The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-06-15
THE GRAY
Lines Written by n Confederate Veteran
Dedicated to His Comrades of
the Lost Cause.

N"rhteu it '"' -.phis Reunion.L
WI .enc@ .neth all these Phgrims in the
pleasant month of MavE
And wherefore do these aged men toward
Memphis wend their way:
With shrunken frames, and Fl sures bent,
and faces SCARED and Old
Seek they some Memphian Oracle, their
future to unfold?
These men are they who wore the gray in
eighteen siEty-one;
The future does not trouble them-their
duty's nobly done.
Their hair Is scant. their boards are gray,
their shoulders bent and round.
But Fame, with laurel and with bay,
each hoary head hath crowned!
II was not thus that they appeared some
forty years ago,
When health and strength were In their
limbs, their veins with youth aglow.
They firmly stood In serried ranks, each
lad in Gray attired;
Their eyes were bright. their muscles
tense, their hearts with ardor hired.
For when upon their mother soil the proud
Each eager rushed to meet the foe and
free their native sod.
They heard the Southland's trumpet call,
and well the blast
The young. the old-they mustered all
each fearful he'd be last.
lis nara, indeed, 10 realize that THESE IN
Are men who under Johnston, Lee and
Jackson wore the Gray; .
For they're as small as common men /!
whereas their deeds of old
Would seem to say, "Who wore the Gray
were cast in giant mold"
And these same old decrepid men are
some who In that day
OF fearful fratricidal strife, did all that
mortals may
They're gath'ring here in memory of a
cause they loved full well;
Perchance from their old feeble Threats
we'll hear the Rebel Yell"
But twill not rise in thunder tones, as
once 1t did. forsooth;
For Time has shrilled their vocal chords,
while robbing them of youth
Nor will it voice the fierce, wild ire, born
Of the battles rage
Yet Will 1t mark the patriot fre-their
children's heritage.
But ills not age alone that dims the luster
Nor lung impaired that causeth them to
utter mufiled signs
Their thoughts today are far away on
They think of those they'll meet no more
til Gabriel sounds his blast.
They think of those who with them faced
the sleet of shot and shell,
ringing Rebel Yell
point OF war were Vets
Who dauntless braved the lannon's mouth
and feared not bayonets.
They think OF those who. fighting. fell with
pierced and bleeding breast:
or messy. mounds on many fields where
valiant comrades rest.
Anon you'll hear a quiv'rlng sigh ESCAPE
some Pilgrim Gray,
And ~furtive hand will seek the eye to
brush a tear away.
And when the Angel Gabriel sounds the
final ~reveille.
Assemble on the Colors," next the sigma
call will be.
Then from mountain. plain. and valley
they will gather with their scars
And they'll yen in joyful chorus under
meath the Stars and Bars.
And they'll sing the song Of Dixie as the,
form their last array.
And their feet will heat the cadence a.
they march upon their way.
And when good Saint Peter challenges
as sentry at the Gates.
They'll proudly give the countersign
We're Ex.Confederates."
Then VIII jolly old Saint, Peter give t.
each a welcome hand.
Saying. 81 hav heard that heather gods tn
Titans did withstand
But | fear celestial rHmparts wouldn'
fare so very well.
Should these Pilgrims Grav assail then
with their old time Rebel YELL"
Carthage. Miss. l.. MAURY GARRETT.