The Banner-Democrat., 1893-10-28
THE BALTIMORE GRAYs.
fConfederate War ,lournal.]

w eek IN anu week out W uAo ueeh a. ~
front,
And bore without ainching the battles
fierce brunt,
Till, shattered and weary, we needed
repoSe
Ere we met IN death struggle our number
less foes.
Our knapsacks were empty. our uniforms
worn.
Our feet from long marching, were naked
But not man grumbled in the rank or the
file.
We bore all our hardships with joke and
smile,
For jackson was with US, and. under his
eye,
Each soldier determined to do or to die.
That evening old Jack had US out on re-
view,
When glance down the line showed us all
something new
Eighty-seven young boys from old Balti-
more,
Who had run the blockade and that day
joined our corps.
Their clothes were resplendent, all new
spick and span
Twas plain that tailor had measured each
man.
When we learned who they were what u
shout We did raise
How we cheered our new allies, the "Balti-
more Grays!''
There were Lightfoots and Carriers, and
Howards and Kanes,
The grandsons of Carroll, the nephews of
Gaines;
And as the brave boys dressed up in row,
You could see the pure blood of the proud
Huguenot.
But we were old vets of Stonewall's bri-
gade;
We'd been tightening SO long that war
seemed trade.
And some of us laughed at the youngsters
SO gay
Who had come to The battle as If coming to
play;
And all through the camp you could hear
the rougs, wits
Cry, "Hullo. Young roosters p and "pandi-
fled cilsl
But the boss took it braveIy, and heartily
Till one ragged soldier. more holder thao
the rest.
Fired off this rough joke, which We all
thought the best:
Boys, you'd better go home; lis getting
quite late"
Then tas girIsh-faced captain spoke UP.
and said Wait p
They didn't wait long, for the very next
day
We were ordered right of to the thick OF
the fray;
For early that morning we'd head the dull
OF the guns of our foeman on Raridan's
shore,
And all of US knew, with old Jack in COM
mand,
Ii fighting was near him. he'd at once take
hand.
And. sure enough, soon marching orders
We got,
And we swung down the road in .sfoot-caval-
ry''tr
The boys were behind us. fell to the rear,
To see how the youngsters on march would
appeal.
Their files were close up. their marching
1 reported to to stonewall. .Yes, general,
they'll do"
In a few minutes more the action began.
W e met the first shock. for we were the van:
But we stood to cur ranks like oaks Of the
field,
to yield.
Upon US. however, battery played,
And huge gaps in our ranks were now and
then made,
Till Jackson commanded charge up the
hill.
We charged-in moment the cannon were
still.
Jackson said to the Grays, '.Such vslor
you've shown.
You'll veterans be ere your boards are full
grown;
In this. your first action, you've proved
yourselves bold;
I'll station you here-these guns you must
bold"
Then the glrlish-faced captain. SO straight
Sn al
Saluted. and said you'll here find us all,
For, wherever stationed. this comI any
stays.''
How we laughed. how we cheerea the bold
Baltimore Gravs
But the red tide of battle around us still
flowed.
And we followed our leader. as onward he
rode.
Cried ..Good-by" to the boys; 'take care
of the guns
Wen relieve you as soon as the enemy
runs"
All yes. indeed soon the brave boys were
relieved,
Alas, the sisters who weep and the mothers
Fer the loved and the lost of the Maryland
line
But some fatal bluuder our left was ex-
pOSeus
And by thousands OF Federals the boys
were enclosed:
They asked for no quarter, their Maryland
blood
Never dreamed of surrender-they fell
where they stood.
We heard in the distance the firing and
noise.
And double .quicked back to the help OF
the boys.
The guns were soon ours, but oh, what a
sight -
Every Baltimore boy had been killed in the
fight.
Save the girlish-faced captain, and he,
scarce alive,
When he saw US around him he seemed to
revive,
And smiled when we told him the field had
been W IN,
And the Baltimore Grays had saved every
gun.
Then Stonewall road up and endeavored to
speak.
But his utterance was choked and down
his bronzed cheek
The hot tears flowed, as he gazed on the
dead.
.God pity their mothers and sisters p be
said.
Then, dsmounting, he knelt on theblood.
sodden sand,
And prayed while he held the dying boy 4
hand;
The gallant young hero said, General,
That the Cravs to your orders would always