| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1175. The Captain’s Feather |
| | | By Samuel Minturn Peck |
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| THE DEW is on the heather, | |
| The moon is in the sky, | |
| And the captain’s waving feather | |
| Proclaims the hour is nigh | |
| When some upon their horses | 5 |
| Shall through the battle ride, | |
| And some with bleeding corses | |
| Must on the heather bide. | |
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| The dust is on the heather, | |
| The moon is in the sky, | 10 |
| And about the captain’s feather | |
| The bolts of battle fly; | |
| But hark, what sudden wonder | |
| Breaks forth upon the gloom? | |
| It is the cannon’s thunder— | 15 |
| It is the voice of doom! | |
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| The blood is on the heather, | |
| The night is in the sky, | |
| And the gallant captain’s feather | |
| Shall wave no more on high; | 20 |
| The grave and holy brother | |
| To God is saying Mass, | |
| But who shall tell his mother, | |
| And who shall tell his lass? | |
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