Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-16

the surrender Of Gen. Lee.
BoYcE P. o., Clarke Co., Jan. u.
To the Editor of the alexandria Gazette
Dear Sir-Please oblige by publish
ing the enclosed manuscript "The Last
Parade, " in time for the meeting of Mos
by's men. 1t was written just after the
war, in the spirit of those days, and laid
by to wait for better times. Probably
the time has now come when it may be
published as a memento of the war,
without giving offence to any one.
Having been captured short time be-
fore, after having my horse shot in the
fight at Hamilton, | did not myself see
the last meeting at Salem, and my de-
scription is based on what heard from
friends who were present.
HENRY H. HARRISON.
Hark DER the hills buglc call a bugle
heuceforth dumb
1t bids us wcepa fallen cause, a day of doom
to come;
1t tells us that thy wales, Fauquier, shall hev-
CIR more resound
With charging shout or clashing swords or
victory's joyous sound.
The land we love, our beautiful, where Mosby
long held sway,
Has fallen with the Southern Cross, is now
the spoilers prey;
And this is why through SalemS streets to-
day the Rangers ride,
And this is why i'll every heart hoic's star
hath paled and died
BY every road the horscmen come, those boys
l.x11
But rot u smile is seen to-day, each face is
stern and cold,
For many heart that crst beat high is in the
dust to-day
And many cheek is wet with teals at doffng
of the gray.
In bitter words their woe breaks forth and
shakes the manly form
That never feared to meet the foe, nor qualied
mid battles stoIm;
The Legion knows its hour has come, it's sad
dcst and it's last;
For like the starry cross, twill soon be num-
bered with the past.
The bugle sounds the ranks are formed; once
more We're side by side,
On prancng steeds, with arms as bright rs
when we rode in pride.
And DER our heads those banners wave, blood
stained dani battle torn,
Which through these years of glorious war to
vict'ry Oft we've borne.
Ali nature wears a Milling face, and with the
spring is gay.
While only we, a conquered race, have cause
to curse the day.
A cloud is rising in the West, an omen OF
defeat,
The harbuger of wrath to come, the grace the
vanquished meet.
All land of woe would that the sword which
often waved for thee
Had laid us low ere such Il sight as this mine
eyes should see,
Be still, my soul, right never dies, many brave
hearts remain,
Who i'll the time to como may prove the dead
died not in vain.
Now see along the silent ranks our gallant
leader ride
The victor ON hundred fields, who sooner,
far, had died.
He gazes long upon his band, each we'll
known face he seeks,
Then, dashing down the unbid tear, the un-
conquered cbieftsin speaks:
MEN of the Ranger Legion, who, through
these years of blood
Midst death and desolation, firm at my side
have stood,
Once more We meet together; but not to seek
the foe;
In grief cali you hitherto lay your stand
ards low.
The vision we have cherished of Southland
great and free,
Has passed before the frown of fate, our ma.
ton may not he.
The battleborn republic in blood hath passed
away.
This land, for which you fought and bled, is
now the spoilers prey.
Were every heart as stout rs yours and every
sword as keen,
The day to lower the Southern flag had not
come yet ween;
The armies IN the field are gone, but from
each wood and hill
A thousand bands as bold as ours, could hold
the country still.
II Francis Marion lived to-day the South
might still be frec
Better to die with sword in hand than live in
slavery.
Our old men will it otherwise, wars wounds
they seek to cure;
To-day we sheathe our useless swords, the
brave may war no more.
"Unconquered, but forsaken, cur standards
only wave
Ger what was once our nation, but now our
nations grave.
The foemen gather round us, we, we alone are
left
ofall that was the Southern host; all, all the
rest are reft.
1 never will surrender this legion I have
made
To those whom We have always chased; it
never shall be said.
to retain.
The Forty.t third Virginia will never meet
again"
He ceased: nor from that long array was
heard voics or sound,
Silent it hears the fatal words, the horses paw
the ground.
A moment, and the ranks dissolve, and round
their chief they close,
Like little children weep the men who feared
not mortal foes.
A grasp for each, a word for all, at last he
turns aside;
Forth to the unknown future, the young Vir-
ginians ride.
But ever on the roll of those who struggle to
be free
Shall live their names who never rode except
to victory.
HENRY HARRISON.
August, 1865
MIDNIGHT QUEST FOR A MARRIAGE
LIcENsE.-R. 2. Vermillion and Miss
Eubank came from Richmond to Wash