The National tribune., 1901-12-26
CHARGE OF THE LIST MINI.
Poem Concentrating Their Heroism at
Gettysburg.


Gettysburg.
EDITOR NATToNAr. TRIRrNE. While
looking over copies of The National Trib-
une | noticed the request of comradc for
the words of Il poem entitled Charge of
the Isl Aiinn. at Gettysburg Hav
ing heeh an eyewitness of the charge. and
knowing somewhat of the circumstances
under which il was made. the story Of their
her0ism against Overwhelming odds has al
ways attracted me strongly. and it has
seemed 30 me that the republication of this
poem. IT it has not already been done.
might be of interest to many of your
readerS.-WILLIAM II. RAYMOND. Co. y.
1OSth y. Y. IL Grant Place y. w. Wash
ington, ID. c.
CHARGE OF TIE 1ST MINI. AT GETTYSBURG.
by Geo s Eddy,
In wars awful balance trcmbieS Nation.
The mantle Of gloom hangs low DER the
land:
Through Gettysburg's gardens stalks dread
dcSOlation.
Gathering the blossoms with iron gIoved
hand.
Afar on the hilltop the gray lines arc form
For the last daring onslaught, in battle
array.
Pickett's Division is marshalled for storm
ing.
And swiftly their scricd ranks rush to
the fray.
Onward they come like Il fast-fowins river,
| The hope of the Southland is borne on
their wave:
If they falter to-day they fail. and for
ever
The cause they have fought for goes
| down to its grave.
A shock as when torrent and tidc-wave are
meeting,
And the North's shattered outpostS roll
| back from the plain:
| But firm as a rock where the breakers are
beating
The battle-tricd First Minnesota remains.
Guarding the banner their loved ones have
given,
| Stand they, smoke-staincd by tho can
mons hot BREATH
Ne'er from their grasp shall that banner
he rivcn,
Pledged they the loved ones to gnard it
till death.
Through the thick smoke o. the cannon,
red flashing.
Hancock secs proudly their torn banner
wave,
And fast TO their front On his war-charger
dashing.
Shouts: Charge on those linesr' 'Tis
charge to the grave.
Toward them the torrent OF foemen is
sweeping,
Naught but this handful its progress to
stay
Death on that hillside his harvest is reap
ing.
Thick on the greensward his CORY
sheavcs lay.
Quick to their places with warriors Ella
tiOn
And welcome of death, wheel the veter-
ans traiAed.
a moments time gained means Nations
salvation,
And thus, and thus only, can that mo-
mcnt be gained.
One prayer for their loved ones, one glance
Mt Old Glory.
Smoke-stained and bullet-torn, waving
on high,
And down that dread hillside. corpse
strewn and CORY,
Charge they for loved ones and country
to die.
Like spring Of the panther when guarding
her home-lair,
Like leap OF the staghound bounding on
roe,
Like rush of the whirlwind when Death
rides in mid-air,
Like ocean billow they dash on the foe.
Before them the line of their bayonets
cleaning
Like flashing of Jove's vengeful light
ming unclaimed.
And DER them the folds of their battle-flae
streaming,
They meet the foe midway. The mo-
ment is gained.
The moment is gained and their comrades
have rallied,
The battle is won and the Nation is
saved
But stark on the hillside. all bloodstained
and pallid,
Lie they, the dauntless, the maelstrom
who brayed.
The moment is gained. But, oh, what it
cost us,
The worth of that moment the Nation
knows well,
But the worth of the husbands and lovers
it lost us,
None, none but the loved ones at home
can Ger tell.