Later Lays and Lyrics :: :: University of Virginia Library

Rich in proud memories is the pass
Where perished of old Leonidas,
His precious blood libation free
Poured out at the shrine of liberty:
But this mighty world of the West can boast
As great a name in freedom's host,
To grandly peal in a nation's shout,
When our banner of stars is flaming out,
Inspiring men in the desperate fight
To conquer, or die for God and the Right.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.

II.

The spurring courier tidings brought
That junction Lee with Johnston sought,
Determined, although great his loss,
The Appomattox bridge to cross,
And changing base the war prolong
With a force an hundred thousand strong,
Read hurried, with a weak array,
To bring the southern chief to bay,
Though suffering from wounds unhealed
Received on many a desperate field.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.

III.

When reached his post of peril dire
He shouted, while his eye flashed fire,
“We must hold this bridge, my lads! or die—
If they pass it must be where our corpses lie.”
With fearful odds the foe rushed on,
Drums beat the charge, and blades were drawn,
But the blue jackets charged the grey,
And the head of their column was swept away.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.

IV.

Again, and again were driven back
The Rebel ranks in their fierce attack;
Where man met man, and steed met steed
Charged, under spur, the gallant Read:
Never Murat of the snow-white plume,
Whose shout was an army's knell of doom,
Fought on with more of skill and might
In the red maelstrom of the fight,
And cheered by foes was this warrior true
Leading to death his devoted few.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.

V.

Though bleeding fast, with sword in hand,
While melted away his Spartan band,
Read marked a general of the foe
Tower in their van for the final blow,
But he shouted, with a flashing eye,
“We must hold the bridge, my lads, or die!”—
Then met in the shock of fearful fight,
The rebel chief, like a belted knight,
While dead from their steeds that bore them well
Both, in that stern encounter, fell.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.

VI.

Thus the back-bone of treason broke,
For Lee received his mortal stroke
When Read in manhood's glorious morn,
Made battle with his “hope forlorn,”
While crimson from their wounds outwelled,
And Appomattox Bridge was held.
On fame's unmoulding column traced,
High will this feat of arms be placed,
And all who perished on that day
In the nation's heart be enshrined for aye.
Then crown with laurel, Read!
With deathless laurel, Read!
For never rode in glory's van
A braver, or a better man,
Upon his battle steed.