The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-10-16
OCTOBER 10, 1889.


In this still October air.
Far blue hills look gently down
On the happy, tranquil town,
And the ridges nearer by
STEPPED in autumn's sunshine lie.
Laden orchards, smiling fields,
Rich in all that nature yields
Bright streams winding in and out
Fertile meadows round about
Lowing herds and hum OF bee,
Birds that fit from tree TO tree,
Children's voices ringing clear,
All we touch or see or hear.
Fruit of gold in silver set
Tell of Joy and peace. And yet
Soldiers, is this the spot
That can never be forgot?
Was it here that shot and shell,
Poured as from the mouth Of hell,
Drenched the shrinking, trembling plain
With a Hood Of fiery rain?
Was it here the awful wonder
OF the lannon's crashing thunder
Shook the affrghted hills, and made
Even the stolid rocks afraid?
Was it here an armed host,
Like two clouds where lightnings play
Or two oceans, tempest tost
Clashed and mingled in the fray?
Here that mid the din and smoke,
Roar of guns and sabre stroke,
Tramp of furious steeds, where moan
Horse and rider, both o'erthrown,
Lurid fires and battle yell,
Forty thousand brave men fell?
o brothers, words are weak
What tongue shall dare to speak2
Even song itself grows dumb
In this high presence.
Come forth, We whose ashes lie
Under this arching sky!
Speak ye, in accents clear,
Words that we fain would hear!
Tell us when your dim eyes,
Holy with sacrifice,
Looked through the battle smoke
Up to the skies; =
Tell us, We valiant dead,
When your souls starward fled,
How from the portals far
Where the immortals are,
Cheftains and vikings old,
Heroes and warriors bold,
Men whom old Homer sung,
Men of each age and tongue,
Knights from thousand fields
Bearing their blazoned shields
Thronged forth to meet ye!
Tell us how floating down,
Each with martyrs crown,
They who had kept the faith,
Grandly defying death,
They who for conscience sake
Felt their firm heartstrings break,
They who foc truth and right
Unshrinking fought the fight,
They who through fire and flame
Passed on to deathless fame
fastened to greet ye!
| Tell how they welcomed We,
Hailed and applauded ye,
Claimed we as comrades true,
Brave as the world eer knew;
Led your triumphant feet
| Up to the highest seat,
Crowned ye with amaranth,
Laurel and PALM
Alas, Alas! They speak not!
! The silence deep they break not,
Heaven keep its martyred ones
| Beyond or moon or suns;
And Valhalla eeps her braves
Leaving to us their graves!
Then let these graves speak for them
AS long as the wind sweeps DER them
| AS long as the sentinel ridges
Keep guard on either hand
| As long as the hills they fought for
| Like silent watch-towers stand
Yet not of them alone
Round each memorial stone
Shall the proud breezes whisper as they pass,
Rustling the faded leaves
On chilly autumn ewes
And swaying tenderly the sheltering grass!
o we who on this field
Knew not the joy to yield
Your young, glad lives in glorious conflict up,
We who have bravely fought,
Ye who as grandly wrought,
| Draining with them wars darkly bitter cup,
As long as stars endure
And God and Truth are sure,
| While Love still claims its own,
While Honor holds its throne,
And Valor hath name,
Still shall these stony pages
Repeat to all the ages
The story of your fame
A beautiful one, my Country,
Thou fairest daughter of Time,
To-day are thine eyes unclouded
In the light of a faith sublime!
No thunder of battle appals thee;
From thy woe thou hast found release;
From the graves OF thy sons steals only
This one soft Whisper" PEACEW
There were five monuments dedi-
Gated to Vermont's soldiers. The
chief of these was of course the state
monument on Hancock avenue, erected
in memory of STANDARDS men of the
Second Brigade.
Description of Monuments.
The state monument is of Dummerstor