The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-24
l,OLY JOE,
A Romini, cence of the ldle war.


'Twus then we found our soldier blade
Was not in vain csllod Haly Joe.
The chaplain called for volunteers
10 sing iha' grand old fighting song,
That many q homasick soldier cheers,
Though he may to no sect belong
Stand up tor Jesus was the air.
That grand old hymn we let it go,
But over all we heard it there
Tho clarion voic, Of Holy Joe.
He had no friends TO bring him chccr,
10 pass the camp routine each day,
At roll he always answered here,
He never seemed to be away,
He shirked no duty, was.not sick,
He never grumbled that know.
II grub was scarce ho.did not Kick,
Such was tho soldier Holy Joo.
One day some soldiers jumped tho !lars,
AMI started in to paint the town.
Without II thought OF guard house fines.
Or that squad would hunt them
Tho squad was formed to make arrest
At sabres point, if need bo so,
Myself was one and with the rest,
With sword CD side, was Holy Joo.
We started in and got our men,
And forthwith faced them homeward
bound,
Bright face, quick march, we had them
But Joe was nowhere to bs found.
Yes there he was block away,
Tho bully of the camp in tow.
Since that arrest and since that day
Few slurs wore thrown ut Holy Joe.
The Colonel of the 3lst.,
Had brought two broncos from the
plains,
Without their first initial bust.
Without which, bronco man disdains,
A lexas ranger busted one
The next laid many q soldier low,
When some one put the Colonel Oh
10 send to camp for Holy Joe.
He came, saluted, stood at rest,
The Colonel told him mount and ride
They brought the horse from woolly
west,
And Joe was soon on him astride.
The bronco taken by surprise,
Scarce knew which way twas best to
While some one in the crowd now cries:
Hos met his match in Holy Joe.
He reared, fell backward on the sward,
And rolled right oy er on the ground
But Joe was off and Oil his guard,
Again astride him with bound,
He bucked. and jumped, md plunged
and screamed
Used every trick a horse could know,
While on his back there sat it seemed
A man of marble, Holy Joe.
At last the wild steed of the plain.
Wi h crest bowed down aud altered
mlen,
Walked docie, guided by the rein,
AS patrey ridden by aqGe,E.
And then the pent up cheers rang out
From out thousand thro1ts or SO
Cheers for the 53rd they shout
And bronco buster Holy jos.
The order came at last to move.
10 ship us quickly to he 'front.'
Where we would soon have chance to
prove
Our vaor in the a'tle's brunt.
l mind that fight SO dearly bDn9ht
Whom first we met the willy foe,
All heaven to see him how he fought.
That hero soldier, Holy Joe.
First in the charge, last in retreat,
That soldier never seemed to tire.
When praised for each heart thrilling
feat,
He answered, we don't fight for hire,
A model man he never swore,
His answer always yes or no,
A creIit to the blue he wore
4 model soldier, Holy Joe.
One day beside the campfire dim
Towards tho close of the campaign,
l saw him by the fires dull glim
With head bowed down AS II in pain
And there upon tho ground had lain,
What brought tho gallant soldier woe !
A paper marked in blue ink stain
1t broke the heart of Holy Joe.
l picked it up ami glanclng DER,
+. The marriage Of millionare.
l rend; but what's the uso of more
Ioe's sweetheart wa, he lady fair,
Next day un order sharp was sent
For % scouts TO track the foe.
And Joe in charge, us sergeant went,
He'd won his stripes did Holy Joe.
That eve to camp they brought him
back
With wounds the first he had received,
But then that other wound alack.
knew it conld not bc relieved,
The surgeon said he'd pull him through |
In double quick. u week or SO,
Deluued man he little knew
The wound that harrassed sergeant |
Joe.
Tho shoulder straps so noblv won,
Awaited him worthy priz,,
But ere the setting OF thesun
Brave sergeant Joo had closed his eyes.
In peace wo laid him meath tho hill,
Brave soul that never feared for.
Through MauI Ier bullets failed to kill
He died hear broken, Holy Joe.
III peace we laid him down to rest
Tho hero Of tho last cnlnpniyn
A womnn's picture Oh lis breast
The soldiers blessing or his bane.
What bitter tears down rough checks
sped.
As in the grave we laid him low,
Who nobly fought and nobly bed
Our volunteer Lieu enant Joe.
III L.. L.,