St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-09-14
The VETERANS DREAM.

And armed men marched steadily by;
When the storm Of battle shook the ground,
And the dead and dying lay around;
When in camp, in battle, on picket, too,
The soldier boys were ever true
When marches long with great fatigue.
Were marvelously made, indeed
When visions of home" and dear ones there
Made light the routine of daily care:
These were the thoughts that flashed anew
Through the veterans mind and rapidly grew,
Till in his dream, he once more,
The comrades he had known before.
Beside him 'peared Clio, the goddess fair.
Who'd noted down, with accuracy rare,
All the past and painted every deed
In letters bold, all could read.
The goddess, standing in beauty's dress
Fore the veteran, spoke in tenderness
Brave soldier boy" for thus you are to me.
Let me guide you in your reverie.
All the past, by my magic wand,
viii come before you at my command.
And 1 will paint on memory's wall
Your army life so wheneer you call
These scenes shall brighten your future days
And gladden. your age in many ways"
She raised her wand. The wind did blow,
The air was cold and filed with snow.
camp was seen behind hill,
And soldiers out at n morning drill.
A thousand strong, with the patriots earnest
glow,
Marched and countermarched through the snow
The scene dissolved The soldiers go,
And the veteran spoke IT'S BrattleborO!"
The goddess raised her wand again.
And ships seemed ploughing the stormy main.
Threatening to touch the bending sky,
Made the veteran shudder with fear,
TIL a Twin. voice he seemed to hear,
That told him the storm DER.
And the boats sailing to a friendly shore.
He saw a sandy beach, narrow and low,
Where the gulf 5 tide did ebb and flow.
Dotted with tents while here and there,
The Stars and Stripes floated ON the air.
Then soldiers appeared ON the beach of sand
And the veteran exclaimed, " lis Ship island"
Once more the wand was raised high,
And from the clouds that filled the sky
As mirage is seen a western plain
Forms appeared, and clouds were broke in twain
Spires and houses. park and street,
Burning wharis and a gunboat fleet
Soldiers landing at the close of day,
An angry crowd driv'n slowly away;
cotton press, with its open door,
And tired soldiers sleeping on the floor
The veteran seeing this picture bright,
Said. lis New Orleans we reached at night
The scene the goddess then brought to view
Was one of night and yet true
RaindrOps were falling-a bayou near
Soldiers watching-a night of fear
Dark lines of breastwork were far away
On edge of forests the pickets stay.
Suddenly appeared, in the lurid glare
boat in flames bursting shells in air
Then a sinking ship and the tumbling mast
He said, The cOttOn's destroyed at last"
The veteran started for ne seemed to hear,
Artillery firing and minies bout his ear.
He saw regiment in battle line
Living on the ground, waiting the sign
From its commander to rise and 90
And drive the enemy from the bayou.
Alone ON horse firm, but looking grave,
Sat one, The bravest of the brave"
Our Colones form, the veteran spoke outright
And this is the picture OF the Bisland fight"
A citadel high from the river bank
Stands formidable unattractive-rank.
Ships of war are above and below,
Rocking only by the currents flow.
Long lines of works, with bristling guns
Tell of a seige, long since begun.
Notifications skirt the forest near,
Cannon belch forth their summons drear
Columns of men advance and stop
Their ranks open, As many drop
From out the line. while others brave,
Find a rest in the soldiers grave.
Then appeared as by magic power
Like from a distance we see a town
May twenty-seven and June fourteen
Dates the EIGHTH will e'er keep fresh and green.
Till memory, with her potent sway
Etiulgent, greets the 'ternal dav.
summer morn then came, 80 fair
Troops in line with music in the air.
4 rag repulsive, torn from the staff
Mid cheers of soldiery and a victor's laugh
Then rising grandly TO greet the day
The flag of the Union" rose to stay.
Quickly came all these scenes so old
Fort Hudson's taken the story told
The goddess sgnaled then anew.
And a valley long came into view.
Shattered forces-an army in flight
Tears on cheeks-a sorry plight
Abandoned camps-air filled with shell
Reverbera tons of the Rebel yell"
\ cloud of dust-a hOrseman's dash
Horse and rider-reckless and rash
Lives reforned-the bugle sound
Guns retaken-old camps found
The grief of morn turns to Joyous eve,
All illfortunes they did retrieve.
The veteran seemed to hear the goddess say,
My soldier boy, on that memorable day,
The Union army did then achieve
A victory one could scarce believe
For from defeat and a terrible rout
1t reformed its lines and cleared the rebels ont"
The veteran said, Il can surely tell
Twas Cedar Greek, where fought so well !"
Two regiments, in battle column close,
Seemed ready TO give the ''rebs" dose
When the time opportune should speak
And ON the enemy their vengeance wreak.
Full of men the forests before
Struggling hard. the brave Eighth corps.
Across the field the regiments dash,
And then there came a terrible crash.
The rebel host turn, and quickly run
Throwing down both knapsack and gun.
The veteran delighted with no ardor slack,
said, " twas Winchester. where we drove them
back"
Old Mars, the god of war, came nigh,
Bringing star, in his hand from on high.
Approaching the troops, he grew all the holder,
And placed the star on our colOnels shoulder.
Slowly the goddess waved her wand
New scenes came forth at her command
Stead of men in arms in battle array,
There had come again the peaceful day
Mountains and meadow, valleys and hill.
Toilers on farm, in store and mill,
Hives Of industry, with their busy hum.
With peaceful traders had surely come
Up in the heavens. in the zenith's dome
Where, us thought is our final home
The Angel of Peace broOding over all,
Waited 10 bless at the Great Roll Call.
The Vet ran, in his dream. seemed To soar
Till he saw plainly, more and more.
He saw a scroll drop from the cloud
And the goddess spoke in accents loud:
Behold the patriots scroll of fame
And read TO me the written name
You see inscribed, for | speak it well
A better name one can tell
And olsr wing the rnddasz itxUa. bia