The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
cou,nany r.
rBn James ". Ts,nple. vieiorsa. n,

by James ". Temple. Victoria. H.
Way up in the North, where the giant pines stand
Tall sentries of Time set guard DER the land
Or Magellan had made the first trip round the
Horn:
In the land of the bills, where the breeze from the
And the breath of the pines fills the lungs of the
free;
When the echoes from Sumter had scarce died
Those hills saw the muster of Company K.
Would'st know curious reader of what stuff it was
Odd sort of war timber you'll think, I'm afraid.
Its captain a deacon rnfid-nar1nered and nnre
Esteemed by his neighbors, beloved by the poor:
Two stout young heutenants, brought up their
farms.
Untutored in tactics or wars stern alarms.n
But who guessed, if square fghtin come in
their way.
They could git along somehow" with Company K.
For 'the boys" Were their neighbors their school,
mates of yore,
From the piow and the anvil. the shop and the
Broad of breast, stout OF limb, fun of spirit and
fun,
Skilled with axe. saw, and spade-knew the use
Thought that "mebbe them fellers' $50 much
talked about,
Who Dragged of the Yanks they could chayy in a
fout,'
And what crack shots they were) might happen
some day
To see 'pooty fair shootin' by Company k
All, God orly knows of the hearts well-nigh
broken,
When the honle-ties were snapt and the brief fare
wells spoken,
As the slirl fife half drowned the sobbine that day
When the drum beat marked time to the marching
And the boys noticed then what they saw not
Mid the shreking of shells or bullets, fierce rain
Though he led every charge and braved death IN
A pale cheek on the captain of Company XII
Frank reader, confess, you'd be bored should tell
All The haps and mishaps that their fortunes befeI!
IT'S said, though, that once, in world famous
Where the rebel works crowned every billock and
height
OF the death shower poured through the, BRUSH
tangled space,
Their captain made pause. just one moment, to
But the first DER the breastwors was Company Xxi
There came too, crisis-you' We read it, no doubt
When the rebels had 1anked us and put US to rout
When our veteran chief, like rock in the main,
Braved the fierce tide of battle that ragged DER the
plain
Checked its force-saved army, and gave one
name more
To the bright roll of heroes evolved by the war;
Mid the proud Spartan band who stood firm on
that day,
With their dead piled around them stood Com
pany Kl
When duty was done and the battle had sped,
How the good deacon-captain would grieye Ger his
dead!
How he'd tenderIy watch with the wounded, and
stay
In the hospital wards with the sick night and day
And when in reward for his courage and Skill
Promotion and honors awaited his will,
lie sent thanks to the central, but guessed he'd
best stay
With his boys, and be capting of Company K!"
And the sboys!i'-bless your soul they Just wor-
shipped their "Papih
When 1.-THE old man. said Come, boys!" twas
Here's with you, Capt"
No tagging no Sinking or playing it fne,"
When their ears caught his quiet Boys, fall into
linei''
All, needless to tell to my comrades In blue
Who served the tried Nations long ife-struggle
through,
How deep was their grief when shell tore away
From their ranks the loved captain of Company XXI
How gentle those powder grimed hands as they
bore
Their captain, all mangled and covered with gore
To the rear; how they questioned the surgeon to
know
If Hope had yet fed-if the Captain must goe"
How GREATNESS they watched, in tears they
stood by,
To catch his last words For my country diel
God help my poor wife Boys, I'm sinking away;
Good-bye-and my blessing on Company K
Long years have rolled by since that sorrowfui
scene;
The graves of martys are hid meath the
green;
The country they died for, we lived on to see
Triumphant DER treason united, and free
Let us hope that the brave who battle went forth
Are enshrined in the warm, grateful hearts of the
North,
Where Memory holds, 'mong her treasures to-day,
Proud legends OF many q Company &.