The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-07
'PICKETT's CHARGE" AT GET
TYSBURG.

TYSBURG.
(By D. Worthington, Author of ''The
Broken Sword.)
The arrows from the torid sun
Pierced helmet. blade, and brain
Ere yet the carnage had begun
That drencbed with blood the plain;
hush Of death steals on and Ger
The pulsing lurid air
And silence broods above the roar
AS if it paused in prayer
| Hank! brother we that read the tale
Like Leipsie's fierce foray
| Know We; then marched through storm
and hail
Our dauntless men that day
Marched out like Tacedaemon's braves
| All glorious when they bled;
We live to bless their hallowed graves
| And tell you what they did
| why did our flag drop low its head?'
why did the carnage lease?"
| ''Why did the breathless air seem dead?'
| who said that prayer in peace?"
why did the foe cease fire that hour"
when Armistead staggered, fell?''
|
the power
| ITO stop that rain of she'll?
On yonder crests, bright zones of steel
| Fence out the lines in gray.
| l see the column about to kneel
| With their banners proud and gay;
l hear a whisper in that calm,
A whisper sweet and low:
God shield our men with Thy strong
arm
| Now Lord forever more"
What means that hust in this fierce
strife?
Why droops our flag so low?
What means that praper that speaks Of
Life?
| When Death aims every blow,
All! tell thee as 1 saw it then,
The men who charged that day;
Six thousand men there might have been,
1.-The Blue against the Gray"
| Nay brother; not then, not then,
They marched in fierce array;
Twas Pickett's guns and Pickett's men
To win that fearsome day.
Round Top" was grdled fast with fire
The valorous foe watched there,
The fretful guns spat out their ire
And threshed the loathsome air.
Column forward" "Guide Centre!'
march,
| "Oh, God, protect our men!
These are thy creatures Lord! Pray
snatch
Them from this end"
GO with them! with our bonnie flag,
IT'S the Gray against the Blue"
mo swagger now, no boast no brag
'Tis all that they can do,
ITO trust in Thee, who stills the storm
Who binds the lightnings power;
Now save our heroes; let not harm
Oe'rtake them in this hour
1t was the prayer back in the vale
That whispered e'er so low,
Whilst Pickett's men charged thro the
hail
Ger fallen friend and foe.
Charged on and on like frantic men
To pluck the prize unwon;
To plant our flag where ne'er had been
The Southron's benson
To plant that flag where it ne'er had
waved
On crest, and slope and plain,
To plant it there, or find a grave
For all of Pitchett's train.
All! that recofl! that hellish sound!
Whence came the crash so chead?
A thousand hearts red-dye the ground,
Ten thousand hearts have bled,
Again the hero cries, well win,
STEADY, my boys; Press on"
Again that cry is lost in din
Amid the lannon's boom.
The Northern heat is flushed with pride,
was charge like this e'er known?
Cease fire. men! brave men have died
Who valor> thus have shown"
Cease fire, meni bow each his head
Whilst the bleeding ranks reform
For Picketts men alive and dead
Shall wear a fadeless crown.
The line now melts like mountain mist;
Gives way to shot and she'll,
They dared to do and die like this
To charge this gate of hell
And when We ask why dropped our flag,
Why paused the strife that day;
l tell thee friend when Pickett led
The foe forgot the fray.
Forgot the battle and the wage,
Forgot the nation one;
Whateer the goal, whateer the gage,
Twas Pickett who had won
On this red field. where lost his crown,
Here mid these heaps of dead
The nations of the earth do own
land bless his laurelled head.
A Roast for Bill Fife.
presbyterian Standard)
Mr. w p Fife is evidently taking it
! ont on the Southern PRESBYTERIAN Church