Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15

~. D. SOh<NSAOA~'
Thirty Years AGO.
To me but yesterday IL seems
Since. clad in simple gray.
About these hills and wales and streams
/ went a soldiers way.
As full I'm leaf are all the trees,
AS green the grasses grow
How Time, with rapid footstsp fees!
Twas thirty years ago!
Where Indian creek goes winding
through
It's meadows wide and Fai-
Where brown rocks on the uplands
blue
Their tme-tired features wear,
Where "Elmwood' stands in stately
grace.
With yondcr church below.
/ recognize our camping-place
or thirty years ago.
And here some veterans OF that day
In front Of me are spread,
Scarce one OF whom but wears the gray
Upon his honored head:
Whilst others were who do not wake
From sleep in fair Monroe,
Who sank to rest. for honor'e sake.
Just thirty years ago,
AS brave Mike Foster. who. when all
OF Wars demands were Ger,
Still waited for the bugle call
That Times last summons BORE
And answered IL with courage fine
That all true men should know
Who held. like him, the skirmish-line,
Full thirty years ago.
Some here by living Echols led
Along the Valleys waste.
And some by heroes that are dead,
And in their inches placed
From those that live, for them that died,
The soldiers tear shall flow,
Though scenes are far, and time is wide,
Since thirty years ago.
How thankful they who yet are here
TO wander mindful back,
And wear their boyhoods' soldier gear
Along the blood-stained track.
No blush can flag their temples free,
No red of shame can show,
The pride that was is still to be,
From thirty years ago.
Though nations fall. though empires die
Though fate may seem unjust.
The cause that fails. through purpose
Shall animate the dust
End up from earth. baptized in blood
True principle TO show,
Shall sometime come this lessons food
From thirty years ago.
All! comrades OF that golden day,
When pride and hopes were high
Shall come for you who wore the gray
A golden by-and-by.
For in this life there's nothing lost
And time-locked seeds will grow,
And those you left survive the frost
or thirty years ago.
Though wounds of conflict scar your
And head-stones mark your land,
Virginia. in among the great
And over all, IS grandl
She bore the brunt of battle fierce,
And stemmed its tidal flow.
And kept her fame as freedoms Nurse
Just thirty years ago.
Although Kentucky's kindly breast
Has nurtured me for years,
MY mother State I love the best,
My life, my all. IS hers.
And while the glass OF Time speeds on
Its brightest sands shall show
No splendor like the diamonds gone
From thirty years ago.
Dear comrades Of that struggle hard.
That hero-war of wars
Who kept a steadfast, faithful guard
About the Stars and Bars.
give you greeting here to-day
With all my soul allow
honor you who wore the gray
Just thirty years ago.
May God preserve until the last
That courage and that pride
Which in the dead and holy past
Went through the battle-tidel
Nav God uphold you in your truth
Through all the ways you go.
And give your age its hero youth
OF thirty years agoi
And when you die and go 70 earth
In this your sacred land
Your names, your deeds. your noble
worth,
In deathleSs lines shall stand
AS long as Bckett's Knob shall rise,
As long rs waters flow.
AL fame to come your fame shall prize
From thirty years ago.