The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-01
THE LAST BATTLE.
BY J. G. WATERS.

THE LAST BATTLE
BY J. G. WATERS.
Each drum is dumb:
The bugIe bawls no note or calls.
H Hnd he ehar 4sY his Eo aG a5e the fOe
To show the world, our flag unfurled,
And how a state is madei
On goes the line; the barrels shine,
Flame tipped with FURNISHED steel,
That ere the fray shall end this day,
The mongreI horde shall feel
On to the front and fame, uF
Each title, rank and nameI
What weary leagues of sea away.
Er6 5 l4ye and d home ONE and friends len this day!
With velvet piles of vernai green!
A million hearts with but one prayer,
And thick as leaves in Valambrosa's vale,
Safe voyaged through the storm and gale,
As serVitOrs around them stand and wait!
Oh. gallant men, it is our hearts that
Within her fond embrace. upon your moist
Feel now. the absent mothers breath!
And guardians of the brave defend,
That when victorious day shall end,
There be no kiss of deathi
And the, cadenced swish of grass
As on the stately columns pass,
der feeds.
Through marsh and mire. the bramble
and brler,
Through creeper and vine, on rushes the
linei
And. who at the head,
Which one of them led;
And who do you find
Is tagging behind?
Hank! Hear the triumphant call,
Bugle, drum, the fife and all;
The shrek of shrapnel, the whirr of ball,
The spiinters and crash where they may
The rumble and roar as, the rifles outpour.
The VOlleys of men, a silence, and then
Irelght6d
The c sy and and tghf and c 51n
Timed by the beat and done by turn,
As thunders the Maxim gun!
It is only the shouts as they scale the re-
Onward they go, pursuing the foe.
With volley and cheer. defiant and clear:
Their withers are strong to hasten the
And!write it down, pen, the colonel and
With nag to the front, each lead in the
No halt nor stop nor stay they made:
BIT Ike fol,o sunday I'd dress ss,B Bsr3fd d
As here they run, as there they go.
There the Bagbag's waters CLEAN,
There flows its tawny, sluggish stream;
r In looms ms me t Prldge aha proRen span'
Housed in. and armor proof.
The wall and overhanging roof;
And full a hundred score are there,
Who billet the balls the Mausers bear.
TO climb the. girder or walk the beam;
This glorious Kansas regiment!
They, swim the stream, they stride the
And here where its dark currents flow.
They cheer and volley as they go.
Of n What flf fheir Xa6r d thai daT
Why, when on the trench they charging
The whole wide world shall know each
We're friendly and White of company D,
All grimy and stained as men could be,
In courage dressed and clad in pride,
The battle done, the trenches won,
They RATED over each his gun!
Please, good Mr. Trumpeter, ..l.a
Sound a blast the pulse to stir; ~
Give your battered bqgle rein;
Some lofty, soul exalting strain!
That tinkles the heart and trembles the
A vaiorous field is the place to die.
The guerdon of battle is a tune like this,
Long. hours of pain, then moment of
Let it echo the flags as they toss and
Ger the living men and the soldiers
As they fiutter and fade and rise, and dip,
To mingle its signs with the parting
And hush all agony of deathl
Brave men to do to dare or fall:
They heard the voice of duty call,
And CHANGED the dice with death for ALL
Nor guessed when there they crossed the
They reached ambitions highest dream;
Nor knew for once they passed the goal,
Where songs are sung and laurel flung,
And all the joy bells toll!
Around the world. the flag unfurled,
Is blazoned with their story!
We bind their brows with leaf and bay;
Immortal honor on that day,
| Crossed Bagbag's sluggish stream with
them,
And here we touch their garments hem
With glory, glory. glory