The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-11
The column halts. and there with bated breath
The Sergeant checks each name and "cas tile

The column hats, aud there with bated breath
The Sergeant checks each name and .calls the
roll"
Then comes the shock of fierce contending foes.
The lurid light amid the battle smoke,
The crashing cannonade, the thrusts, the blows.
The beehing volleys and the saber stroke;
The field incarn adined with life blood wet
The moans ofdying men, the victor's cries,
The clash ofesgord, the ring of bayonet,
Wars awful chorus meath the shuddering skies.
The long lines tremble the balance sways-
Defeat or victory trembling everywhere,
Then charging squadrons burst upon the gaze,
Aud death triumphant rides upon the air.
And through the whole the swelling buge blows,
Like sad spirit waiiins Ger the lost,
Aud the dim sun still through murky war-couds
CLOVIS
A qucnchless eye above n holocaust.
Then all is DER, the battle lost
The race is oer but who has reached the goal !?
And when the ending comes the battle done,
A broken column answers to the roll.
The boy who marched from in others kiss away.
Will no more answer when they call him now;
Tie husband breaking from his wife that day.
Lies where the death damps moulder his
brow;
The fathers place is vacant in the line,
The lovers voice will answer never more.
Unless beyond the bending stars that shine
Loves deaihess light upon him set shall pour.
And so the picture of those years is made,
Until at las, little shattered band,
Fought their last fight and made their last parade,
Aud peace through them Hdd blessed our native
land. & ~i35
Tattered and torn, bercft of limb and health,
Back TO their homes the veteran heroes came,
Winning for you the boon Of peace and wealth.
And for themselves only a, deathless fame.
And when at last they amc shattered and torn,
Broken in frame. but valiant still in soul,
Under the banner they had bravely borne.
Answered but few whfns next they called the
roll" - 4
The years run on. ceaseless. .tireess tide.
And fast generation passes by,
And slowly gathered to the ether side
The veterans vanish who shall say they die!
On Decorations morn they muster STILL
shorter line on each returning Spring.
To deck the graves that dot tic sacred hill,
Where patriot Hearts their yearly offerings bring
And when to solemn nltisic, soft and low.
They gather meath tho ben1ing skies of blue
With soem tread and mufIled drums they go,
And place their garands over comrades true.
And there while bending basners kiss the sod,
Tones tender chant sweet memorial hymn,
GrePs holy incense rises up to God,
Aud manly eyes with unshed tears are dim.
There in the holy city Of the dead,
With voice emotion scarcely can control.
The Adjutant. with bowed and rcverent head
Calls softly over all the sacred roll.
few years more and here the roll will cease,
While over yonder the other side,
On heavens ramparts, meath the Prince of Peace,
Will gather those who for their fellows died.
In shining letters. fadeless as the sun.
The roll will glow with each immortal name
With martyred Lincoln's under Washington,
And Grant and Logan, whose undying fame
Stands side by side with those who in the line,
Unheraided by trumpets, grandly fell;
The angels wrote the list TO shine.
They did their best. and all for them is we'll.
The Holy One vouchsafe that you and
May fill the measure of our feeting days
So grandly well that when the last flint sigh
Shall bear spirits hence from earthly ways,
We 60 to them and join the martial throng.
Eartll's periIs over-each a ransomed SOUL
And answer Here!" while angels wake q song
On heavens ramparts when they caI1 the roll