The National tribune., 1899-12-14
"HoME, SWEET HOME" ON THE RAPPA-
HANhdtK.
BY MY,RFIEt MIY,Ft GRAY.

Down afar the tranquil stream,
Weather-beaten tents 'hnd barrack
In the purple sunset tgleam.
Nesting close beneath the pines,
Rows on rows and lines on lines,
On one side the gallant gray
From their labofss resting lay;
On the other close in view
Are encamped the boys in blue.
Ominous silence reighs profound
Ger the warrior hosts around;
Save perchanCe sentry's call,
Not a sound is heard to fall,
As the ZephyrS softly whisper:
Home, sweet home, home, sweet home
Silent, too, flows Rappahannock,
Dreamlike. past the tents and barrack;
Not ripple. not spray
On its crystal bosom play;
Floating by the tented field,
" here THE soldiers lie concealed,
Where from clustering hemlocks tall
Huge fantastic shadows fail,
Painting ON its waters blue
Sunset skies of Somter hue,
Flowing onward, murmurmg lowly:
Home, sweet home, home, sweet home.
Natures fair and smiling face
Seems to blush in heavens embrace,
While from bivouac fires rise
Curling wreaths to russet skies.
But amid this scene so fair
Lo, there's heard a trumpet's blare!
Through the stiffness, deep and long,
Like an old forgotten song.
Rattling drums take up the sound,
Soldiers leap up from the ground
Ready for the word, "Adyance!'
Ready for each desperate chance.
Hark! what sound? The warriors listen,
And each look repeats the question:
"Star Spangled Banner" full and round,
"Star Spangled Banner" hark the sound!
Stirring strains to memory dear,
Thrilling through the stiffness clear,
Swelling DER the Rappahannock,
Where the soldiers, round the barrack,
Pledge again with sword and hand
Loyalty TO fatheriand,
And to home, home, sweet home.
With the faint and fading strain,
With the echo's last refrain,
Stiffness, huShed and wierd and lonely,
Reigns, but reignS a moment only,
For the boys, the gallant gray,
Dixies tune began to play
Underneath the pines and hemlock
By their own loved Rappahannock.
AS the notes reach high and higher
Every heart seems stirred with fire.
But the sound scarce died away
When again the blue held sway
Hail, Columbia, Happy Land"
From a rousing Yankee band.
Silent are the boys III gray
While the Yankee band holds sway.
Soft and low, and loud and clear
Fall the notes upon the ear,
Waking in each soldiers heart
Echos of a uobler part.
Hark, another melody,
Sweet, familiar melody!
Bonnie Blue Flag THE boys in gray
Now with tenderiibathos pla-'.
How tho fr1Im nptd d lcsyuitat and ptaar.
Fall upon the liSsihi&g ear!
o. how their familiar ring
Thoughts and mubiories backward bril-.
Memories fond of happier days,
And OF home, home, sweet home.
Silence seems to feign1once more
Ger the tents on either shore.
Softly on the wihps % even
Came the angel, Peace, from heaven;
Banished hatredi softened pain
Made them brothers ssonce again.
Hark! what strains so sweetly pure
Now each Hstninglear1 allure?
From the glen af1d woodland round,
Chords that seem DO shake the ground p
MY Country, 'TiS of5Thee," oh hear!
Every soldier far and Hear
Hears the echo ir4iisIheart.
Now a thousand throats upstart
In one mighty chorus singing
Through the tented critics ringing q, :
my Country "Tis of Thee" - ~" i'
From the bivouac fires rise
Eitful glimmerS toward the skies,
While an ominous silence reignS
Ger the forest and the plains,
AS the warriors mutely stand
Thoughtful round the cheerleSS brand.
When-oh, hark! what air inspiring
In chorus, heaven aspiring,
Rolls and swells with deep emotion
Like the music of the ocean
Through the forest far and nigh,
Filling all the earth and sky?
Oh, the magic of that song!
By its power low unfettered
Is the passion and the hatred;
Dry your tears, oh, sweethearts, mothers,
Blue and gray once more are brothers!
From the tents and from the barrack,
On the banks of Rappahannock,
From the soldiers brave and true,
From the boys in gray and blue,
Rings the echo deep and long
OF the dearest, sweetest song
Ever sung by man on earth
Home, Sweet Home, Home, Sweet Home.
NOTE.-It was in the Spring of 1864
as near as can be ascertained, when some
of the Union men and Confederate forces
were encamped on opposite banks of the
Rappahannock, that the grand musica
duel between the two opposing armies
took place, each band successfully playing
one of its favorite tunes. Both bands
at last joined in playing Home, Swee
| Home" One Union veteran told the author
| that it was the Louisiana Tigers" and {
New Jersey brigade that participated IL