 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
A SOLDIER'S STORY.
In the long sultry autumn day,
Our armies met in fierce affray.
Our armies met in fierce affray.
England and France were then at war,
Fighting in Spanish fields afar.
Fighting in Spanish fields afar.
The corn that ripened on the plain
Was red with blood of brave men slain;
Was red with blood of brave men slain;
And, trampled 'neath the horses' tread,
Formed a last pillow for the dead.
Formed a last pillow for the dead.
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All day our ranks stood firm and fast,
Though thinn'd by many a rifle-blast;
Though thinn'd by many a rifle-blast;
Our men fought bravely, bravely fell,
Mowed down by iron shot and shell.
Mowed down by iron shot and shell.
At last, before the stronger force
Retired we all, both foot and horse,
Retired we all, both foot and horse,
Hoping in our retreat to gain
A river swoll'n with summer's rain—
A river swoll'n with summer's rain—
Meaning to place its broad, deep flow,
Between us and th' advancing foe.
Between us and th' advancing foe.
Our troops plunged in the rapid flood,
Swam through, and on the far bank stood;
Swam through, and on the far bank stood;
Then, pressing to the higher ground,
Rank after rank in order wound
Rank after rank in order wound
Up the steep height; no hint of dread
Was heard in their fierce tramp and tread.
Was heard in their fierce tramp and tread.
We sought to gain the wooded hill,
Marching to trump and bugle shrill;
Marching to trump and bugle shrill;
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But paused just half way up to see
How with the foemen it might be—
How with the foemen it might be—
And wishing, too, to give one cheer
To fret and taunt the Frenchman's ear.
To fret and taunt the Frenchman's ear.
On turning round, there met our sight,
Where swarmed the foe to left and right,
Where swarmed the foe to left and right,
And where our tents had lately stood,
Beyond the rushing torrent's flood,
Beyond the rushing torrent's flood,
A woman! A great shudder ran
Through all our troops from rear to van.
Through all our troops from rear to van.
This woman was a soldier's wife,
A man sore hurt in that day's strife.
A man sore hurt in that day's strife.
We bore him with us faint and stunn'd,
And bleeding from a gun-shot wound.
And bleeding from a gun-shot wound.
O God! she had been left behind,
In haste pass'd by,—quite out of mind.
In haste pass'd by,—quite out of mind.
Trembling she stood, wild with alarm,
With face all pale, and outstretched arm,
With face all pale, and outstretched arm,
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In dumb appeal. Her frenzied cry
Lost in the roar of the stream hard by.
Lost in the roar of the stream hard by.
Our General with a look of pain,
Swept with his eye the level plain.
Swept with his eye the level plain.
“Halt!” As they hear that stern command,
Our men in breathless silence stand—
Our men in breathless silence stand—
“What man will go, on foot or horse,
And save a life from death,—or worse?”
And save a life from death,—or worse?”
Our Captain sprang from out the rank,
Struck spurs into his horse's flank—
Struck spurs into his horse's flank—
The snorting steed, in mettled might,
Started, and dashed right down the height.
Started, and dashed right down the height.
We saw them then in the current's tide,
Cleaving the waves to the other side.
Cleaving the waves to the other side.
Rifle and rifle sent forth its ball,
Bullets like raindrops round them fall,
Bullets like raindrops round them fall,
And the waters hiss, and flash, and steam,
Under the shot that ruffles the stream.
Under the shot that ruffles the stream.
Our Captain, caring not, rode on,
Till at length the farther side was won.
Till at length the farther side was won.
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He reached the shore without a wound,
And climbed the bank near the Frenchman's ground,
And climbed the bank near the Frenchman's ground,
Then pricked his horse, and gained the place
Where the woman stood with awe-struck face—
Where the woman stood with awe-struck face—
And terror in her straining eye,
Lest he had only come to die.
Lest he had only come to die.
He bent an instant; stooping low,
He swung her up to his saddle-bow;
He swung her up to his saddle-bow;
He turned in haste his horse's head,
And plunged again in the river's bed.
And plunged again in the river's bed.
Our hearts beat fast as we saw him come;
We hardly breathed; stood still, and dumb;
We hardly breathed; stood still, and dumb;
But he rode not now a ride of death,
There was no need to hold our breath!
There was no need to hold our breath!
The French had dropped their muskets all;
No bullets whiz, no ring of ball,
No bullets whiz, no ring of ball,
Came whirring on our Captain's ear—
No cause he had for care or fear;
No cause he had for care or fear;
For the cheer from the British lines that rose
Was echoed back by our gallant foes,
Was echoed back by our gallant foes,
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And it thrill'd them one and all to see
That noble deed of chivalry.
That noble deed of chivalry.
Their hearts were stirred by that brave deed,
When our Captain bore, on panting steed,
When our Captain bore, on panting steed,
Back to our camp the soldier's wife,
Rescued at risk of limb and life.
Rescued at risk of limb and life.
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |