| |
| THEN came a bloody battle in the clouds— | |
| Clouds that—alas!—to many proved their shrouds. | |
| A thousand feet above the Vale it raged— | |
| On Lookout Mountain desperately waged— | |
| And from the Valley those who viewed the fight, | 5 |
| Ne’er saw a grander—more terrific—sight | |
| Till smoke and mist concealed it from the view— | |
| A fight from dawn to dark that hotter grew | |
| Till all the Rebel hosts were put to flight— | |
| Confused, disordered, and in awful plight; | 10 |
| For Bragg to check the Union army failed, | |
| And Lookout Mountain’s rugged top was scaled,— | |
| Its fortress captured, and the vict’ry hailed,— | |
| And Missionary Ridge, from west to east. | |
| “On vict’ries now—behold—!” said Grant, “we feast!” | 15 |
| ’Twas not till night the long day’s battle ceased, | |
| And then triumphant were the Boys in Blue, | |
| Who Chattanooga Valley captured, too, | |
| And with the stars and stripes adorned the view. | |
| “Well done!” said Grant, “you climbed that Mountain well, | 20 |
| Of harder fighting hist’ry ne’er will tell!” | |
| Grant led his forces grandly, and the foe | |
| Surrendered, died, or fled to plains below, | |
| Pursued by Sherman’s and by Hooker’s fire. | |
| Bragg and Rebellion met disaster dire. | 25 |
| |
| Kentucky now—with Tennessee—was freed | |
| From Rebel raids, while Burnside, much in need— | |
| At Knoxville—gained not glory but relief. | |
| “I hail,” said Grant, “one consequence as chief; | |
| It opens Georgia to the Union arms, | 30 |
| And fills the groaning South with fresh alarms, | |
| For fifteen thousand men its battle cost— | |
| The captured, wounded and the dead it lost.” | |
| November, ’Sixty-three, grew dark indeed | |
| To Rebel eyes. Reverses gathered speed. | 35 |
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