Page:Poems Jones.djvu/100

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94
THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
Ten thousand Rebels, left and right, there closer, closer plant them;
But Geary's ranks are grand in fight, and Howard's—who shall daunt them?

Press on, press on, rebellious horde! meet death and dark disasters!
The drops that stain a Northman's sword free slaves from scourging masters.
Press on, press on! bring all your guns—load well and aim discreetly:
Yet know One sides with Freedom's sons whose judgments follow fleetly.

Line crowding line, rank urging rank, steel pressed to hearts unshielded:
An instant's hush from flank to flank—and God his bolt has wielded!
A subtle thrill, a blanching dread—skies bowed, earth quaking under—
And all the traitorous files are shred, are rent, are hewn asunder!

Ah, Longstreet left his lair at night, no servile cohorts lacking;
But by their gore his backward flight the scout, at morn, was tracking.