The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-06
IA Ballad Of Major Anderson.
(St. Louis Globe-Democrat.)

son from Fort Moultrie; or, in other
words, the writer, Mrs. J. c. S. Dorr,
looked forward fifty years to the pres
ent day. The ballad was evidently
written before the bombardment, and,
although the removal of a little band
Of soldiers from one fort to another
may seem to us q trivial subject for
a martial poem, we must remember
that in that time of great excitement
small events were big with impor-
lance. The ballad is headed "Decem-
Der 26, $780, which was the fftieth
here reproduced in full:
Come, children, leave your playing
this dark and stormy night;
Shut fast the rafting window-blinds
and make the fire burn bright;
And hear an old mans story, while
loud the fierce winds blow,
OF gallant Major Anderson and fifty
years ago.
I was a young man then, boys, but
twenty-eight years old,
And all my comrades knew me for a
soldier, brave and bold;
My eye was bright, my step was firm
I measured six feet two;
And knew not what it was to shirk
when there was work to do.
We were stationed at Fort Moultrie
in Charleston Harbor, then,
A brave band, though a small one, OF
scarcely sixty men;
And day and night we waited for the
coming Of the foe
With noble Major Anderson, just f1f-
ty years ago.
Were they French or English, ask
you? Oh, neither, neither, child!
We were at peace with other lands
and all the nations smiled
On the Stars and Stripes, wherever
they f1oated, far and free,
And all the foes we had to meet we
found this side Of the sea.
But even between brothers bitter feuds
will sometimes rise,
And twas the cloud of civil war thai
darkened in the skies;
I have not time to tell you how the
quarrel first began,
Or how it grew. till DER our land the
strife like wildfire ran.
I will not use hard words, my boys
for I am old and gray,
And I've learned it is an easy thing
for the best to go astray;
Some wrong there was on either part
I do not doubt at all;
There are two sides to a quarre1-bt
it great, or be 1t small.
But yet, when South Carolina laid
her sacrilegfous hand
On the altar of q Union that belonged
to all the land;
When she tore our glorious banner
down, and trailed it in the dust,
Every patriots heart and conscience
bade him guard the sacred trust.
You scarce believe me, children, grie
and doubt are in your eyes,
Fixed steadily upon me in wonder
and surprise;
Don't forget to thank our Father wher
at night you kneel to pray,
That an undivided people rule Amer
lea to-day.
We were stationed at Fort Moultrie
but about a mile away
The battlements of Sumter stood
proudly in the bay;
Twas by far the best position, as h.
could not help but know
Our gallant Major Anderson, just fit
ty years ago.
Yes, twas just after Christmas, fit.
years ago. to might;
The sky was calm and cloudless, tn
moon was large and bright;
At 6 O'Clock the drum beat to call u
to parade,
And not man suspected the plan tina
had been laid.
But the first thing soldier learns i
that he must obey,
And that when an orders given h
has not a word to say;
So when told to man the boats not
question did We ask,
But silently, yet eagerly, began GU
hurried task.
though our numbers were but few
We had all our stores to carry an
our ammunition, too,
And our guardship-'twas the Nina
set to watch us in the bay,
Never dreamed what we were doing
though twas almost light as day.
We spiked the guns we left behind
and cut the Flagstaff down
From its top should float no colo
if it might not hold our own,
Then we sailed away for Sumter a
fast as we could go,
With our good Major Anderson, jus
fifty years ago.
I never can forget, my boys, how tn
next day at noon,.
The drums beat and the bands playet
stirring national tune;
And silently we gathered round TIN
f1agstaff strong and high,
Forever pointing upward to God
temple In the sky.
Our noble Major Anderson was goot
as he was brave,
And he knew without His blessing M
banner long could wave,
Sc he knelt with head uncovered Will,
the chaplain read the prayer,
And as the last amen was said tn,
flag rose high in air.
Then our loud huzzas rang out, fal
and widely DER the sea!
We shouted for the Stars and Stripes
the standard Of the free;
Every eye was fixed upon it every
heart beat warm and fast
AS with eager lips we promised to de.
fend it to the last.
Twas a sight to be remembered boys
the chaplain with his book,
Our leader humbly xneel1ng with his
calm undaunted look;
And the officers and men, crushing
tears they would not shed
And the blue sea all around us, and
the blue sky overhead.
Now go to bed, my children, the old
mans story's told
Stir up the fire before you go, tits bit
ter, bitter cold
And I'll tell you more tomorrow
night, when loud the fierce winds
blow,
OF gallant Major Anderson and fifty
wars