Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-04-10
nav Billy.

You may talk of horses of renown. what
Goldsmith Maid has done,
How Dexter cut the seconds down. and
Fellowrraft's great run
Would you hear about horse that once
mighty battle won?
Twas the last fight at Fredericksbure-
perhaps the day You reck-
Our boys-the Twenty-second Maine
held Early's men in check,
just where Wade Hampton doomed away,
the fight went neck and neck
All day we held the weaker wing. aud
held it with a will.
Five several stubborn times we charged
the battery ON the bill,
And five times beaten back, reformed and
kept our column still
Al last from out the center fight spurred
up 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 aud
strove 30 gasp his name,
And those who could not speak nor stir
God blessed :" him just the same.
For h. was all the world to us, that hero
gray and grim,
Right well he knew that fearful slope
we'd climb with none but him.
Though while his white head led the way
we'd charge hel's portals in
This time we were not half way up,
when, midst the storm of she'll,
Our leader, with his sword up raised, te-
meath our colors fell,
And, as we bore him back, the foe set mp
joyous yell.
Our hearts went with him--back we
swept; and when the bugle said
Up, charge again no man was there
but hung his logged head
We've no one left 10 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 10 say
above the battles brunt,
How can the Twenty-second charge If |
am not in front?"
Like statues rooted there we stood aud
gazed a 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 as that
brave sight had done.
Down all the battered line we felt light
ming impulse run
Up! up! the hin we followed Bill and
captured every gun!
And when upon the conquered height died
out the battles hum,
Ndialy mis- living and the dead we
sought our leader dumb
II seemed as If spectcr 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
ont the long brigade.
And brayey 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 yesteruoon 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 tolcd
up with weary tread,
IT 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
bugle's 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 r
Frank Gassaway.
In its 1907 annual report the Ham