THE HOLY WAR.

“Freedom and Justice” is their battle-cry, And all the earth rejoices as they go.

Shoulder to shoulder ride the brother bands,
Brave hearts and tender, with undaunted eye;
With manly patience ready to endure,
With gallant daring resolute to die.

They know not fear, for what have they to fear
Who all have counted, and have all resigned,
And laid their lives a solemn offering down

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For laws, for truth, for freedom,- for mankind ?

No boastful words are theirs, nor murderous zeal,
Nor courage fed with the inebriate bowl;
But their brave hearts show in true touch and time
The sober courage of the manly soul.

Ah! who can say how precious and how dear Those noble hearts, of thousand homes the light? Yet wives and mothers, smiling through their tears, Gave them, unmurmuring, to the holy fight.

O brothers, banded for this sacred war !

Keep your white garments spotless still and pure; Be priestly warriors, hallowing the right, So shall your victory be swift and sure.

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JULY 21, 1861.

So shall the spotless King with whom ye ride
Make vile disorder from the earth to cease;
And Time's triumphant songs at last shall hail
The victory of a true and righteous peace.

JULY 21ST, 1861.

BY A. L.

THE dawn in Virginia came forth in its beauty, The stars glimmered softly, then faded away ;

And many a soldier rose up to his duty,

To fight for the Union and Freedom that day.

The morning wind stirs - like some far-off loved fingers

The plumes of the chieftains with flickering breath;
And Victory follows, and hovers, and lingers,
Alas, but o'er those that are marching to death!

How fairly the columns step out in their order, Their bayonets gleam in the dim dusky light; Their music plays "Dixie," and "Over the Border,"

Down the long dusty road as they march to the

fight.

JULY 21, 1861.

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How soft on yon hill-side the young trees are wav

ing,

How peaceful the fields lie in summer's display; O soldiers! you know not the perils you're braving!

O leaders, be wary! look well to the way!

Those iron-wrought guns that lie hid in the distance, Those batteries planted to check our hot haste, More tender their mercies, more kind their resist

ance,

Than that of the Rebels by whom they are placed!

Brave enemies they; though stern-hearted you 'll find them,

Their open-mouthed vengeance is honestly sped; But cowards and savages lurk there behind them, Who sabre the dying and mangle the dead.

Alas for the South! was her fame all unfounded? Her praises are royal, — believe them who list; But her brave soldiers aim at the fallen and wounded, And the "chivalry" strike -those who cannot re

sist!

Let History tell for her words will not quiver,
Her eyes will see clearly, her heart will be still

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JULY 21, 1861.

The tale of that once all unknown little river
That flows at the base of Manassas Gap Hill.

Let History tell with what brave, eager daring
Our troops faced the cannon that day at Bull Run;
The fierce iron hail, like a winter storm bearing,
Till the battle was lost which their blood had just

won.

Let her say they retreated; — then add, they were fainting

With hunger and thirst and the strife of a day; And point to the number dropped down in deep

slumber,

On their arms and the greensward to rest by the way!

How silent, how dreamless a sleep hath descended On yonder red field where their friends are at rest! Unguarded they lie, undisturbed, undefended, Only Honor keeps watch by each low-lying crest.

The fitful night-wind sighs its wild lamentation, The soft-falling dew drops cold tears on their bed; But heavy and hot will the tears of the Nation Pour down at the feet of her Volunteer dead!

TO MEN OF THE NORTH AND WEST. 101

Tramp, tramp, through the darkness, with "Steady! men, steady!"

In stillness and sadness the columns pass by; Driven back from the trenches, in which they were

ready

To give their young life-blood, and conquer or die.

O morning! O daylight! in glory awaking,
How can ye come forth after such a black night?
And with the full burst of the sunbeams outbreak-

ing

Look down on the tokens of death and of flight!

The morning turned gray: and then thicker and faster

The rain with its driving mist sullenly came :
It could not wash off the dark signs of disaster,
Nor tarnish the glory, nor blot out the shame.

TO THE MEN OF THE NORTH AND WEST.

BY R. H. STODDARD.

MEN of the North and West,

Wake in your might,

Prepare, as the Rebels have done,

For the fight!