The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-07-18
JULY IS. 1889.
MAD AhTHONY'S CHARGE.

Piled behind the sullen breastwork lay the pow
der and the ball
It was In a time Of trouble, and our nation was
pressed sore;
Clothed in bloodshed through the country, stalked
the cruel tyrant War,
Leaving many a mark Of anguish, leaving many a
bitter trace
In the pain and in the sosrow seen on every anx-
ious face.
Husbands, fathers sons and brothers; these had
persisted In the fight,
Battling for their God and country, for our free
dom and the right
But there still were trusty patriots who were yet
within the field
They had shed their blood already. they would
rather die than yield
There was one among the soldiers who had longed
the fort to gain;
He had never yet been vanquished-brave, head
strong Anthony Wayne
Washington, his chieftain, questioned whether he
the fort could take,
And he answered: General, listen. I'd storm
He'll for freedoms sake!'
Twas in summer, and the broiling sun was beat
ing fiercely down
On the tents pitched in the meadow, the breast
work huge and brown.
BY the ranparts Of the fortress. with his rife at
his side.
Stood the watchfnl English picket and the dis
tant tents he eyed.
With his pistols in the holster and his sword
clasped In his hand,
Seated on his veteran charger, Gen. Wayne rung
out command.
From the huts and tents surrounding, with the
rifle, pistol, sword,
Clust ring round their dauntless leader. came the
ready. anxious horde
Fix your bayonets- empty rifles! Fire not
shot today;
By the steel upon muskets we must conquer
In this fray!'
With their bayonets fixed and steady. swords and
barrels cleaning bright,
Stood they waiting for the signal-eager to COM
mence the fight.
Some were veterans Of tho army, they for years
had followed war;
Others were but just recruited. they had never
fought before
Looking at the upturned faces, Wayne cried, LET
our motto be,
To the one who fights for freedom God will give
the yictOryl'
Belched the lannon's fire and thunder, burst the
shells to left and right;
Through the smoke and din Of battle, charged the
heroes in their might;
And the groans Of dying comrades heard they,
yet they passed them by,
Though their hearts grew faint within them, as
they left them there to die!
Suddenly rife bullet. whistling from the British
hold,
Struck the general in the forehead, handlong fell
theleader bold;
From the lips grown pale SO quickly issued forth
feeble moan;
On the hill the deadly cannons doomed their an
swer to his groan.
With their faces stern and anxious, gathered
round his trusty men;
He, by sturdy arms supported. staggered to his
1T Is nothing but flesh wound, it's no time to
falter now
Stony Point must yet be taken, or die to keepmy
VOW
Forward through the din of battle, on their shout
ders bore they him,
Zach man grasping tight his musket, charging
still with glorious vim!
Though the cannons roared the louder, and the
bullets ratified fast,
Not one ever stopped or faltered while their life
and strength might last
All! what scenes of death and suffering, and Of
agOnizing pain,
Ali what lives to Freedom given, for they died
that She might reign.
Patriots, falling from the bullets, left their Life
blood, warm and red,
On the soil which they had fought for, while theit
comrades Onward sped
British cheeks grew pale with terror, as their foe
men nearer came
They had raised q demon in them, those vert
wild who once were tame.
Right before the fearfulcann on, in their fury
charged our men,
Sprung they bravely on the ramparts- backward
fell the tyrants then
over all the fallen corpses brave old Anthony was
borne,
With his blood still downward tricklinS and his
clothing pierced and torn
High upon the tramped breaStwork were the
manged bodies Piled
Now our men were on the red coats, for deSpaii
had made them wild,
few moments fercest fighting, and the bloody
deed done;
Many patriots were dying. but the victory
won.
Though their wounds were gaping, bleeding, YET
they showed they could be free
ITO the one who fights for freedom God will give
the victory"
Yes. beside the River Hudson, stands that fortress
there To-day,
And it, well defiant when captured II
that fray
Since the day that it was taken. we have held 4
our own.
Though old Anthony, no took it. lies beneath the
sod alone
Honor be to those brave soldiers who gave ur
their lives true.
That the blessed light of freedom might shine al
our country through
Homo: Eo To that brave general who through
,nor Won the fray.
At the capture OF the fortress which tell you oil
t. .ay
Alex. =. EaS:Cn, Summit, y. J.