 | War poets of the South and Confederate camp-fire songs. |  |
TO A ONE-ARMED SOUTHERN SOLDIER.
HENRY JEROME STOCKARD,
Thou hero! that for four ensanguined years,
Did'st face the battle's shattering shot and shell;
And though ten thousand at thy right hand fell,
Not once dids't waver with ignoble fear—
Not once, at memory of thy home, and tears
Of loved ones, when grief-crushed in mute farewell,
They yielded thee unto that awful hell,
Did'st face the battle's shattering shot and shell;
And though ten thousand at thy right hand fell,
Not once dids't waver with ignoble fear—
Not once, at memory of thy home, and tears
Of loved ones, when grief-crushed in mute farewell,
They yielded thee unto that awful hell,
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Whose hot breath only now no longer sears—
And then when all had perished, scarred and maimed,
With thy one hand thy ruins did'st repair
And feed, the while, thy foeman from thy store—
To tell thy valor speech hath not been framed,
A more unfading chaplet thou should'st wear,
Then e'er the bravest Gaul or Spartan wore!
And then when all had perished, scarred and maimed,
With thy one hand thy ruins did'st repair
And feed, the while, thy foeman from thy store—
To tell thy valor speech hath not been framed,
A more unfading chaplet thou should'st wear,
Then e'er the bravest Gaul or Spartan wore!
| War poets of the South and Confederate camp-fire songs. | |