Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-04-17
Bay Billy.

Bay Billy.
You may talk of horses of renown, what
Goldsmith Maid has done,
How Dexter cut the seconds down, and
Fellowcraft's great run
Would you hear about a horse that once
mighty battle Won?
Twas the last fight at Fredericksburg
perhaps the day you reck-
Our boys-the Twenty-second Maine
held Earlys men in check,
just where Wade Hampton doomed away
the fight went neck and neck
All day we held the weaker wing and
held it with a win,
Five several stubborn times we charged
the battery on the bill,
And five times beaten back, reformed and
kept our column still.
At last from out the center fight spurred
up a generals aid.
That battery must silenced be - he cried
as past he sped.
Our colonel simply touched his cap, and
then with measured tread,
To lead the crouching line once more the
grand old fellow came.
No wounded man but raised his head and
strOVe to gasp his name,
And those who could not speak nor stir
God blessed ~ him just the same.
For he was all the world to us, that hero
gray and grim,
Right we'll he knew that fearful slope
we'd climb with none but him.
Though while his white head led the way
we'd charge hells portals in
This time we were not half way up,
when, midst the storm of SHE'LL
Our leader, with his sword up raised be-
meath our colors fell,
And, as we bore him back, the foe set up
a joyous yell.
swept; and when the bugle said
up, charged" again no man was there
but hung his logged head.
We've no one left to lead us now" the
sullen soldiers said.
Just then before the laggard line the
colonel's horse we spied,
bay Billy" with his trappings on, his
nostrils swelling wide,
AS tho still on his gallant back the mas
ter sat astride.
Right Loyalty he took the place that was
of old his wont,
And with a neigh that seemed to say
above the battles brunt,
"How can the Twenty charge if l
am not in 'front.'"
gazed little space,
Above that floating name we missed the
old familiar face
But we saw bay Billy's" eye of fire and
it gave us heart of grace.
No bugle call could rouse us all az that
brave sight had done.
Down all the battered line we felt light
ming impulse run.
Up! up! the hill we followed Bill and
captured every gun!
And when upon the conquered height died
out the battles hum,
vainly mid living and the dead we
sought our leader dumb;
It seemed as if a specter steed to win
that day had come.
And then once more with banners gay the
troops stood on parade,
TRINITY upon the furrowed field stretched
out the long brigade,
And bravely amid the ranks were closed
the gaps the fight had made.
Not half the Twenty-second's men formed
that torn field upon,
For Corp'ral Dick, who yesternoon stood
six brave fellows on,
Now touched my elbows in the ranks, for
all between were gone.
All who forgets that dreary hour, when
as with misty eyes,
To call the old familiar names the solemn
sergeant tries;
One feels the humping of the heart as
no prompt voice replies.
And as, in falt'ring tones and slow the
last few names were said,
Across the field some missing horse toied
up with weary tread,
1t caught the sergeant's eye, and quick
bay Billy's" name he read.
Yes, there the old bay hero stood, all safe
from battles harms,
And ere an order could be heard or the
bugles quick alarms,
Down all the front, from end to end, the
troops presented arms
Not all the shoulder straps on earth could
still our mighty cheer,
And ever from that famous day, when
rang our roll call clear,
"Bay Billy's" name was read and then
the whole line answered, Here ~
Frank Gassaway.
In it's 1907 annual report the Ham
burg Chamber of Commerce says that
carman trade i'm China in that year