The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-05-12
APathetlc war storr.
NO. 4s

NNNNNs NeANAttN ~ 80 AkAA
Yet a dainty maiden wore IL,
As she watched way up the hill,
Standing in the ancient doorway
of the busy old stone mill.
And she saw the soldiers coming,
Dispirated and slow,
A sad, retreating g army,
In the country Of the foe.
Then shout that woke the woodland,
Stirred he heart and filed her ear,
Down the line it flashed and echoed,
And re-eehoed, cheer on cheer.
And strong men dashed the tear-drops,
That would come, and cheered once
more,
For the maid who dared to wearit,
And the apron that she wore!
1t had thrilled the listless legion,
And from heart to heart Il swept,
Striking deep the languid pulses,
Where their truth and valor slept.
And they paused, these men OF battle,
Paused with grave, uncovered head,
just to beg a piece, token,
OF the apron, White and Red.
Then the blueeyes dropped their fringes,
On the modest blushing face,
Then the proud breast swelled with
ardor,
As she tore 1t from its place;
AS they fixed 1t to the flagstaff,
Bound 1t firmly for the strife,
And the noble youth who bore 1t,
Pledged his valor with his life,
Far away across the morning,
Through the vale and down the hill,
And the flashing wheel had vanished,
With the Blossom Of the mill,
On and on | where ragged the battle
0nl where hearts must needs be true
Where the seythe of Death was heaplng
High, the mounds of gray and blue!
On and on! with steady marching
On and on they could not lag
For In front the gallant Watkins,
Bravely bore the apron flag.
And above the black smoke, trailing,
Like star, 1t beckoned on
Then the little apron 1uttered,
Then the beacon light was gone.
They lifted him so softly
Smoothed the clustered curls apart
Found the tiny battle apron.
Closely pillowed on his heart;
And they bent to catch the whisper,
Through the storm Of din and strife
"Take my pledge, tits not.dishonored
have kept II with my life ~
II is just little apron,
And Its simple tale is told
There are battle marks upon Its belt,
And blood stains In its fold!
May 7. 1887. VIRGIsh FRAZER BOYLE,
T"The incident upon which the poem
Is founded is most interesting and
pathetic. When Lee was falling back
after the battle of Gettysburg, and the
Southern troops somewhat crestfallen, a
little girl, some fourteen years Of age,
was seen standing In the doorway Of a
mill not far from Hagerstown, wearing
an apron so fashioned as to truthfully
represent the Confederate ilag-the sew
en- starsappearing on the bib. The sight
raised their spirits, and cheer arose
which, passed along for mles---those ut
distance not knowing the cause, but
arguing some good news. Among those
who passed the mill was young caval-
ryman mot yet Is years old belonging
to company ID, of the eleventh Virginia
cavalry, named James Watkins. His
captain, Il. II. Mcdonald, rode near the
door to thank the girl for her sympathy,
asked for piece Of the apron for a
souvenir. She answered, certainly, you
can have II all, and In her haste and en-
thuslasm she tore 1t off and handed 1t to
the captain, who said II should be the
colors Of his company. Let me be the
color-bearer,' said young Watkins, who
was by his side, 'and | promise you to
protect 1t with NY life,' and fixing IL to
a staff he took his place at the head of
his company. A day or two after the
eleventh cavalry was ordered to take a
battery and durlngt the furious onslaught
which followed 1t was taken and retaken,
finally being held by the regiment.
Capt. Mcdonald, In looking over the
field for his wounded, found young Wat
klns with a m al wound lying on the
ground, supporee the surgeon. In
answer to the captains inquiry he said
he was not much hurt, and putting his
hand In his bosom, drew out the apron
flag, wet with his ife's blood, and hand
ed it to him. The Federals we're all
around him when he fell, and to save the
flag he had torn it of and placed 1t in his
bosom. The surgeon said his only anxi-
ETY. seemed to be about it. He was
buried in a strange land, withouta stone
to mark his resting place. That boy
walked one hundred miles to enlist with
the defenders of his country, and in his
service and death exhibited heroBm
and fidelity that should be enshrlned In
marble for the benefit of future genera
tions as an example and fitting tribute
to his memory. The apron was few
years age presented by Major Mcdonald
to fhe Kentucky Division, Army of
Northern Virginia, which has kindly
loaned it for the occasion Of our memo
rial at Elmwood. 1t was attached to the
poem which hung yesterday on the south
side of the monument