The National tribune., 1906-12-13
Music In Calnp,

Music In Camp.
Editor National Tribune: In the las,
edition of The National Tribune Corn
lade J. n. Shafter, Of Cuidad Porfiri1
Diaz. Coahulia. Mex. asked for tn.
poem, "On the Rappahannock." The
writer, in endeavoring to fulfill the re-
Quest of the comrade, has searched thru
his scrap books. but failed to find the
above title. He did find, however, a
poem written many years ago by John
Il. Thompson. and published in the
newspapers of that day. which, IL not
the identical one asked for. will doubt
less serve to recall tender, precious
memories to the hearts of both the
blue and gray" should you be able TO
find space for its publicatton.-Chas. il.
Radcliffe, Co. f, 105th 0hie. 452 25th
St. Detroit Mich.
Music In Camp.
Two armies covered hill and plain
Where RappahannOck's waters
Run deeply crimsoned with the stain
OF battles recent SlaughterS.
The Summer clouds lay pitched like
In maads of heavenly azure,
And each dread gun of the elements
Slept in its hid embrasure
The breeze SO softly blew it made
No forest leaf to culver,
And the smoke of the random cannon
ade
Rolled slowly from the river.
And now, where circlins hills looked
With cannon grimly planted.
Der listless camp and silent town;
The golden sunset slanted.
When on the fervent air there came
A strain, now rich, now tender.
The music seemed Itself aflame
With days departing splendor.
a Federal band. which eve and morn
Played measures brave and nimbie,
Had just struck up with flute and horn
And lively clash of cymbal.
Down fiocked the soldiers to the banks,
Till, margined by its pebbles.
One wooded shore was blue with
"Yanks."
And one was gray with rebels"
Then all was still: and then the band,
With movement light and tricksy.
Made stream and forest, hill and
strand.
Reverberate with Dixie"
The conscious stream. with Furnished
glow.
Went proudly DER its pebbles.
But thrilled thruout it,, deepest flow
With yelling of the rebels.
Again, a pause. and then again
The trIlfnDet De5led SOnDrOuS.
And Yankee Doodle" was the strain
To which the shore gave chorus.
The laughing ripple shorcward few
To kiss the shining pebbles;
Loud shrieked the swarming "boys in
blue"
Defiance to the rebels.
And yet once more the bugIe sang
Above the stormy riot:
No shout upon the evening rang;
There reigned holy quiet.
The sad slow stream, It's noiseiess flood
Poured DER the glistening pebbles;
All silent now the Yankees stood;
All silent stood the rebels.
No unresponsive soul had heard
That plaintive notes appealing,
stirred
The hidden founts of feeling.
OF blue or gray the soldier sees,
AS by the wand of fairy,
The cottage meath the like-oak trees,
The cabin on the prairie.
Or cold, or warm. his native skies
Bend in their beauty DER him:
Seen thru the tear-mist in his eyes,
His loved ones stand before him.
AS fades the iris after rain
In April's fearful weather.
The vision vanished as the strain
And daylight died together.
But memory. walked by music's art,
Expresst in simplest numbers,
Subdued the sternest Yankees heart,
Made light the rebels slumbers.
And fair the form of Music shines,
That bright. celestial creature,
Who still mid wars embattled lines
Gave this one touch of nature.