[The soldiers of the Union War, in] Spanish-American War Songs A complete collection of newspaper verse during the recent war with Spain |
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 | [The soldiers of the Union War, in] Spanish-American War Songs |  |
326
THE SOLDIERS OF THE UNION WAR.
No more for these the cannon's thunder pealing,
No more for these the pride of martial tramp;
No lurking spy around their rest is stealing;
No sentry walks to guard the silent camp.
No more for these the pride of martial tramp;
No lurking spy around their rest is stealing;
No sentry walks to guard the silent camp.
No more the soldiers toil in weary marches,
No more the hosts engage in deadly fray;
And now beneath the gloomy yews and larches
They wait the trumpet of the Judgment Day.
No more the hosts engage in deadly fray;
And now beneath the gloomy yews and larches
They wait the trumpet of the Judgment Day.
Strew ye their graves with pansies, rose, and lily;
Pansies for memory, roses for their fame,
Lilies for love which never may grow chilly
But fan the patriot's fervor into flame.
Pansies for memory, roses for their fame,
Lilies for love which never may grow chilly
But fan the patriot's fervor into flame.
No sound is heard to-day of warlike clangor,
Of sharp command, or bugles' warning blast;
But here arise, without a thought of anger,
The stirring memories of the long time past.
Of sharp command, or bugles' warning blast;
But here arise, without a thought of anger,
The stirring memories of the long time past.
From cloudless skies there came a peal of thunder,
And all men stood awestruck and sore amazed
To see disunion strive to rend asunder
The stately fabric which our fathers raised.
And all men stood awestruck and sore amazed
To see disunion strive to rend asunder
The stately fabric which our fathers raised.
The Dragon's teeth were sown; and quick upspringing
From the field and workshop came men's heavy tread;
And bold defiance to all foemen flinging,
War drew the sword and Peace in terror fled.
From the field and workshop came men's heavy tread;
And bold defiance to all foemen flinging,
War drew the sword and Peace in terror fled.
Brandished the Northern Thor his mighty hammer,
Wielded the Southern Mars his falchion keen;
And then arose throughout the land the clamor
Of such a fight as ne'er before was seen.
Wielded the Southern Mars his falchion keen;
And then arose throughout the land the clamor
Of such a fight as ne'er before was seen.
From home and fireside in the olden manor,
Leaving behind their children, wives and kin,
They rallied underneath our glorious banner,
And gave their lives the sacred fight to win.
Leaving behind their children, wives and kin,
They rallied underneath our glorious banner,
And gave their lives the sacred fight to win.
They brought with them self-sacrifice, devotion,
Ready to fight and die, if die they must,
Ere that old flag, supreme o'er earth and ocean,
Should fall and trail dishonored in the dust.
Ready to fight and die, if die they must,
Ere that old flag, supreme o'er earth and ocean,
Should fall and trail dishonored in the dust.
327
They fought no dwarfs; each grappled with a giant;
Each champion's heart was filled with martial fire;
Each on his inborn courage was reliant;
None brought to shame the surname of his sire.
Each champion's heart was filled with martial fire;
Each on his inborn courage was reliant;
None brought to shame the surname of his sire.
These saved the Union—union which had perished
But for the courage which their deeds revealed;
No stripes were taken from the flag they cherished,
No star was blotted from its azure field.
But for the courage which their deeds revealed;
No stripes were taken from the flag they cherished,
No star was blotted from its azure field.
The old survivors of that fight victorious,
Some still remain, yet leave us one by one;
They die, but never die their actions glorious—
They die, but lives the work so nobly done.
Some still remain, yet leave us one by one;
They die, but never die their actions glorious—
They die, but lives the work so nobly done.
They pass away as pass the Summer roses.
Each withering slowly on the stalk of life,
Each soon shall join some comrade who reposes,
Forever freed from human care and strife.
Each withering slowly on the stalk of life,
Each soon shall join some comrade who reposes,
Forever freed from human care and strife.
They fought no cowards in those days of terror,
Each hero wrestled with hero foe.
'Twas four long years ere truth prevailed o'er error,
Ere patriot union laid disunion low.
Each hero wrestled with hero foe.
'Twas four long years ere truth prevailed o'er error,
Ere patriot union laid disunion low.
Peace reigns supreme, and War is here no longer,
The dark-faced Hate slinks scowling to his den,
The broken chain of union welded stronger;
And warring states once foes are friends again.
The dark-faced Hate slinks scowling to his den,
The broken chain of union welded stronger;
And warring states once foes are friends again.
Then speak not harshly of the foes who fought us,
Who bravely for their cause threw life away;
Honor the Blue for all the good they wrought us,
But drop a tear of kindness for the Gray.
Who bravely for their cause threw life away;
Honor the Blue for all the good they wrought us,
But drop a tear of kindness for the Gray.
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