Louisa Melvin

Feb. 63

The Song of the Camp.

A Crimean Incident. By Bayard Taylor.

 

"Give us a song" the soldiers cried.

            The outer trenches guarding.

While the heated guns of the camp allies,

            Grew weary of bombarding.

 

There was a pause—the guardsmen cried

            We storm the forts tomorrow.

Sing while we may, another day

            Will bring enough of sorrow.

 

They lay along the battery's side

            Below the smoking cannon

Brave hearts from Severn and from Clyde

            And from the banks of Shannon.

 

They sang of love and not of fame

            Forgot was Briton's glory

Each heart recalled a different name

            But all sang "Annie Laurie". /

 

Voice after voice caught up the song

            Untill its tender passions

Rose like an anthem rich and strong

            Their battle eve's confession.

 

Dear girl, her name he dared to speak

            Yet as the song grew louder

Something upon the soldier's cheek

            Washed off the stains of powder

 

Beyond the darkening ocean burned

            The bloody sunset's embers

While the Crimean valleys learned

            How English love remembers.

 

And once again a fire of hell

            Rained on the Russian quarters

With scream of shot and burst of shell

            And bellowing of the mortars.

 

And Irish Nora's eyes are dim

            For a singer dumb and gory:

And English Mary mourns for him

            Who sang "Annie Laurie"

 

Ah. Soldier! to your honored rest

            Your truth and valor bearing

The bravest are the tenderest

            The loving are the daring. /

 

Tuesday March 3. 1863

The letter that I commenced last Thursday has been delayed several days but as you wished I should send my letters even if they were old, I will do so in this case. I have copied the accompany poetry, as I think it fine. We were planning to go up to the Hidden's to night but the storm has prevented us. Capt. P. leaves Candia this week I believe. He was in town over two days, and I asked him to tea but he was engaged, and then he didn't

 

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call He had time enough too. but I suppose he preferred the society of the "bar room" to that of ours. I only thought it strange as he promised me the first morning that he would call.         Cousin Sue

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