The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-30
BREyET MAJ. JAMES STEWART,
Captain, Battery B, 4th q. S. Art.

'EAe Union saved. their w0rk Is GO1es
The slave is free-his broken chain
Shall never gall black limbs again;
One starry flag floats DER land
That owes some debt unto that band
OF heroes, whom, mid manly tears,
I love TO call " Our Cannoneersi"
know TIM weak and womanish when
Ny memory sees these splendid men;
But if a man mag wet his eyes,
And if his throat may choke with signs.
And if his breast may heave anew
With thoughts of comrades brave and true
If this be manhood, then to me
Thrice sacred is our Bloody 3 :"
Or. If with old age creeping on,
With youthful vigor nearly gone,
With stiffened joints in every limb.
And eyesight growing faint and dim,
A veterans memory may in dream
Turn back the current of the stream
That floats him down towards the gloom
Which shadows Ger the nearing tomb;
Or if such sentiment as this
Aud softened heart be not aniss-
BE not butt for idle ieers-
Then III salute - Our Cannoneers.'
They wege nay mates; shared their all;
With them answered bugiecall,
With them | faced the deadly brunt
vi every D4l4LiDS O@ttklC dOht4
With them l camped upon the plain,
Or byouacked in mud and rain;
/ saw them fight, and bleed. and die;
Saw every upturned glazing eye,
Saw every purple bullet-hole.
Sad gateway for gallant souli
Saw every mangled, quivering forna.
Saw hearts blood flowing red and warm.
But never did see one cheek
| Turn pale ia battles 6ereest wreekl
/ Saw no man ever back or finch
| From post or gun a single inchl
/ These men, though true, and strong, and bold,
! Had manners not made in the mold
OF fashion. nor of gentle breed;
/ Were rough of speech and rude of deed.
/ With other soldiers camping near.
| Their name for peaeefulness. fear,
| Was not the best; but ia their elan
| They stood together-man for man!
| Toward me their moods were queerly bleut-
OF rude sport and soft sentiment.
| l had to take my share of jest
| And !" keep nay end up with the rest"
| But when il came to serious things,
| Such as rough war time daily brings,
Then not strand of my brown hair
Could giant harm, if they were thereg
The one religion they professed
Was grim faith of intrepid breast.
The Gospel that they preached aud prayed,
Was bat three words, Be not afraid"
They knew no sin for which alone
tark courage could not ali atone.
! Their creed held mortal but one vice
They forgaye all, but cowardicel
Now. maybe, twill be thought and said
That in requiem DER my dead
Such words sound harsh; that my refrain
: Should be attuned in softer strain.
| But as knew them in their pride
| And battled with them side by side,
| And all their rugged feeling shared.
; And saw ail that they did and dared,
/ know the praise they'd love the best,
And tribute they'd hold tenderest,
Would be to sing as have sung,
With simple, frank and truthful tongue.
, That each would rest calm aud serene
Beneath the soft grass growing green,
And daisies modest blossom-spray
| | Above his bones each newborn May;
And none would ever make complaint,
Or pray to be TRANSPORTED saint.
Or ask to have. in prose or rhyme,
His name entwined unto all time
With any prouder garland than
Those splendid words "a Dauntless Mani"
That each, Notwithstanding in his shroud
OF bloody blanket, would be proud
To dream that Victory crowned his brow
With laurel green the ages through;
And that faithful comrades hand
, Would point him out TO all the land,
And say to all men, Brothers, here
At last finds peace, Our CannoneerI'"
They came from all ends of the earth
To gather round that campfire hearth.
, And when the bFazenbugles shrill
Sang out the roll-oalls "whip-poor-wi1,"
And gray haired Sergeant called each name
2 Adown that honor-roll of fame,
, Then answered back each veteran, " Herei"
In Yankee English crisp and clear,
Or quaint accents of many lands,
| From Scotia's hills to Baltic sands.
: in whate'er brogue the answer rung-
Scotch. Irish, Morse or Teuton tongue.
! From Erin green to Sweden drear-
: | Each voice told " Stalwart Cannoneer!"
| Broad -shouldered strung with mighty thews-
I. With flesh of iron and steel sinews-
| Who, when their battle-mood was on,