11-12
TINE SOUTH no TlIE NoItTu.
IA yratcraal saiumtioa ipsprcd By the yciiortsrer
pisitdHon.l

u tiutetAu+ SHtHNittpU lNhlHtN w HtS Ht'tNf FFN
pistdton.l
Twas after glorious battle
In the swnmps Of the Rapidan,
! lay on my back at midnight
wounded and helpless man;
But could well bear my torture,
Gaping Rashes and broken bones,
heard such delightful music
From Yanks with their moanH and Brotha
hated the lanks like " cold pizon,h
They shot ms father and son;
SO always aimed for killing,
And carried a loaded gun.
Tho firing and crashing Of battle,
The hot charge and tho warrlor's cry,
Left, high-heaped drcnched earth with victims,
And tile wounded who begged 70 die.
Far on we could hear the roaring
Tell Of the raging uf murderoue meni
We could only have fearing or hoping
That our side might the victory win.
We had marched 10 the tight in tho mofnlnBi
fought until forced 70 stopi
Now, was hungry and thirsty,
With never bite or drop.
! thought of the old-ttne dinners,
With many 4 Christmas feast;
Now, Of the wasted fragments
IA have snatched for tho very least
l thought Of the sprayful fountain
That played by my fathers door,
thought Of the wild-fice bayou
That oft my canoe glided DER;
thought Of the mighty river,
Tho plantations flowing through;
thought of the distant heaven
Tint sendeth tho rain and dew
But these were all empty fancies,
Which even increased my thirst,
Until ia powerleas longing
was like Tantalna cursed.
Suddenly, IN the thick darkness,
weak voice made me Of angels think
II said, " Haloo here, johnny,
Would ye be nfther takn d dhrinkf'
And could not even raise the tin cup,
So the friendly hand Of the stranger
Tony lips then raHed it up.
Sweet, sweet that drink Of watcri
never drank swecter draught,
For life was gained from that bounty
gaapingy, deeply quaited.
Then whispered, Give me Your hand, my dar
lnRln
Our hands met IN d tight, tight clasp.
suddenly, III my living hngera
Limp, neryeless grew hla faintng clasp.
| spoke and intently listened,
But never a word he said,
| Aud sadly knew another
! Spirit from that red icld had ned.
| The surgeons and helpers were busy;
| lay until morning-hght,
! And then TO my tear-dimned vision
| Was slowly revealed this sight;
/ A soldier hnd found canteen,
/ Dropped there In the thick Of the ight,
And he with two balls through hiR body,
| Dragged himself TO me in the night
! And there on his cap CLEANED the letters
"U. y. 20 on the blood-stained gold band,
| And saw Tint he was a brother
Against whom had raised my red hand.
| lie was Union and irish
Lightly DER him rest the sod
i The blue that he loved above him,
His spirit gone home TO God.
| Ohl men may fight like devils,
/ Al II hell on earth doth reign;
But deep in each human bosom
Some chords Hympathile with pain.
Thank God for the noble pity,
i Daring like electric thrill,
Inspiring hnship-emoton,
Bidding evil passions be still.
III.
oh comrades, We know our dstresses
wherever the fever breathed.
soon over the death-marked threshold
The funeral flag wreathed.
Tongue never can speak the horror
Growing backer day by day;
Pen never can write Our anguish,
Nor times waves wash the record nwny.
Oh comrades, We know our distrosses
Made all humanity sad
And, hurried down from the Northland,
Rich bounty We freely had.
Tho North gave us money, with nurses
And doctors noble and true;
Drugs provisions, and clothing
The North did d ! che could do
Allhonor 20 sincerest virtue,
The spirit Of Bayard tho Good
To the chivalric North all honor,
Who showed " us trnest kIllRhthoodl