Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-29
Dedicated to Lee Camp, G. V.


Oh, Unreilng the Monamcn 10 their Fallen Comrades
JULIUS DIENELT.
TO arms to arm =" rang loudly through the
South;
"Defend your homes against the Northern throng,
Which, lately by their president called out
Is marching onward, several thousand stT0Dg.
Defend your sacred rights, by law laid down,
Defend them, as a century before,
Your grand sires did, when England's graspng
crown
Imposed its stamps and taxes by the score
While it re.echocd through the breadth and length
Of all the States, that had by vote agreed,
In toto, from the Union to secede.
In ready quick response from far and near,
The youth, the ripper manhood OF the South,
At once came to the rescue without fear,
Resolved to keep the bold intruders out.
The clash of arms at last came at Bull Run;
Sword meeting sword, gun brsyeiy meeting gun.
Long was the struggle, hot and fierce the fight.
Before enemy broke ranks in hasty flight,
Yet for sOme reason, never well explained,
The gray coats threw away the glorious victry
gained
By resting on their laures, bravey won,-
Supposing, doubtless, that their work was done.
Thus Abram Lincoln gained the needed time
To send for mon to every foreign cline
To ev'ry country, ev'ry distant land,
i
By means of force to bring the solid South
NOW on the very eve of going OUT
Back to the Union, which could never stand,
Without her best, tho favored Southern land
And now, supplied with ready means and men,
The Northern States anew the strife began.
Long was the struggle feTcely yexed the fight,
While both sides claimed that they were in the
right.
Both Showed their mettle showed their daring
pluck
And many reckless, sudden blow was struck.
The sabre had no time to gather rust,
And friend and foe were forced TO bite the dust.
With varied fortune ragged the cruel war
Brought in its wake destruction near and far
Both sides determined not to yield or bend,
But to hold out unto the bitter end.
The world looked on in wonder and in ave-
And all OF history no fercer struggle saw;
And though both sides earned glory and renown,
It's to the boys in gray we'll have to yield the
crown.
Beyond doubt, they were most ably led;
Though heaven knows, too often poorly fed.)
Barefooted, ragged sometimes starved and sore,
The rank and file the brunt Of battle bore;
And though great hardship was their daily por-
tion,
They struggled on in almost blind devotion;
Their trust in God and in their leaders skill,
Who likewise bore their bardships with will.
Hemmed in on every side, and from the world
shut oHt,
Twas but task of timo, at last to starve them
out.
Bare of supplies, and scarce of men and food
Their bravery alone could do their cause no good.
And when st last compelled to leave the field,
1t was not cowardice, but hunger made them
yield.
Four years, they held the mighty host at bay,
Then came the end-on Appomattox day.
To the Statue as ideal representative of the C0heder
crate Soldier:
With downcast face and with your hat in hand,
In mournful and in silent grief you stand.
Lift up your head +! your cause is lost and gone,
But surely not for lack of duty done.
Have no regrets you could not stem the tide
Which bold and brave you had for years defed.
The bravest do not always gain success,
And history will praise your deeds no less.
None knew this better than the boys in blue,
Who on the field oft crossed their swords with you;
And who since blessed peace regns in the land,
With one accord held out the brother hand
And who, should there be need, with pride
Would march and battle by your side,
FoIgetful of the fact that, face to face,
In strife with you was formerly their place.
The demagogue, who still for selfish ends
Displays the bloody shirt and hurs his fire brands
Who scented danger only from afar,
And who gained riches by the cruel war,
Is not your friend and gladly would renew
baneful strife that but impoverished you.
The day will come, of wiser counsel born,
When his reward will be nations scorn.
The Fates have wlled that, in this glorious land,
The union of the States is for all time TO stand.
And having faith that Providence knew best,
You cheerfully accepted its behest;
And no one loves the union more to-day
Than do your comrades, who once wore the gray.
The stars and stripes, the emblem of the brave.
Again is yours forever may it wave!
Drunkenness and the craving for liquor BAN
ished hv o doao of Simmons, Li4er Recnlator.