GDG- Today's Trivia

Tue Jun 5 22:30:11 CDT 2007

And, interestingly, O'Hara ended as a Rebel, although he did write the poem
during the Mexican-American War.

Take care,

Bob

Judy and Bob Huddleston
10643 Sperry Street
Northglenn, CO  80234-3612
303.451.6376  Huddleston.r at comcast.net

"The rule is perfect: in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane."

---Mark Twain, 1907

-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]
On Behalf Of waltermolly at earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 3:24 PM
To: GDG
Subject: Re: GDG- Today's Trivia

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:

The first stanza is often reproduced at various cemeteries around the
country, including the National at Gettysburg and the National Cemetery at
Fort Indiatown Gap, PA, about 40 miles north of Gettysburg:

 "Bivouac of the Dead" 

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping-ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe's advance
Now swells upon the wind;
Nor troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow's strife
The warrior's dream alarms;
No braying horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.

Their shriveled swords are red with rust, Their plumed heads are bowed,
Their haughty banner, trailed in dust, Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout, are past;
Nor war's wild note nor glory's peal
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that nevermore may feel
The rapture of the fight.

Like the fierce northern hurricane
That sweeps the great plateau,
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain,
Came down the serried foe,
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break o'er the field beneath,
Knew well the watchword of that day
Was "Victory or death!"

Long had the doubtful conflict raged
O'er all that stricken plain,
For never fiercer fight had waged
The vengeful blood of Spain;
And still the storm of battle blew,
Still swelled the gory tide;
Not long, our stout old chieftain knew,
Such odds his strength could bide.

Twas in that hour his stern command
Called to a martyr's grave
The flower of his beloved land,
The nation's flag to save.
By rivers of their father's gore
His first-born laurels grew,
And well he deemed the sons would pour
Their lives for glory too.

For many a mother's breath has swept
O'er Angostura's plain --
And long the pitying sky has wept
Above its moldered slain.
The raven's scream, or eagle's flight,
Or shepherd's pensive lay,
Alone awakes each sullen height
That frowned o'er that dread fray.

Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground
Ye must not slumber there,
Where stranger steps and tongues resound Along the heedless air.
Your own proud land's heroic soil
Shall be your fitter grave;
She claims from war his richest spoil -- The ashes of her brave.

Thus 'neath their parent turf they rest, Far from the gory field, Borne to a
Spartan mother's breast On many a bloody shield; The sunshine of their
native sky Smiles sadly on them here, And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The heroes sepulcher.

Rest on embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave;
No impious footstep shall here tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her records keeps,
Or Honor points the hallowed spot
Where Valor proudly sleeps.

Yon marble minstrel's voiceless stone
In deathless song shall tell,
When many a vanquished ago has flown,
The story how ye fell;
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, Nor Time's remorseless doom,
Shall dim one ray of glory's light That gilds your deathless tomb.

By Theodore OHara. 1820-1867

> [Original Message]
> From: Teej Smith <teej at nc.rr.com>
> To: GDG <gettysburg at arthes.com>
> Date: 6/5/2007 3:59:35 PM
> Subject: Re: GDG- Today's Trivia
>
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
>
> Esteemed GDG Member Bern Contributes:
>
>
> 140 years ago today, Poet,  Soldier & Lawyer, Theodore O'Hara died. He
left 
> us "Bivouac of the Dead."
>
>  Also "the best outpost officer in the cavalry," William Edmondson
"Grumble" 
> Jones was killed at the battle of Piedmont, Va., 143 years ago today.
>
> Regards,
> Teej
>
>
>
>
>
>                   
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