Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-08-18


OF your glossy coat with my hands feel
Do you think Of the missiles YOU oft let fly
At the charging foe from your dress of steel?
From your polished lip to your trunnion bright
sure know that no inmate even of hell
Is 50 anxiously spelling to get in fight
You were often dared by a foeman's gun
But were never captured in battle yet;
In the heat of the strife twas your greatest fun
To vomt your canister out my pet
You're a champion, too, for the dear old flag
The pretty flag, with its ring stars,
But you're awful naughty to the focmans rag
Whenever il faces you in the wars.
You've been often the targ,t for venomed shell
And shot from some cnyious rival bore;
But Mary, my lady, you know how we'll
A few Of your own shot silenced its roar
With shrek, a yell and jealous scream
Right straight TO the mark your iron flew,
And. Mary, my jewel, well may deem
There ARE none in the field which can equal you
Twas at Chicl<amauga the ,iauntless foe
Came surging on through the forest pines
And with sbrapnell and solid shot you know
You endeavored to check his advancing lines
STILL they never filtered; but on they came!
And their serried ranks closed the gaps you made
While you grew from each belching flame
Ofthc rapid firing you then displayed.
~ MurirceabOrOugh our line, We're broke
And oar right wing vcioulsy wrenched away,
Bat IN such crisis you fearless awoke,
Aud bless Inv soul. how YOU fought that day
lou howlcI and you shrcked as you madder grew
Whic.you y. led defiance over the plain
And Nyhprey,. Xatir CRANE and canister Oc1y
My God how wicked you reapcd the slain.
on Gettysburg memorial hill
That famous Hill that's 80 halIowcd now
I've watched with deep and admiring thrill
How the heroic foemau gained its brow,
But nothing more had those brave men gained
Before you had gazed along their path,
and down on their compact columns raincd
All II" deadly missiles of your wrath!
You know that cnsanguincd Sabbath morn
On ShiloIs disastrous battle day,
When, cXultng, through forests and virgin
The foe came pouring into the fray.
How his rapid advent startled our boys,
Who heard in the midst of their camps, almost,
The sudden clamor of battle rise
With the piercing cheers from the charging host !
Good Lor,Ii how You coul,hed and beloved aloud
As the hcaving masses of the foe advanced;
How rapidly out of your sulph' 'rous shroud
Right into their columns your metal danced
Wherever descended your iron blows,
There bleeding and mangled bodies were found; +;
AS thick as the grain which the farmer sows
The ghastly dead would cucumber the ground
You are peerless, old girl-peerless, say,
And woe! to the naughty foeman's gem,
Which has the temerity in the fray
10 challenge you,-even to bark in fun.
For when you bark you Will always bite
And you'u leave some marks from your iron
claws
While I've never known you to tussle or fight
Rut you've smoked with rage from your steel
clad jaws.
iou are dangerous, Miss, but you're no coquette-
As You never have squandered your time away
for an entire battery often you've met
And briskly engaged it the live-long day.
Ana many bore with calbre wide
Ana weight of metal cen double your own,
Ana ponderous charge could never abide
All the fearful havoc you wrought alone.
twas happiness great beyond compare!
ior to hear you growl AT some saucy wench,
ana 10 mark how your clarion voice would dare
lhe jaWing hussey behind the trench.
- eSpouSe thee, gir-I'll espouse thee soon
for the next great battle we'll both await,
ana while the artillery plays in tune
our glorious nuptals we'll consecrate
ih.h forever after you will remain
my own true love-the "Artilleryman's Pride :;
nut IN the carnage your lover is slain
lhey must bury US, Mary, side-by side;
VI IL ioeman's hands should pollute your steel
ana carry You off n trophy, love,
cure, know that whether for woe or veal
Ny heart would still in your fate be wove.
Gregory Nine jefferson county. NJ. T.