 | Poems by John Howard Bryant |  |
WELCOME TO THE RETURNED VETERANS. 1863.
Welcome home our gallant brothers,
Welcome home ye brave and true;
Rebel hordes had trod these prairies,
But for you and such as you.
Welcome home ye brave and true;
Rebel hordes had trod these prairies,
But for you and such as you.
But for you our peaceful dwellings
Had been cold and desolate.
But for you the scourge and gibbet,
Fire and sword had been our fate.
Had been cold and desolate.
But for you the scourge and gibbet,
Fire and sword had been our fate.
Through the long and weary marches;
Through the watches of the night;
Oft times pressed with cold and hunger,
You have kept your honer bright.
Through the watches of the night;
Oft times pressed with cold and hunger,
You have kept your honer bright.
158
We are proud this day to meet you,
Proud the banquet board to spread;
Proud with heart and hand to greet you,
Pouring blessings on your head.
Proud the banquet board to spread;
Proud with heart and hand to greet you,
Pouring blessings on your head.
Fearless in the hour of conflict,
Bureau's sons a dauntless band,
Ever met the rebel cohorts,
Breast to breast and hand to hand.
Bureau's sons a dauntless band,
Ever met the rebel cohorts,
Breast to breast and hand to hand.
Bureau boys at bloody Shiloh,
Pea Ridge, Gibson, Donelson,
Corinth, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson,
Fought the rebel foe and won.
Pea Ridge, Gibson, Donelson,
Corinth, Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson,
Fought the rebel foe and won.
Champion Hill and Chattanooga,
Saw them foremost in the fight,
Pouring out their blood like water
For their country, truth and right.
Saw them foremost in the fight,
Pouring out their blood like water
For their country, truth and right.
Let us for a moment speak of
The brave spirits gone before;
Call to mind with deepest reverence,
Those our eyes shall see no more.
The brave spirits gone before;
Call to mind with deepest reverence,
Those our eyes shall see no more.
Noble, brave, heroic Ferris,
Frank in nature as in name;
Page, large hearted, Seaman, Gordon;
Stalwart Swain of iron frame.
Frank in nature as in name;
Page, large hearted, Seaman, Gordon;
Stalwart Swain of iron frame.
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Gray haired Lloyd and earnest Russell,
These and hundreds true as they,
Such as Mason, Holmes and Weaver,
Bureau honors—mourns to-day.
These and hundreds true as they,
Such as Mason, Holmes and Weaver,
Bureau honors—mourns to-day.
Think ye these will be forgotton?
Never, while the human heart
Throbs and thrills with great emotions,
Can their memory depart.
Never, while the human heart
Throbs and thrills with great emotions,
Can their memory depart.
What! their deeds be unremembered,
Who have died that we might live?
If so, let our memories perish;
If so, mighty God forgive.
Who have died that we might live?
If so, let our memories perish;
If so, mighty God forgive.
For the distant coming ages
History's pen shall fill her roll,
Write their names in light and glory
On the nation's deathless scroll.
History's pen shall fill her roll,
Write their names in light and glory
On the nation's deathless scroll.
Who will fill these vacant places?
Standing for the noble dead,
Who will take the posts of honor?
Who avenge the blood they shed?
Standing for the noble dead,
Who will take the posts of honor?
Who avenge the blood they shed?
See! the traitor legions waver,
“Now's the day and now's the hour,”
One more charge, resistless Northmen,
Breaks the rebel tyrant's power.
“Now's the day and now's the hour,”
One more charge, resistless Northmen,
Breaks the rebel tyrant's power.
160
When the last slave's gyves are broken,
When this bloody strife is o'er,
When with shouts and songs of triumph,
Victory rings from shore to shore.
When this bloody strife is o'er,
When with shouts and songs of triumph,
Victory rings from shore to shore.
When our glorious flag unchallenged,
O'er the land and o'er the sea,
Floats undimmed in starry splendor,
Flag of the Union and the free.
O'er the land and o'er the sea,
Floats undimmed in starry splendor,
Flag of the Union and the free.
Then again we'll bid you welcome,
Welcome home to peace and rest,
Then the victors' fadeless chaplet,
Shall around your brows be pressed.
Welcome home to peace and rest,
Then the victors' fadeless chaplet,
Shall around your brows be pressed.
| Poems by John Howard Bryant | |