Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-03
For the SPECTATOR.
GENERAL LEE AND TRAVELLER.

The occasion of the following lines was a
honorable picture at the battle OF Spott-
ylvania Court House, Virginia, May 18th, 1864.
It one time, during the day, General Lee
TODD by the head of Traveller-hls favorite
Iorse,-and right on the crest of a hill, near
he onter edge of a small grove of trees, and
lot far from one-story building. The writer
vas an eyewitness, and was deeply impress
ID with the Generals splendid attitude.
Behold that horse IA dappled gray
saw him in the month of May,
When wild flowers bloomed about his feet,
And sunshine was his mantle meet.
The shapely head he held on high,
And fire seemed flashing from his eye;
Arched grandly, too his neck and name.
And ON them fell the slackened rein.
Down from the withers to the tail
The curve was perfect in detail,
While depth of chest, and haunch and side
Showed where the strength did most reside
With limb, and hoof and pastern small,
The body round and plump withal,
No pattern could be perfecter
Than was the form of Traveller"
Rare model for an artists skill
For brush, or chisel, or the quill
For there, with muscles strained and tense
His mould was sheer magniflcence.
Bucephalus was not more gay
In ancient battles stern array.
Than was that grand Virginia gray,
That mutely champed his bits that day.
A day of battle, truly, then!
A day of death to many men!
For War CORY drama played,
But "Traveller'' was undismayed.
Dismounted, and quite near his head,
The right hand to the halter wed,
His Rider stood-bold leader he!
The great and gallant-Robert Lee.
ad-shouldered, tall, and stout, and
straight,
The left hand down, his look Sedate,
He wore cap and suit of gray,
And gazed-but nothing had to say.
What courtliness in him was seen
Aye. what nobility of mien!
As there, HoratiuS-like, he stood,
The honored, wise. and great, and good.
Great chieftains had preceded him
With cups OF glory TO the Drlm,
But he, among them all, was prince,
Unrivalled in the past, or since.
The battle ragged around him near;
The clash of arms he saw, could hear,
But. dauntless, he stood out to view,
Though deadly missiles round him flew.
Brave Chief and Charger! Qet us say.
In Dixie's hue of mortal gray!
And, while our hearts can feel and sigh,
Their images will never die.
Immortal Spottsylvania
Twas on that sacred hill of thine,
Mid shout of victory and huzzah,
We saw this picture from the line.
Ye artists paint the signal scene,
Or fashion it in bronze, or stone,
That generations, yet unseen,
In all our SouthlandS sunny zone
May look upon the noble form
OF him, who stemmed the leaden storm,
And did the Dixie boys command,
Who fought for Rights, and home, and
land.
No need have we for Northern foe,
Living, or dead, above, below;
We honor those, who wore the gray,
And weave for them our last bouquet.
We, Wars arbitrament accept,
And foeman leave in peace to rest,
But, when their graves are decked ant
wept,
The North must do it, and Northwest.
Away with sickly sentiment!
True Southrons never will repent;
For Chartered Rights they fought thei
fight,
And still they know their Cause was right
Had but one, or even grant
That I'd ten thousand flowers to plant,
I'd put them all ON Dixie's graves
My comrades, and our Southern braves.
II. NJ. FUTILE.