Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-05
"The Hero without a Name"

TO the EultOr Oh inc btrpdttns
In your issue of the 2ith you got the
name OF the Confederate States army
brigader-general wrong. IL should be
"Beale." There were two prisons at
Camp Chase. or rather the prison was
divided into two paris. one was for the
privates and the other for the officers.
In the officers prison Captain Philips or
stanton. Va: Colonel Hawkins. ana my
self alternated, each taking a Sunday to
conduct religious services and talk to the
prisoners In the ofhcers' pen. Captain,
Phillips was the only minister, ana what
a icvable man he was! You could see
that he walked with God. He was among
the most earnest preachers ever listened
to. Hawkins ought to have been
preacher for ne preached some able ser
mons They were so pathetic. and at
times so eloquent. Both OF these men nave
passed over the river" and tho writer
hopes some day % meet them. far above
this world Of prison life where we VIII
sit down under the shade or the trees anu
talk of Camp Chase"
one Saturday evening Hawkins said 70
me that II would take his place the
next morning In our religious meeting he
would write me q poem. as he had been
very much touched that day by scenes IN
the dead-house. I herein enclose you a
copy OF that poem. c. I. SMITH
THE HERO WITHOUT A NAME
By Colonel William s Hawkins, {. IA
Prisoner OF war;
1 loved. when n child, 90 seek the page
Where wars proud tales are granny
And TO dream OF the might of that for
PI In the brave. good days OF Old.
When men for Virtue and Honor Fought
In SERTED pride meath their banners
BY the fairy hands of Beauty wrought
Ard 'broidered with GOD and
Right"
And there / read Of Sir Launcelot true,
Whose deeds have been sung In
And nor Of RoSerick the Bold. who his
In the cause Of his native Spain.
In thought | beheld gay sydney roe,
His white plume dotting the heids eX-
And BaSHrd who came like the swirl
As ne struck for the Lilies OF
France
on the crags OF Scotland there ! saw
With his hair OF golden hue. Monrose,
And swarthy Douglass. whose name was
""I In the homes OF his English foes;
There was Wnkelreid' In the S"'7''a"N
And the mountalncer's boast. devoted
Who smiled as before his shaft. well
ais country's tyrant fell.
Meath Erin's flag. that glad sun burst,
Was Emmett, who STANDS IN 'i"' marry
Whose blood sanctihed the gibbet ae'
60" Where he died for the rights OF
,-hora was "LIght-Horse Harry" who
led in the fray, ,,.,,or..
And Marion. the pride or DIS caVhneis,
There was Washington 100 "hose s'"''
is the shrine Of the Patriots
tears
These splendid forms were a part OF
That tue de iS me. moving in pasean's
rbross, f"I The wastes OF Time and the
From ,s sd ie ,g,y..;, q f. sv :.e land
a spirit akin to those steteiy mSn,
Nor tbousht that great hearts like theirs
could be ,oa NON
Yet I've seen ia the wards OF the nos
A b,ro | fancy. as peerless OF soul.
A paie-fsced boy. whose home Is fair.
Where the waters OF Cumberland
IN his narrow cot in that narrow room.
Where the music lie hears Is the sign
Ind the gtoan. ,, o,a
He lies through the days long pam anu
But But he never makes n moan.
They hewed him down with their blades
When the troopers charged from the
camps OF the foe. r.,
But he was not klled-.although; I feel,
II would have been better 80.
ri
As sit and hold his wasted hand,
And hear him tell Of the times that were
In our dear and sunny land.
There are hours again In his levers
when his restless fancies fly to his
When h. talks OF the scythes in the
falling wheat,
And OF reapers that go and
OF his boyish mates and their frohcsome
And how ne carved there on many tree
name that was dear to him;
or the sweet wIld-roses that scatter the
Through the cottage-door and the win
dow-penes
And Octobers haze on the tar-on heishts'
And the nuiet country lanes
OF the rivulets plash and the song OF ths
birds 49,
And OF the corn-rows standing, Ike
OF his mothers prayers and her loving
words IL.
Then his cheeks are wet with
tears.
And seem to see her. as the autumn
Are silently falling in the glen
AS the swallows come back 10 the shell
where ne shall not come again.
Then rejoice that she cannot see
How the blight has stained her fairest
T am lad that her steps twill never he
Besides his northern tomb.
| And I think IT another. who watches. too.
When the early stars are bright on me
Nor Knows that his heart. so confding
Will soon be forever. still -,
Ali many, in vain. to their hopes ''"''
Through the dreary morn and mournfui
| And he memory alone shall solace
'% 70 thousand hearts that gricve.
| NV comrade Will last but a little while.
| For see on every succeeding dayt
! over his features play
These walls-little better-shall smut MN
| But his soul puts trust In the Lamp OF
| God. IL.
And. somehow. think. when our ives
Thai this humble hero. without name:
| viii be greater up there tnAn many
N the high-born men OF Fame
Ard 7 know I would rather have to.day
IT" The crown that he'll wear in Its fade
less bloom "a cav
or Sydney's snow-white piume.
| O. Prisoner Boy. that I were as near :.
As you are now 70 that shining snoIs;
| Where the waters Of Love ana Oh A'''
And weeping shall he no mere.
II cannot be thus-yet. IN Gods or snr . a.
He viii carry His weary onss nome '"
And the be..ritul angels. with song ana
WIN snail Welcome each mortal guest
Camp Chase. October. Iva