The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-09

THE PHANTOM HOST.

NY form was wrapped 10 the slumbe
Which steals fron the heart i,s cares,
For my very life was weary
With it's barren waste of years;
But my soul, With rapid pinions,
Fled fast to the light which beams
From phantom sun and planets
For the dreamer 10 bis dreams.
stood 10 q wondrous woodland,
Where the sunlight nestled sweet
1n the cups of snowy lilies y
Which bloomed about my feet
And while the Gothic forest arches
Stirred gently With the air,
The lilies underneath them
Swung their csusors, pale in prayer.
stood amazed and wondering,
And q grand Memnonian strain
Came sweeping through the forest,
And died then rose again.
1t swslled 10 solemn measure,
Till my soul, with comfort blessed,
Sank down amoGg the lilies
With folded wings to rest.
Thea to that mystic music,
Through the forests twilight aisle.
Passed host with nufled footsteps,
In martial rank aud Gle;
And knew those grey.clad figures,
Thus slowly passing by,
Were the so als of Son lheru soldiers
Who for freedom dared to die.
In front rode Sidney Johnston,
With brow no longer wrung
By the vile and senseiess slauders
Of prurient, rabbls tongue;
And near him mighty Jackson,
With a placid front, as one
Whose warfare was accomplished,
Whose crown of glory won.
There Hill, too, pure and noble,
Passed 10 that spirit traio,
For be joined the martyred army
From the South's last battle plain.
Then next 10 ordsr followed
The warrio..priest, great Polk,
With Joy to meet bis Master,
For be- bad nobly borne HIS yoke.
There Stuart, the bold, the daring,
With rnatch!ess Pelham rode
With earnest, chasteoed faces,
They were looking up to God.
And jenkins. glorious Jenkins,
With bis patient, fearless eyes,
And the brave, devoted Garnstt,
Journeyed on to Paradise.
Before a shadowy squadron
Rode Morgan, keen and stroag,
And | knew by his tranquil forehead
He'd forgotten every wrong.
ADD peerless Pegram marchiog
With dsuntless martial tread,
breathsd Sigh for the hero,
The young, The early dead.
Mid spectral Black.h horse troopers
Passed Ashby's stalwart form,
With that proud, defiant bearing
Which 20 spurned tie battle storm
But his glance was mild and tender,
For in that phantom host
1t dwelt with lingering fondnes
90 the brother be bad lost.
There s'rods the brave Mallory,
Kind, genial adjutaut
Aud neXs him walked tho truthful,
The lioa.hearted CAN'T.
Then, to that solsmo music,
Passed Q traii Of tbe brave:
Hayne. Taylor, Alfred Pinckuey-
Each had found . soldiers grave.
They we're young aod gentle spirits,
But they quaned the bitter cup,
For their couutry's Gag was falling,
Aud they fell to lift it up.
Ay, there passed 10 countless tbeusapds 9
10 that mighty phantom host.
True hsarts and noble patriots
Whose names on earth are lost.
There ",he missing" found their places.
Those who vanished from our gaze
Like brilliant, flashing meteors,
And were lost 10 glory's blaze.
Yes, they passed, that noble army
They psssed TO meet their Lord
And voice within me whispered
"They but march to their reward"
1.-The above poem was written in 1866
Rev. p. D. Hay. rector of the Church of
Holy Comforter, this city, and then a +
lent Of this city, but at that time he had
taken orders. A short time after the D,
vas written it was published in the SUI
which was its 6rst publicati
rhe poem was widely copied. and in tim
vas attributed to Father Ryan. by no,
'vsrybody.]