The National tribune., 1883-08-09

In silent converse with his God
This wounded hero lay;
1t seemed to him communion sweet
Not agony-to pray.
He smiled. as does the gentle child
When angels whisper near;
No anguish worked upon his brow,
Nor blanehed his cheek with fear.
knew that death was coming fast
His mind was all in prayer;
asked him for his regiment,
And where his comrades were?
"My Captains dead, y the boy replied,
In accents low and mild,
I've heard my mother speak of Him
When was but child"
knew his mind was wandering;
That he was thinking then
or Him who gave his life to save
His faithful, valiant men.
And thus he died, that stormy night,
No friend or kindred near
To wipe the death damp from the brow
Or shed affections tear.
Thus have known the love of God
JOY, peace and comfort yield,
To one who fell by mortal wound
On bloody battlefield;
And should you wander DER the ground
Where fell so many brave,
Among the cedars on the hill
There lies his lonely grave
The flowers will soon light up with smiles
Stone Rivers rocky shore;
His spirit knows brighter cline.
Where flowers bloom eyermore:
And mild-eyed Peace may visit soon
Stone Rivers rocky shore,
But MurfreeShoros Sabbath bell
viii never wake him more.
Here is another poem of the same descrip-
tion, written by III. j. Ambrose, Co. G., Twelfth
Illinois V. l., in memory of L. P. Ambrose, of
the same company.
On Corinth's Bloody Field.
On Corinth's bloody field
My cousin, dying, lay,
His thoughts were of his prairie home,
Some hundred miles away.
He called his comrade to mis- side,
For much he had to say
Though brief his time-to those who were
Some hundred miles away.
"NIy father comrade you will tell
About this bloody fray,
My country's standard-say to him
helped defend this day
Oh for pillow of it now
On which to lay my head!
winding sheet you'll make of 1t
When am with the dead
"I know twill grieve his inmost soul
To think that never more
III sit with him beneath the bower
That shades his cottage door.
CO. tell the time-worn patriot
That mindful of his fame,
Upon the bloody battlefield
sullied not his name.
"My Annies form is with me now,
Her wall is in my ear,
And drop by drop as flows my blood
So drops from her the tear.
Then, oh when you shall tell to her
The tidings of this day,
Speak softly, comrade, softly speak
What yos thay have to say.
"speak not tofer i'll narrowing words
The biighting you bear;
The bloom OF life may fade too soon,
SO. comrade. have n carei
Tell her my duty have done,
But tell her that died
Rejoicing was Taught while young
To take nay country's side.
"Tell her when death was on my brow
And life reeeding FAST
Her voice, her form her parting words
Were with me to the last.
On CoriDth's bloody field,
Tell her dying 4ay
Content to know she thought of me-
Some hundred miles away.
"Brave comrade I this aay have made
This sacririce SO sore
For freefnan,s homes and freeman's flag
Now wet with crimson gore.
Let not our banners ius.er fade
w befi 1 an with tho dead,
But round that glorious ensign stand
And by its stars be led"
Keenan's famous charge has furnished ma
terial for several stirring poems. The follow
ing is by Owen e. Longsdorf:
Charge OF Keenan's Three Hundred.
Dark now-tlle sun was set,
Nature with dew was wet
Soon to be washed in blood.
On came the reboi corps
Rushed like an angry food,
Rushed they and nady tore.
On through the moaning wood
Came the mad rebels.
There. twice ten thousand men
Beat like tempest then,
There meath the pine and oak
Beat ON the Union breast,
Beat with their steel and smoke,
Beat with determined zest,
Reas till the Unions broke
Ia wild confusion.
Oh, what sight was thatI
Fear on each visage sat-
On came the rebels then
On like tempest great:
Back fled the Union men,
Back from the awful fate,
Rushed down the woods and glen
IN their confusion.
''0h fer n moments time!
Flight often is crime;
Sec! hope is not yet dead!
Battery, wheelt' he cried
Loud from the rain of lead.
Trot!n then the bugle cried,
Trot! that. no more, it said
In the confusion.
Oh how the canions iungedI
Oh. how the horses plungedi
Oh what mad stampedeI
But quick. and just in time,
Sprang TO the Union need,
Pleasontou's form sublime,
Came forth to die or lead,
Noble commander
Align those gi,ns!'' he said,
There in the storm of lead;
Quick bent they to obey
PleaSouton's noble word;
Ah but that bad delay -
Hard toiled they all who heard,
Cast all their fears away,
Trusted their leader.
''Oh, for ton rlinutes' time!
Oh God TO wait is criInen
Looked he around him then
There Keenan, sat alone,
Save his three hundred men
Sat in the forest lone,
Sat by the rugged glen
Waiting for orders.
Charge ON the rebel frontl
Give them noble brunti
Hold back the enemy
Till guns have placed,
And wen have victory.
Death must be bravely faced -
Major you dier' said he
Bat death is noblei''
Then in the absent light
On the dull ear of night
Rose Keenan's loud command:
Cavalry, charge' he said;
Boldly they rode and grand
Bi:,vey they faced the lead
What could that charge withstandf
Naught that was niortaIi
Cheers rang from rank to rank,
Not one was there that shrank