E. S. Buck Poem, undated
An Epic
By E.S. Buck. Co B 3rd Battalion.Pioneer Brigade
On New Years day we had a fight
And on the day before
And then we fought-right-streight-along
For three or four days more
Near Murfreesboro there we found
The rebels by the score
Old Bragg. Hardee and Brickinridge
Each with a heavy Corps
Old Bragg he called his men to him
And told them they must hold
Stone River and the country round
Or else they were all sold
Hardee was in a Ceder Swamp
Which lay just on our right
Our General had his men in line
All ready for a fight
The rebels made a desperate charge
On Johnson and his men
They stood the five until they drew
The rebels from their den
When General Johnson saw their force
He told his men to run
He said it was no use to fight
The rebels ten to one
The sicish villains gave a cheer
Because they’d broke our line
Old Hardee and his staff came up
Said he youre doing fine
Our General saw that would not do
To let the rebels by
When General Wood said he would hold
That bloody ground or die
He called upon the Twentieth Brigade
To take a bloody stand
The boys went in with steady nerve
Colonel Harkin in command
The Pioneers went to the front
General Wood was on the right
With Captain Stokes Battery
Gave them another fight
Twas then the shot and shell flew thick
The rebels would not yeald
Untill their dead and wounded men
Lay piled up on the field
And when our Boys had gained the day
They saw their friends around
All mangled up with shot and shell
Die dead on the cold ground
The rebels they fell back again
Their hearts in sad despair
Though Bragg soon led them to belive
Their prospects yet was pain
Says he my boys will try their left
It was on Friday eve
Well slip around and Ill be bound
Well whip General Van Clive
But Oh! Rosecraus saw their scheme
And understood their plot
And reinforcing General Van Clive
Soon made the rebels hop
The Pioneers again went in
Our General in command
He rode in front his gallant steed
With glittering sword in hand
Said he my boys prep forward on
And give the rebels three cheers
Hip hip huzza just see them run
Come on brave Pioneers
I never shall forget that scene
The ground all stained with blood
While hundreds of our dying men
Die willing in the mud
Again we drove the Butternuts
And took a rebel flag
The banner of that tory band
The God of General Bragg
But yet the traitors would not yeald
Although their ranks were thin
They swore they would not leave the field
So Brickinridge went in
He took advantage of the night
While every thing was still
And boldly dashed into the fight
And there fell General Sill
They soon found out their sad mistake
Their fighting was in vain
They faced about their heels did take
To save their treacherous brain
In wild confusion left the ground
Stone River they plunged through
And never stoped to look around
For Yankees as they flew
Oh now the day is ours my boys
The lop of friends we’ll mourn
Yet were the boys that fear no noise
Although were far from home
Our noble General Rosecraus
W’ell all give him three cheers
He keeps the rebels in advance
Of us the Pioneers
But if they ever stop again
W’ell give them a furlough
And send them down to see the friends
They left at Murfreesboro
Sent home from the war of 61-64 b y G. W. Rouse. of 10th Wis. Vol. Infantry.
DATABASE CONTENT
| (554) | DL0067.003 | 3 | Letters |
Manuscript Poem by E. S. Buck accompanied by Ribbon, associated with George W. Rouse, 10th Wisconsin Infantry
Tags: Death (Military), Fighting, Injuries
People - Records: 2
SOURCES
E. S. Buck Poem, undated, DL0067.003, Nau Collection.
