The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-05-25
MINNESOTA THURSDAY MAY 25 1898
ebay BILLY.

& Gies s gI ebay BILLY. 4 i5E &ElB
| Twas the last light ut fredericksburg
Perhaps the day you rech- HI:
Our boys, the Twenty second Maine,
D Kept Early's men in check.
Just where Wade Hampton doomed away
The fight went neck and neck.
All day we held the weaker wing,
And held it with a will;
Five several stubborn times we charged
The battery on the hill, @
& And five times beaten back, reformed,
And kept our columns still. !,
4 At last from out the center fight ..5 /.
Spurred up a generals aid.
THAT battery must silenced bel, @
He cried, as past he sped.
Our colonel simply touched his cap,
+ And then, with measured tread,
TO lead the cronching line once more
The grand old fellow came.
i No wounded man but raised his head
And strove to gasp his name,
i And those who could not speak nor stir
/ 'sGod blessed him. just the same s. ~
+ Eor he was all the WOrlQ 10 us, 81. s-...g
I That hero gray and grim; +, s......S.
Y Right well he knew that fearful slope
III We'd climb with none but him, +,
8 Though while his white head led the way w
81 We'd charge hell's portals in. n.
This time we were not halfway mp, 81 i@4
{ When, midst the storm of shell,
& Our leader, with his sword appraised,
Z. Beneath our bay'n fell; ,-
4 And, as we bore him back, the foe
Il, Set up q joyous yell.
: Our hearts went with him. Back we swept
& And when the bugle said,
" up, charge, again'' no man was there
81 But hung his logged head.
& We've no one left to lead us now,''
&a The sullen soldiers said F..
Just then. before the laggard line,
5e The cOlonel's horse we spied- e.
Bay Billy, with his trappings on,
81 His nostril swelling wide.
4 AS though still on his gallant back
n The master sat astride. ~~. =,
4 Right royalty he took the place d. AT
f That was of old his wont, ~. . ,.
IS And with neigh, that seemed to say,
# Above the BATTLES brunt, ~. ..:.
& How can the Twenty second charge
#5 If am not in front?''
E Like statues we stood rooted there, ~
And gazed q little space; ISIS -5rs.,.
FL Above that floating name we missed s.
The dear familiar face: 80. NJ
But we saw Bay Billy's eye of fire. -sg /
sS And it gave us heart of grace. ~>.. r.
H No bugle-call could rouse us all .s.7
8 AS that brave sight had done; -,
III Down all the battered line we felt r.. - {
~ A lightning impulse run; . s
IN Up the hill we followed Bill, s.@ @ss#s
u sA And we captured every gun! Il s5s;
81 And when upon the CONQUERED height
Died out the battles hum, ~
Vainly mid living and the dead ~ E-
We sought our leader dumb;
1t seemed as if a specter steed 80 p.
To win that day had come. -.}
At last the morning broke. The lark - j.,
Sang in the merry skies. ~
AS if to cen the sleepers there
1t babe wake, and arise!-- -ss ~ q.
Though naught but that last trump of all
Could ope their heavy eyes.
And then once more, with banners gay,
Stretched out the long brigade;
Trinity upon the furrowed field -. ~
The troops stood on parade, "
And bravely mid the ranks were closed, !
The gaps the fight had made. -.
Not half the Twenty second's men Eag"
Were in their place that morn, .A
And Corp'ral Dick, who yester-morn
Stood six brave fellows on, 4 So. r. "a 4
Now touched my elbow in the ranks,
For all between were gone.
All! who forgets that dreary hour s
When. as with misty eyes,
To call the old familiar roll
The solemn sergeant tries
One feels that humping of the heart
AS no prompt voice replies.
And as in falt'ring tone and slow
The last few names were said,
Across the field some missing horse u K
Toiled up with weary tread. + >,-. r. q
1t caught the sergeant's eye, and quick
Bay Billys name was read. : r.
Yes! there the old bay hero stood,
All safe from battles harms,
And ere an order could be heard, 4.Es
Or the bugle's quick alarms.
Down all the front, from end to end,
The troops presented arms!
Not all the shoulder straps on earth
Could still our mighty cheer.
And ever from that famous day,
When rang the roll-call clear.
Bay Billy's name was read, and then
The whole line answered ''Here!'
Fl. FL. GdssGauay.
A gang of burglars visited the tow
last Friday night. Several houses
thesouth end OF the village we're e
tered, but the only loss reported was