Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15


OF nuskcss unshouldered. OF swords in
the sheath.
But 10. when the midnight looks down
from the skies, go,
What hosts from these forests and HILL
White p tents s'i are unfolded. broad banners
Mid the tramp OF the dead marching
down on the world.
In phaianx unbroken they steadily come.
They step to the hush OF an uhoea'eh
The mnskets grim barrel. tho bayonets
AS sim as the silence, as dumb as
From time.tra,npled hillocks in Deaths
They form rank and file in the darkness
Then shoulder to shoulder in battle ar
They marched In their war-worn Con-
federate gray, ,,,-
Besprinkied with bloodstains, ana black
ened with smoke.
And bored with blue bullets any payohet
Now watchfully threading the gloom Of
p,des Asbby In front OF his cavalry men:
Ills dark eyes are flashing. his forehead
His sabre unsheathed cuts the face OF the
The boofs OF his charger fall mute on the
And cblIl Is the hand on his taut bride
In stiffness unearthly come hero and
In Stiffness unearthly fast follows his
Undaunted and proud. with smile on
Tho chiyairous pride of the chivalrous
South, $1,000. ,,t,a n
And leads the fierce charge in the battle
There speeds his advance, here grim
.,,,os, ,.iea ming Of carbines and glitter Of
And red'nostriled horses, and banners
And piumes OF bold warriors painting the
And saddles left empty. and signs OF the
And sDectrai recalls from spectral lips
sounded: go. So. ,ho
plain, ,, - tho
Gliding down to the cold bivouac OF the
slain.
Through yon mountain gap. still silently
The armies of Death-the eloquent dumb
They pour like a stream through you
rock delile. ,,.. s.oor, ~
Come back from their Soiulefiy uie"'
exile .,u, .raod
In snoctral bsttasions they steadily tread
These warrior souls of the warrior deaI.
From piedmonts green heights ana Ike
puol ss E Ger they solemnly gather
with forms gaunt with hunger and toll
tortured feet, 49,. .,,rv,,,eth
| Yet strong with a strength that s"r'i'e'"
r,ev pift their paie brows from the gloom
To watch DER the valley they battled to
save.
They camp on the plain ana the Siee' VI
Cleans afar with the CLINT of the turf
turning spade.
Whilst whispering forests 90 siuoue' anu
From mountain to valley. from valley to
AS under their verdue and under their
shade, -, -,
And the bosom of Night quakes with
chilly alarms,
grounded arms.
They camp on the plain and the odorous
EmbaIm the pale host that their quiet
Vet trembIe from delicate petal to root,
A they Weld to the tramp of the ranks OF
Here rises the breastwork. there glistens
The sentinel spectre his pace has begun.
And backward and forward the ramparts
lone height
He treads in the star-haunted castle of
night.
And here, on its arms. sleeps the uni
formed host;
Whilst there. in his silent and color
Is Jackson, the leader. in prayer humbly
bent.
No cross in the zenith a message conveys
OF glory and conquest and victory's bays
AS of old blazed aloft in the heavens
As a signal Of cheer to the bold Constan-
tine .,,
Haunted,
Though slain still unconquered, though
dead still undaunted.
They march and they counter march,
form and deploy,
In ranks that Deaths nat hath falied 10
stroy;
Whilst the banner of midnight its azure
unTolls.
AS a triumphal arch DER these legions Of
souls.
All silent and solemn, and spectral and
They throng Shenandoahs battle-swept
vale.
| There ghostly the gunners and ghostly
| And spectral the charger that riderless
| runs,
| While shadowy ranks. dawn in full line
! of battle.
| Wait War-SongS OF cannon, the NuSket .
| death-rattle.
| Now. out of the stiffness, around and
around
| The chostly artillery wheels DER the
ground;
| There is ranging OF troopers. ana the
marshaling OF hosts,
| In the grandly invincible army or ghosts.
Then the bullets wierd whistle, the scat
And Battles big heart beating heavy and
| hot,
The swish of the sabre, the thud of the
| ball go
The merciful smoke overshadowing all!
| But. 10, IN the east float the pennons OF
Dawn;
The war-nass are furled. and the swords
| are undraWn;
The battle unfought and the orders un-
|
The cannon unmounted. the sabres all
| sheathed.
| Across the green valley with bloom-bor-
dered meadows
Now sweeps like the gale the wierd army
| of shadows.
And fair Shenandoah reopens her graves
To welcome her warriors, 10 shelter hei
| braves.
Aye. ghostly the banners and ghostly the
And ghostiy the battle and ghostly the
| camp,
And spectral the dreams that they dreamp'
OF their glory,
| Which lives but in ashes. blood-written
story.
Fair Vale Of Virginia! green, green must
thou blossom,
For valor and chivalry sleep in thy
| bosom,
And noble the brows that there slumber-
ing low.
Were destined no laurels of triumph to
know.
Back to the dust they have given their
dust
Their cause, like their carbines, is clouded
with rust,
Yet a halo about thy brave heroes is
set,
Which even their foes would be 10th te
forget.
What Ioftier NEED would thy green valley