The+Crossing+at+Fredericksburg


 * THE CROSSING AT FREDERICKSBURG **

December 11, 1862

 by George Henry Boker (1823-1890)

 I lay in my tent at mid-day,  Too full of pain to die,  When I heard the voice of Burnside,  And an answering shout reply.

 I heard the voice of the General,--  'T was firm, though low and sad;  But the roar that followed his question  Laughed out till the hills were glad.

 "O comrade, open the curtain.  And see where our men are bound,  For my heart is still in my bosom  At that terrible, mirthful sound.

 "And hark what the General orders, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> For I could not catch his words; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And what means that hurry and movement, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">That clash of muskets and swords?"

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "Lie still, lie still, my Captain, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> 'T is a call for volunteers; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And the noise that vexes your fever <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Is only our soldiers' cheers."

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "Where go they?" "Across the river." <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "O God! and must I lie still, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> While that drum and that measured trampling <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Move from me far down the hill?"

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "How many?" "I judge, four hundred." <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "Who are they? I'll know to a man." <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "Our own Nineteenth and Twentieth, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">And the Seventh Michigan."

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "O, to go, but to go with my comrades! <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Tear he curtain away from the hook; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> For I'll see them march down to their glory, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> If I perish by the look!"

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> They leaped in the rocking shallops, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Ten offered where one could go; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And the breeze was alive with laughter <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Till the boatmen began to row.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Then the shore, where the rebels harbored, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Was fringed with a gush of flame, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And buzzing, like bees, o'er the water <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> The swarms of their bullets came.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> In silence, how dread and solemn! <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> With courage, how grand and true! <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Steadily, steadily onward <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> The line of the shallops drew.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Not a whisper! Each man was conscious <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> He stood in the sight of death; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> So he bowed to the awful presence, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And treasured his living breath.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> 'Twixt death in the air above them, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And death in the waves below, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Through balls and grape and shrapnel <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> They moved--my God, how slow!

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And many a brave, stout fellow, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Who sprang in the boat with mirth, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Ere they made that fatal crossing <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Was a load of lifeless earth.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And many a brave, stout fellow, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Whose limbs with strength were rife, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Was torn and crushed and shattered,-- <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> A helpless wreck for life.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> But yet the boats moved onward; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Through fire and lead they drove, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> With the dark, still mass within them, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And the floating stars above,

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> So loud and near it sounded, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> I started at the shout, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> As the keels ground on the gravel. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And the eager men burst out.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Cheer after cheer we sent them, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> As only armies can,-- <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Cheers for old Massachusetts, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Cheers for young Michigan!

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> They formed in lines of battle; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Not a man was out of place. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Then with leveled steel they hurled them <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Straight in the rebels' face.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "O, help me, help me. comrade! <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> For tears my eyelids drown, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> As I see their starry banners <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Stream up the smoking town.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "And see the noisy workmen <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> O'er the lengthening bridges run, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And the troops that swarm to cross them <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> When the rapid work be done.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "For the old heat, or a new one, <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Flames up in every vein; <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And with fever or with passion <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> I am faint as death again.

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> "If this is death, I care not! <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Hear me, men, from rear to van!-- <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> One more cheer for Massachusetts,

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> And one more for Michigan!"