through his native city, Baltimore. Unable to sleep in his excitement
over the occurrence, he rose at midnight and hastily composed this poem.
Carroll: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. Howard: John Eager Howard, a dis
tinguished Revolutionary soldier. Ringgold: Samuel Ringgold, who
was killed in the Mexican War at the battle of Palo Alto. Watson:
William Henry Watson, a colonel in the Mexican War who was killed
at Monterey. Lowe: Enoch Lewis Lowe, a soldier in the Mexican
War and later governor of Maryland. May: Charles Augustus May,
a distinguished leader at the battle of Monterey. Sic semper: the
full form of the Latin motto is Sic semper tyrannis, "Thus always to
tyrants." Vandal: a term for the Northerners.
QUESTIONS, i. What lines of the poem show the immediate motive
for its writing? 2. What is the basis of the poet s appeal to Maryland to join the Southern cause? 3. Is it an appeal simply to feeling or is it an appeal to reason?
JOHN PELHAM (PAGE 243)
The hero celebrated in this poem was a young Alabamian who, although barely twenty-two, had signally distinguished himself in the Confederate army. His death in the cavalry fight at Kelly s Ford, March 17, 1863, caused profound grief throughout the army. Marcellus: the nephew and son-in-law of the Emperor Augustus, and his intended successor, who met an untimely death.
QUESTIONS, i. What references are made to Pelham s career?
2. What tribute is paid to him?
ALBERT PIKE
DIXIE (PAGE 244)
This poem is perhaps the best of many written in the South to the stirring tune "Dixie." It of course bears no relation to the insig nificant words that the tune originally had.
QUESTION. By what means does the poet make his appeal?
HARRY MCCARTHY
THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG (PAGE 246)
Like " Dixie " this famous song originated in the theater and first became popular in New Orleans in 1861.
