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[July 3, 1863]
A CLOUD possessed the hollow field, | |
| The gathering battle’s smoky shield, | |
| Athwart the gloom the lightning flashed, | |
| And through the cloud some horsemen dashed, | |
| And from the heights the thunder pealed. | 5 |
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| Then at the brief command of Lee | |
| Moved out that matchless infantry, | |
| With Pickett leading grandly down, | |
| To rush against the roaring crown | |
| Of those dread heights of destiny. | 10 |
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| Far heard above the angry guns | |
| A cry across the tumult runs,— | |
| The voice that rang through Shiloh’s woods | |
| And Chickamauga’s solitudes, | |
| The fierce South cheering on her sons! | 15 |
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| Ah, how the withering tempest blew | |
| Against the front of Pettigrew! | |
| A Khamsin wind that scorched and singed | |
| Like that infernal flame that fringed | |
| The British squares at Waterloo! | 20 |
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| A thousand fell where Kemper led; | |
| A thousand died where Garnett bled: | |
| In blinding flame and strangling smoke | |
| The remnant through the batteries broke | |
| And crossed the works with Armistead. | 25 |
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| “Once more in Glory’s van with me!” | |
| Virginia cried to Tennessee; | |
| “We two together, come what may, | |
| Shall stand upon these works to-day!” | |
| (The reddest day in history.) | 30 |
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| Brave Tennessee! In reckless way | |
| Virginia heard her comrade say: | |
| “Close round this rent and riddled rag!” | |
| What time she set her battle-flag | |
| Amid the guns of Doubleday. | 35 |
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| But who shall break the guards that wait | |
| Before the awful face of Fate? | |
| The tattered standards of the South | |
| Were shrivelled at the cannon’s mouth, | |
| And all her hopes were desolate. | 40 |
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| In vain the Tennesseean set | |
| His breast against the bayonet! | |
| In vain Virginia charged and raged, | |
| A tigress in her wrath uncaged, | |
| Till all the hill was red and wet! | 45 |
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| Above the bayonets, mixed and crossed, | |
| Men saw a gray, gigantic ghost | |
| Receding through the battle-cloud, | |
| And heard across the tempest loud | |
| The death-cry of a nation lost! | 50 |
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| The brave went down! Without disgrace | |
| They leaped to Ruin’s red embrace. | |
| They only heard Fame’s thunders wake, | |
| And saw the dazzling sun-burst break | |
| In smiles on Glory’s bloody face! | 55 |
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| They fell, who lifted up a hand | |
| And bade the sun in heaven to stand! | |
| They smote and fell, who set the bars | |
| Against the progress of the stars, | |
| And stayed the march of Motherland! | 60 |
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| They stood, who saw the future come | |
| On through the fight’s delirium! | |
| They smote and stood, who held the hope | |
| Of nations on that slippery slope | |
| Amid the cheers of Christendom. | 65 |
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| God lives! He forged the iron will | |
| That clutched and held that trembling hill. | |
| God lives and reigns! He built and lent | |
| The heights for Freedom’s battlement | |
| Where floats her flag in triumph still! | 70 |
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| Fold up the banners! Smelt the guns! | |
| Love rules. Her gentler purpose runs. | |
| A mighty mother turns in tears | |
| The pages of her battle years, | |
| Lamenting all her fallen sons! | 75 |
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