The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-09

Rather than swap even for them, which t claimed
would not be fair
And the months crept slowly onward; one by one
! and day by day,
| Many died of sheer starvation. or became an easy
! prey
To diseases. that among them marched along will
! silent tread
Adding ranks of new enrollments to the army o.
| the dead.
| In the days Of sxty-four,
When three hundred thousand more
Left the Mississpprs winding banks and old Mis-
{ ssurPs Shore,
And went marching to the rescue of their comrades
With the Gag Of Freedom floating Ger them to The
light of day;
/ Onward, onward they wentsweeping like cyclons
| in its wrath
And the frightened foe before them fed in panic
| from their path.
See. the prison walls are trembling as they hear
that mighty tread,
And the foe in disorder and the prison gnards
have fled.
They are coming. they are coming, those three
hundred thousand strong;
They flying Freedoal's banner they are sing
ing Freedoms songl
They are marching to the rescue of their comrades
far away
And their Stars and Stripes floating grandly to
the glorious dayl
In the year of sixty-fve,
When the few that did survive
Were released in rags and tatters. glad that they
were still alive
When they knew the war was over, and their long
continued fast,
With the war, was likewise ended, and that they
were free ut last,
How those prison walls resounded with their cheers
and joyful cresl
How their loyal SHOUTS of Freedom echoed upward
10 the skiesl
Yes, at last the done,
They had fred the final gun,
And the bells OF peace were ringing, and the Rebs
theGun,
And the boys went straggiiug back again to their
neglected farms,
To their offices aud workshops and they laid away
their arms;
But far behind them lying on the Southern battle
plain,
There were thousands who were sleeping and
would not march back again,
Though the battle-tide was ebbing and the victory
won.
And the pangs OF thirst and hunger and the weari-
were done;
In the fragrant Southern forest, by the whispering
Southern wave,
They sumbering In silence in the soldiers
nameless grave.
o, whnt to them shaft Of stone Ger which the
moonbeams shine?
They sleep well their dreamless sleep beneath
the Southern pine.
o. what to them song of praise. these well-meant
empty words?
They slumbering to the music of a thousand
Southern birds.
o, what to them these shouts of joy, that arrny's
marching tread?
Their souls have marched to Freedom with the
Array of the Dead!
To them a brief farewell Is said, and then the
prisoner turns
HfS footsteps toward the Northern home to which
his bosom yearns;
That homo aud all he lef9 behind the day he
marched away,
But to which ragged skeleton goes marching
back to-day.
o. where are all those. manly forms that answered
to the call:
Those neless graves, these shattered wrecks are
left, snii that is all.
Ay. wrecks; for health and strength are gone, and
all that life endears;
Disease and hunger's pangs have wrought the
woes of twenty years.
o. weary heart and toil-worn handsl o, fever
furrowed browl
Our words weak, our hearts too cold to render
justice now.
o. Nation of prosperity o. Union strong and
greatI
o. hearts that know the joys of peacei o. states
men, aud o. State!
Reward, reward these valiant men before Gheir
day shall cease,
Whu laid their lives upon the that might
pass ia peace;
And palter with that reward but let IL be COM
plete,
The best the Nation has to give and lay il at their
feet.
o. what to them song of praise, an anthem after
wards?
They will slun,ber to the music of thousand
Northern birds.
o. what o them a marble shaft, where softly moon
beams shine?
They'll sleep well those that sleep beneath
the Southern pine.
Reward reward these valiant men before ID is too
late,
o, NATION OF PEosPERTYi o, UNION STRONG
AND GREAT!
Az RrcE rONv