Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-25

Au"t May uAY OF long ago.
And looked on the beautiful city that
lies
At the bend of the rivers flow;
And the sun laughed down in the roses
face,
And the wind stirred the young birds
nest;
But far or near in that troubled place
Was found no joy--no rest.
Sure in its strength the river sped
With swift feet to the sea,
Calm, though with blood its waves ran
red,
Blood of the bond or free
And mile on mile around the town
The goodly breast works rose,
And Knocked the army marching down
And laughed at Nicksburg's foes
0 the boys in blue" came weary way.
That May day long ago,
A dreary march to the town where lay
The stream like a Bonded bow;
10 the frowning walls with death were
dark,
And the foe was brave and strong
And fasting and toll had left their mark,
And the march was hard and long.
Three days the shot and bursting shell
Rained In a burning shower;
Three days the lannon's challenge fell
With thunder's deafeuing power;
From height TO height the guns hurled
back
The challenge each to each,
And the quaking clouds hung thick and
black,
While Death and War held speech
Three days, then gallant Sherman spoke,
Had | a hundred mem
And three times fifty heroes broke
The ranks--"Here are we thenv'--
THE ditch Is wide and deep; the wall
Is steep and high, said he.
" IT'S but hope-but some must fall
Ere Nicksburg ours can be-"
Three hundred yards the rough land lay
Between them and their goal;
Three hundred yards--ah, who can say
The thoughts that filled each soul?
Before them, and on either hand
They dared the rebel fire.
And behind them dark their own guns
stand
With wreck and ruin dire.
Charge. Forward! On. press on! Your
hope
Is speed alone. my boys.
Swift as the wind adown that slope.
Their cheer drowned in the noise
flf fripnI MI ,,-l, ~ 4
Detiantly outpoured
Their heavy charge-no time for dread
No heed for lannon's roar.
To bridge the ditch they could not leap
Half ran with boards half bore
Long ladders--O, the walls were steep!
Thus dashed they to Deaths door:
All, Graveyard road" you rang with
cheers
And many a wild hurrah
For those bold and loyal volunteers
On the bluffs Of Chickasaw.
Two hundred yards and more they
passed,
No sign from that blank wall;
Then sudden, at mighty blast
AS one man dead. they fall
Two hundred yards they raced with
Death,
One moment all was Ger
OF all that band but twelve had breath
Twelve only--wounded sore.
o. the May day crept to the Nights
kind breast,
And sobbed out her sorrow there;
And the rivers requiem hushed their
rest,
And the tears kept vigil fair
One passed unhurt through that strange.
made race,
What shield was his none knows.
But his comrades sleep In that hal!owed
place
Where the binding river flows.
Eleven wounded; one safe and sound;
The rest on the field lay dead
a fatal error, with slaughter crowned,
And nothing gained" men said
Now the fields are green where the Grim
son dew
Lay thick on the trampled sod,
And a grass-hadc springs for each blood
drop, new,
Where IF old the iron hoofs trod,
o the May sun smiles on our happy
land.
Unstrred by storm or strife.
To-day but two Of that valiant band
Are left i'm the rauks of life.
Two souls, that Oft as the day dawns