The hour was sad, I left the maid,
A lingering farewell taking;
Her sighs and tears my steps delayed,
I thought her heart was breaking.
In hurried words her name I blessed,
I breathed the vows that bind me,
And to my heart in anguish pressed
The girl I left behind me.
Then to the East we bore away
To win a name in story,
And, there, where dawns the sun of day,
There dawned our sun of glory.
Both blazed in noon on Manassas’ plain,
Where, in the post assigned me,
I shared the glory of that fight—
Sweet girl I left behind me!
Full many a name our banners bore
Of former deeds of daring—
But they were of the days of yore,
In which we had no sharing;
But now, our laurels freshly won,
With the old ones shall entwin’d be,
Still worthy of our sires, each son,
Sweet girl I left behind me!
The hope of final victory
Within my bosom burning,
Is mingling with sweet thoughts of thee,
And of my fond returning.
But should I ne’er return again,
Still worth thy love thou’lt find me,
Dishonor’s breath shall never stain
The name I leave behind me. |