Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-19
a SO dior from Near the Kansas Line.

soldier from Missouri, in early manhood's
prime,
Lay with the dead and diving in Mississippi
cline;
On the bloody field of Corinth his life ebb-
ing fast,
And comrades faint and bleeding in crowds We're
hurrying past.
BE saw his young companions, the friends OF
earl1er days.
Retiring from the conflict before the cannon s
blaze
And horne along all tattcred, the starred and
The flag which llo had carried from near the
Kansas Line.
dropping head
And thus. in faltering accents, the youthful
soldier said:
Farewell, my tiend and comrnde, a long and
last adleu
Tho you may shortly follow, Ill never return
to you!
With me the war is over my mnrchinss Mt an
end
And now a dying message by you fain would
send
oh, bear it to my kindred those distant friends
Tor have friends and kindred near to the Kan
sas Line!
Il have an aged mother-you know that mother
o, bear to her the tidings how 1 in battle fell;
And tell her l remember in anguish her i'd.
To stay at home in quiet nor Join that rebel
Price;
And had l then but needed the good advice she
gave,
l would not now be Mastering to fill rebels
grave
Hut / needed other counsel and left that home
of mine,
That home of peace and comfort upon the Kan
Line.
You know my brothers nlso-tell them the
mournful tale
And when i'll death I'm sleeping they will my
fate bewail;
They know 1 strove oil vainly secession's tide
to stem,
Till blinded by phantom 1 bid adieu to them.
They know the things that drew me away from
them at home,
And the phantom light that lured me through
Dixie's land to roam
Oh that this heart were loyal within this breast
of mine!
But it will never beat again upon the Kansas
Line.
.Tel to those wealthy neighbors who preached
secession loud,
Who counseled me and others Oswell the rebel
crowd,
That, though tloy noware loyal, their own dear
lives to save
1t was they who sent me to fill rebels grave!
That, tho can forgive them, I'd have them not
forget
That but for them might have been at home
with mother yet;
And tho lie far distant this mangled form Of
mine
Will haunt their dreamy slumbers upon the
Kansas Line
"And there is dark-eyed beauty need not
call her nome
Who swerved me from my duty and famed the
rebel flame;
Her words L well remember: No hand with
mine unites
Unless / find it boldly defending Southern
rights
Those Southern rights, alas my friend, 1 knew
not what they were,
But with you and others followed the fleeting
phnntoms glare
l sacrificed my Judgment at Beauty:s magic
shrine,
And joined the rebel regiment upon the Kansas
and now, my friend remember and heed my
last request;
feel my mind is wand'ring--I soon shall be at
rest
Now dim prophetic visions before me seem to
Storms of blood and carnage are gathering very
And ere this is ended, so foolishly begun.
A thousand youths misguided will do as have
done;
thousand doting mothers will be bereft like
mine,
And thousand homes made desolnte along the
Kansas Line!"
And now, his reason fniling, the soldier ceased
TO speak,
And on the field of battle where Greek had
met with Creek"
His life was made au Offering unto the rods of
war,
Whose victims bleed by thousands. Alas alas
what for?
The land is dark with mourning. drained in
weeds of woe,
And the wailing notes of sorrow are heard from
high and low.
While many homes are desolate-fre md s1yord
combine ~
To make II bowling wilderness along the Kansas