The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-09-09
'.p1CKETT's CHARGE" AT GET
TYSBURG.

TYSBURG.
nv y Worthington. Author OF inc
Broken Sword.)
The arrows from the torid sun
Pierced helmet. blade, and oraiu
Ere vet the carnage had Desuh
That drcnched with blood the pialh'
hush of death steals on and o er
The pulsing lurid air
And silence broods above the Eoai
As if it paused in prayer.
Hark, 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 mead.
why did the carnage lease.
"Why did the breathless air seem dead
who said tina prayer in peace?
why did the foe cease fire that hour!
when Armistead staggered, fell?'
sneak, Comrade, speak, whence came
the pONti
Ito stop that rain of she'll?
on wonder crests, bright zones OF steel
Fence out the lines in gray.
I see the column about to kneel
With their banners proud and gay;
hear a whisper in that calm,
4 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 fag so low?
What means that praper that speaks or
Life?
When Death aims every blow.
All l tell thee as L saw 1t then,
The men who charged that day;
Six thousand men there might have been,
The Blue against the Cray"
Nay brother; not then, not then,
They marched in fierce array;
Twas Pickett's guns and Picketts men
To win that fearsome day.
Round Top" was girdled fast with fire
The valorous foe watched there,
The fretful guns spat out their ire
And threshed the loathsome air.
Column forward! buluc othlic.
'March!"
"Oh, God, protect our men!
These are thy creatures Lord! Pray
snatch
Them from thfs end;
go with them, with our bonnie flag,
'Tis the Gray against the Blue
NO swagge now, no boast, no brag
It's all that they can do,
'To trust in Thee, who stills the storm
Who binds the lightning's 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,
hills 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 q grave
For all of Pitchett's rain.
All, that recoil, that hellish sound.
Whence came the crash so chcad?
A thousand hearts red-dye the ground,
Ten thousand hearts have blcd,
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,
Wa charge like this e'er known
Cease fire, men! brave men have died
Who valor thus have shown
Cease fire, men. bow each his head
Whilst the bleeding ranks reform
Cor Pickett's men alive and dead
Shall wear a fadeless crown
The line now melts like mountain mist;
Gives way to shot and shell,
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;
| tell thee friend when Pickett led
The foe forgot the fray.
Forgot the battle and the wage,
Forgot the nation one;
Whate'cr the goal, whatn'cr 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
And bless his laurelled head.