Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-15
y POEM THAT WON a PENSION

y POEM THAT WON \ PENSION.
1t will be gratifying to all old Con-
tederate soldiers specially those who
followed Forrest, to know that the Leg
islature OF Alabama, recently adjourn
ed at this place did not forget To rec
oSniZe the hcrosm OF the girl. Emma
SAMSON. who showed Forrest tho ford
| triding through bullets 70 Ciu III uvur
| the Slack Warrior Creek in this State
| All old soldiers remember that brave
deed. and how, though the Legislature
OF Alabama in 1864 granted Miss SAN
som section of public land In honor
thereof, the scalawag Legislature fol-
lowing the war failed to confirm il and
50 II was lost to her. III the mcanw hilc
Miss SAMSON married and moved To
Texas. Her husband Mr.. Johnson died
and left her to struggle alone with the
world. Last fall, the Tennessee poet.
John Trotwood Moore. published n stir
ring ballad of this famous raid which
attracted so much attention that the
Legislature took II up and introduced a
| bill giving to this heroic girl six hun
dred acres OF public land. Among others
the bill was championed by Hon. John
ii. Wallace. of Huntsville. Ala. one
of the most brilliant and distinguished
members of the House. In u mastCvful
speech he advocated the claims OF the
heroic woman and when he recited the
now famous ballad. he did Ii with So
! swept the House off its feet and the
bill was passed almost unanimously
| This is as It should be. n fitting tcsti-
monial To bravery that WILL in years to
come fire modest worth to noble ends"
The following is the ballad as clipped
from the Confederate Veteran. whore
its publication attracted so much attcn-
ton Ia the heroism of the Alabama girl:
y BALLAD OF EMMA SANSOM
The courage of man Is one thing, bu,
that of Il maid is more,
For blood is blood. aud death Is death,
and grim is the battle gore
And tho rose that blooms. tho bistcred
by the slcet of an open sky.
Is fairer than its sisters are who sleep
in the hot house nigh.
| Word came up to Forrest shat Strcight
was on n raid
Two thousand booted hayonots were
riding down the glade
! Eight thousand were before him-he
was holding Dodge at bay
But he turned on his heel
| Like the twis, of steel
And was OF at the break of day.
Six hundred troopers had he-gamc as
Claiborne cock
Tough as the oak-root graphing with
the grad Sand Mountain rock:
And they fought like young Comanches
by the flash Of the Yankee gun
| And they fell ut the ford
And shot as they rode,
| And fought from sun to sun.
| But Streght We're whirling southwark
with never ii limp or lag
| His front was II charging huntsman,
| but his rear was ii bounded stag
! For tho gray troops followed after
their saddle blankets wet
With the bloody rack
From their horses back
And Streight not headed yet!
\ Tight to the death in the valley. and a
fight TO the death on the hill
! But still Streight thundcr'd southwark
and Forrest followed Still
! And the Soadcd hollows beloved to the
bay of the rebel gum
For Forrest was hot
As n solid shot
! When its flight is just begun.
| \ running fight in the morning and a
charging fight AZ noon
/ TIL spurs clung red ana reekinG around
their bloody shoon-
/ The morning star palcd on them, but
| the evening star rose red
AS the bloody tinge
| OF the border fringe
| That purpled the path of dead.
\ midnight fight on the mountain and
a daybreak fight in the glen,
| And when Streight stopped for water
he had lost three hundred men.
But he gained the bridge at the river
and planted his batteries there,
And the halt of the gray
! Was a hound at bay
! And the blue-as wolf in his lair.
! And out from the bridge at the river
a white heat lightning came.
/ Like the hungry tongues Of a forest
fire. with the autumn woods aflame:
| And the death-smoke burst above them
and the death-heat blazed below,
But the men in gray
! Cheered the smoke away
And barred their breasts to the blow
| Should they storm the bridge at the
river through melting walls OF fire
| And die In the brave endeavor to plant