Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22

the situation. Two q their number had ju-t
been taken out to be shot in retaliation for
the killing of some rebels somewhere. They
knew that the confederate forces were march
ing north and that a terrible battle had been
fought They knew also that Grant was reach
ing for vicksburg. the key 20 the Mississippi
They could hear nothing more. but feared the
worst About noon Of the 9th Richmond pa
per smugeled inside by faithful negro friend
confirmed their worst fears. In startling head
lines they read-"Meade Defeated at Get,ys-
burg, The Northern Army Fleeing 20 the
Mountains" Grant Repulsed at Nicksburg,"
The Campaign Closed IN Disaster"
The depression caused by this was awful
The poor emaciated fellows broke down aud
cried like babies They lost all hope and one Of
them has said since: There not left in us
strength enough 10 curse God and die" While
In this condition a later edition OF the same
paper was brought in by the same negro.
Chaplain McCabe got the paper and having q
stronger voice than the others was delegated
10 read them the later returns. He began at
the headlines:
~ Grant Has Captured yicksburg and Taken
80 600 Prisoners"
Meade Defeated Lee at Petersburg, Taking
l4,00o Prisoners"
The same shadow on the dial marked the
time OF the defeat OF the rebels at Gettysburg
and the surrender OF Nicksburg.
The revulsion of feeling was almost too great
They saw the beginning of the end. Chaplain
McCabe sprang up on IA box and struck up
Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming
Of the Lord,
He is trampling out the vintage where the
grapes Of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning OF His ter
rible swift sword;
HIS truth is marching on.
L have seen Him in the watch fires Of a hundred
circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the ever
ing's dews and damps,
have read His righteous sentence by the dim
ami daring lamps;
His day Is marching on.
1 have read a fiery gospel writ in FURNISHED
rows of steel,
As ye deal with my contemners, SO with you
my grace shall deal,
Let the hero born of woman crush the serpent
with his heel,
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpe. that shall
never call retreat.
He is sitting out the hearts Of men before His
Judgment seat;
o be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubi-
liant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born
across the sea,
With glory in His bosom that transfgures you
and me,>
As He died to make men holy, let us die TO
make men free,
While God is marching on"
The way in which the 500 men joined in on
the chorus OF GLORY, glory, glory, hallelujahi"
gave evidence that there was lots of life left In
them vet. That day and that song made Julia
Ward Howe famous. II her name had never
been known before and if she had never done
N Y nv of fanfn SIM hat ma rrgn
poem, the expression of the feryor and zeal
and patriotism of ali the ages since the morn
ing stars sang together, burned in letters of
living fire upon the hearts OF those prison.
worn singers, will stand a monument TO her
memory until the records and recollec:lons OF
the great rebellion have crUmbled to dust
SINGING CONFEDERATE SONGS.
An cx-prisoner said not long ago that tho
boys sang in prison 80 they conidn't hear their
stomachs cry for grub" 1t was probably a
case of being saddest when they sang. They
earned the privilege of singing in rather a
unique way. Their loyal songs were like salt
on raw sores TO their captors, but these wisely
concluded that while the ''Yanks" were sing
ing they were not plotting mischief. and
granted them the right to sing il they would
make every other tune 'rebeI song" This
the boys readily promised to do, SO
I'VE are band of brothers, and natives to the
soil,
Fighting for the property We gained by honest
toll;
And when our rights we're threatened the cry
rose near and Tar.
Hurrah for the bonnie blue flag that bears the
single star.
Then here's to our confederacy, strong we are
and brave;
Like patriots OF old wen fight, our heritage to
save;
And rather than submit to shame, to die we
would prefer,
To cheer for the bonnie blue flag that bears the
single star"
We'd with the stirring strains Of its answers
| Were in the right and viii prevail.
The stars and stripes must Ay;
The bonnie blue flag must be hauled down
Ard every traitor die.
Freedom and peace enjoyed by all as ne'er was
known before,
Our spangled banner wave on high with stars
just thirty-four."
Or they shouted with equal fervor,
| II hear the distant thunder hum,
Maryland, my Maryland!
The old lines buGle, fife and drum,
Maryland my Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf nor dumb,
Huzza, she spurns the northern scuml
She brea,hes-she burns! she'll come, she'll
come.
Maryland my Marylandr'
and its blisterins parody:
'Thou wilt not yield the rebel toll,
Maryland. my Maryland,
Thou wilt not bend to his control
Maryland my Maryland!
Better the fire upon the roll,
Better the blade the shot bowl
Than degradation of the soul,
Maryiandi my Maryiand!"
These song parodies were not confined to
war ditties by any means Nothing was safe
when the boys got into the mood to attack. and
everything from DOG Tray" to the doxology
suffered transformation As the songs have
| served their purpose and been laid on the shelf
| SO have the parodies. Some of them we're very
clever, ana no history of the prison life of the
| war of the great rebellion would be complete
| without them.
HOME SONGS.
Not all the songs sung in the south were OF
q martial character; in fact, the home songs
always had the call The songs Of the home
circle. and of their little societies, sentimental
II