 | Naked Genius |  |
50
THE SPECTATOR OF THE BATTLE OF BELMONT, NOVEMBER 6, 1863.
O, brother spectators, I long shall remember,
The blood-crimson veil which spreads over the field,
When battle commenc'd on the sixth of November,
With war-beaming aspect, the sword and the shield.
The blood-crimson veil which spreads over the field,
When battle commenc'd on the sixth of November,
With war-beaming aspect, the sword and the shield.
The sound of destruction breaks loud from the mortars,
The watchman is tolling the death-tuning knell,
The heroes are clustering from quarter to quarter;
What mortal, the fate of this combat shall tell?
The watchman is tolling the death-tuning knell,
The heroes are clustering from quarter to quarter;
What mortal, the fate of this combat shall tell?
Blood breaks from its vein like a stream from its fountain;
Spectators the pain of the conflict explore;
The fugitives fly to the cave on the mountain,
Betray'd by the vestige of blood in their gore.
Spectators the pain of the conflict explore;
The fugitives fly to the cave on the mountain,
Betray'd by the vestige of blood in their gore.
The conflict begins from the twang of the drummer,
And ends with the peal of a tragical tale;
O yes, it subsides like a storm into summer,
No less for the dead shall the living bewail.
And ends with the peal of a tragical tale;
O yes, it subsides like a storm into summer,
No less for the dead shall the living bewail.
I've heard of the battles of many foreign nations;
I've heard of the wonderful conflict of Troy,
And battles, with bloodshed, thro' all generations,
But nothing like this could my feelings annoy.
I've heard of the wonderful conflict of Troy,
And battles, with bloodshed, thro' all generations,
But nothing like this could my feelings annoy.
The dark dirge of destiny, sung by a spirit,
Alone can the scene of the combat display,
For surely no dull earthly mortal can merit
A wonder to equal this tragical lay.
Alone can the scene of the combat display,
For surely no dull earthly mortal can merit
A wonder to equal this tragical lay.
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