Civil War Poetry
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This Site:
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VOL. VIII.—No. 383.] NEW YORK, SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1864.
$1,00 FOR FOUR MONTHS.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1864, by Harper & Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. APRIL 20, I864. BY PRIVATE MILES O'REILLY THREE years ago today 'We raised our hands to heaven, And on the rolls of muster Our names were thirty-seven ; There were just a thousand bayonets, And the swords were thirty-seven, As we took the oath of service With our right hands raised to heaven. Oh 'twas a gallant day, In memory still adored. That day of our sun-bright nuptials
With the musket and the sword':
And beneath a cloudless heaven Twinkled a thousand bayonets, And the swords were thirty-seven. Of the thousand stalwart bayonets
Two hundred march today;
And hundreds in Maryland clay;
Their shattered limbs around. And envy the deep, long, blessed sleep Of the battle-field's holy ground. For the swords—one night, a week ago, The remnant, just eleven, Gathered around a banqueting board With seats for thirty-seven; There were two limped in on crutches,
And two had each but a hand
As we toasted "Our flag and land!" And the room' seemed filled with whispers As we looked at the vacant seats, And, with choking throats, we pushed aside The rich but untasted meats; Then in silence we brimmed our glasses, As we rose up—just eleven, And bowed as we drank to the loved and the dead Who had made us THIRTY-SEVEN ! We acquired this leaf for the purpose of digitally preserving it for your research and enjoyment. If you would like to acquire the original 140+ year old Harper's Weekly leaf we used to create this page, it is available for a price of $185. Your purchase allows us to continue to archive more original material. For more information, contact paul@sonofthesouth.net |
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