Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-29
THE BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO.
o the Editors of the ADD

To the Editors of the Appeal
HICKORY WITHE. TENN, June 26.-Inelosed find
the sundiy Bate as the poet % calls it, an Old ID
scrap that has been in my possession since 1853
which please publish and oblige ro,,,,r,
Twas on the holy Sabbath morn, near Plan del
Rios banks,
With solemn thoughts and silent lips we formed
serted ranks;
The stern command of our martial chiefs smote
And eyes were wet and hearts were sad, that never
beat with fear.
The day-the hour-when friends at home had
We sas,eTv,i 1y our veuntTys dag to conquer or
A quiet, holy calm, we knew, was resting meath
Upreared in reverence to God by cherished ones
Perhaps some sorrow stricken heart was plea ding
To Him alone who can sustain, in deep, but silent
prayer,
For us, who stood with bayonets fixed, and war
like banners spread,
To strike Gods image in the dust, and trample
But yet our souls communed with theirs-in Wis
ions of the past,
Sweet recollection stored the brain with scenes too
bright to last,
The gree. haired veterans thoughts flew back and
centered on his child,
The only one that's left to him, a daughter. pure
and mild;
And her form of love and truth was folded to his
breast,
And, soethingly, he spoke OF peace, and hushed
The beardless boy beholds again his mothers
smiling face;
And round the family hearth. with Joy, once more
assumes his place;
With many a tale Of woe to tell the dear one b.
When death and devastation were. the soldiers
boast and pride
Remembrance brought the scenes of home in vivid
hues to mind,
That spoke OF sweet and happy hours, with fond
ones left behind.
We gazed with fancy on the forms of those we
And heard, with reverence. on the air, the sacred
Sabbath bell;
And Joined our voices in the hymn of praise as
A cannon shoti The visions pasta foreign soil
To desecEat-, with human strife, the day assigned
TO God
No house OF prayer-no loved ones now smile
brightly Der our path,
But deep ravines and rugged nights. are frowning
vindictive foes are glaring from the towering
Upon the little band that bear with pride the
The scenes of happiness and peace, the forms of
And in their stead the rafting drum, and bugle's
Have torn ali pure and holy thought from out the
As gilded honor waves him Oh toward Cerro Cor
dos crest
The signal noie. three loud huzzss our gallant
Then onward press'd TO win the nights, or earn
soldiers grave;
The copper hail swept through our ranks, but
needless of the blow,
Still on, without a faltering step, we dashed to-
ward the foe,
Till, terror struck, within their works the Aztec
masses reel,
And fy in frantic haste, to 'scape our charge of
bristling sJeel,
One long prolonged exulting shout, told that our
task done,
And proudly waved the tattered "strlpes" above
the rampant wont
The moon shone forth serenely bright, and silence
reigned once more,
Except the mufhed clank of arms that wearied
As pacing Der the place of death where friend and
foeman lay,
To guard from gaunt and bowling wolves the
Danrii tl.y gray haired -e-.s AMID the
heaps of slninl
Mother thy gallant boy is free from earth and all
its pain
Zen We knelt before your God, the mortal tie !
riven-
Your humble prayer, their parting sigh, together |
went to heaven.
@Battle of Cerro Gordo, fought on Sunday, April |
IS 1877.