Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-24

occasion of The burial In the plot set apart
by the commonwealth for their reception
in the cemetery at Frankfort, Ky. where
he too was buried with military honors,
and considering hat he was one of the
earliest who shed their blood for Cub
Libre, it seems both timely and
appropriate that something should be
known of his life, and that his great
poem should be reprinted.
Theodore OHara soldier, poet, lawyer
and journalist, was born in Danville, Ky.
February II, 1920. He was the son of
Kane O'Hara, an Irish patriot, who fled
his own land on account of political OPP
preston, settling in Kentucky. where he
became distinguished as IN educator of
great learning and ability. Theodore was
prepared for college by his father. and
afterwards graduated at st. Joseph's Col
lege, at B~eardstown. Ky, with honors
After this he practiced law for a time,
holding an appointment in the treasury
department at Washington during 1915,
and was nominated captain of the United
States army. He served through the
Mexican war, and was breveted major
for gallant conduct on the field. Return
ing to Washington he esumed his aw
practice, but again drew his sword when
Lopez attempted the liberation of Cuba
in 1851. O'Hara Joined the Inflated eXpe-
Citation and led a regiment at C%ardenas,
in which battle he was severely wound
ed. He was subsequently concerned in
Walkers invasion of Central America.
He afterwards engaged in journalism in
the south, with great ability and brill
liancy, obtaining for his paper, the Mo-
bile Register. great prestige. At the be-
ginning Of the var Of the rebellion, he
went with the south, and was in COM
mand for a time of the defenses of Mo-
bile bay, where he again distinguished
himself. After this he served as aide-de-
camp on Albert Sidney Johnston's staff,
and was beside that officer when he fell
at Shiloh.
Subsequently, and until the end of the
war, he was chief of staff to General John
G. Breckinridge. With Breckinridge he
took part in the famous New Years day
charge at Stone River, in which in twen-
ty minutes the confederates lost 1000
men. 1t is worth noting here, for the
benefit of those who have begun to speak
of the Affections Of the war with Spain,
that in the three days fighting before
Murfreesboro on this occasion the con-
federates lost IA, 600 men, the federals 49,
600. in killed, wounded and missing, a
total larger by several thousand than the
recent army of invasion in Cuba. After
the war O'Hara retired to an Alabama
plantation, where he died June Z, 1867. In
1873 the kentucky legislature made an
appropriation for bringing his body to his
native state and marking his grave in the
SlalC t O. LII 1Otf lC
was reinterred with military honors with
in a few feet of the spot where he stood
when he read his famous poem. What q
career of romano and adventure. and
what a triumph Of the spirit of poesy over
sectionalism and partisanship! The son
of In exile, always the champion of the
losing cause. fate ordains that the lines
of this young Irish-American, true des-
cendant Of the old bards of Erin, shall
be taken up as the most fitting inscrip-
ton over the National Cemetery at
| Washington and wherever fallen heroes
rest.
THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD.
The muff.ed drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo;
No more in life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fane's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
But Glory guards, with solemn round,
The biyouac of the dead.
No rumOr of the foes advance
Now swells upon the wind:
No troubled thoughts at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the mOrrOW's strife
The warriors dream alarms::
No braying horn nor screaming fife
AT dawn shall call to arms.
Their shivered swords are red with rust,
Their pllmed heads are bowed:
Their naughty banner, trailed in dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears ave washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.
The n%eighboring troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast, -
The charge. the dreadful c~annonade,
The din and shout are past;
Nor wars wild note, nor glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
These breasts that never more may feel
The rapture of the fight.
Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That sweeps his great plateau
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain
Came dow the serried foe.
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break DER the field beneath,
Knew we'll the watchword of that day
Was "Victory or Death.'
Long has the doubtful conflict ragged
Ger all that stricken plain.
For never fiercer fight had waged
The vengeful blood of Spain:
And still the storm of battle blew,
Still swelled the CORY tide;
Not long our stout old chieftain knew
Such odds his strength could bide.
Twas in that hour his stern command
Called to a martyrs grave
The flower of his beloved land
The nations flag to save.
By rivers of their fathers gore
His frst-born laurels grew,
And we'll he deemed the sons would pour