The National tribune., 1886-12-30

ANS 4NAkAlA INES uillOlus
Its numbers still Increasing,
Recruiting without ceasing,
And soldier nc'cr releasing;
No furlough from this fold.
II.
IL marches 10 no music,
Nor fife, nor drum appears,
1t marches to no conflict
OF blood, and wo. and tears;
All silently enlisting,
All hOpelessly resisting,
Tho naught but peace existing,
With none OF war-brcd fears.
III.
No dust Of marching column;
No cries from cruel pain;
No faces blanched and solemn
In battles deadly rain;
No dreary hours OF drilling,
No damp. night marches chilling.
No enemy instiliing
Desire for soldiers fame.
Nv.
No eagles spread on shoulders.
No lordly leaves nor bars
Worn in this silent army
Where all rank with the stars"
No austere rank dividing;
Ambition all subsiding;
Grand brotherhood abiding,
Inspired not by Mars.
V.
No bayoncts are glist'ning;
No cheers OF charging host;
No rifle-bals are whistling;
No soldiers fervent boast;
No dreaded shells are scrceching,
No dying ones beseeching,
No pickets far out reaching,
No trying dangers post.
No CHASTITY wounds are bIeedingt
No mangled limbs, nor lame;
No wasted forms are feeding
The burning feyeT's flame;
No wounded are collected,
No atmosphere infected.
No pTis 'ners starved, detected
No graves Of unknown" slain.
VII.
No dying message whispered
For loved ones far away,
Whose anxious hearts are dreading
News of the bloody fray;
No anxious fears fresh breeding,
No Chaplains prayer now needing,
No bullets through hearts speeding
From battlefield astray.
VIII.
No muflled drums are rolling
To mouruful music sound,
No farewell volleys echo
Ger freshly opened ground;
No midnight raiders dashing;
No midnight rifle flashing;
No soldiers life blood FLASHING;
No newly-coyered mound.
TX.
No starry flags are waving.
Midst brighter stars on high,
For earthly banners stream not
Above the lower sky,
Where no grim cannons thunder,
Where no commanders blunder,
No columns swept asunder,
No heroes called TO die.
This growing phantom army
From living ranks il fed;
From armies Of the living
March armies Of the dead.
Old Time l. ever fieetiHg,
Old comrades fast retreating,
Old comrades daily greeting
Old comrades who were dead.
Thus into silent armies
Grand living armies glide;
The shadow fed by substance,
A constant. ebbing tide;
Grand silent army, teeming
With faces brighter beaming,
Its comrades old Tcdeeming
From this other side.
XII.
In line TO greet our comrades,
Saluiing as they come,
Seem Continental soldiers
With glorious Washington;
Mute welcome not Disgusting
CompatriOts recognizing,
Saved Union realizing.
Grand Union hey had woE
XIII.
And loi I'm mystic vision.
Like coming light OF day,
March other silent soldiers
Grand armies clad in grayi
No rebel yells pOlluting:
No patriot soldiers shooting;
FrateTnally saluting,
Now mutely fade away.
NV.
Our leaves OF absence" granted,
Wen muster ia anew,
And join this spirit army
For silent grand review;
Our glorious chieftain's standing
Beside the Great commanding
The never more di-bauding
Grand armies of the blue.
XIV.
From reverie now Weakening;
Strange dream Of mystic hOsti
To greet ia royal flesh and blood
Comrades Of Ransom Post;
Grand 80 Old Tecumseh' greeting,
The grim foe still defeating.
Long may you all, here meeting,
The Silent Army toast.