And praying the Lord his soul to shrive,
On the second of April, 'Sixty-five.
Three o'clock by the old church dial—
Past the Sexton and up the aisle
Walked a trooper with trembling knee,
Holding a letter from R. E. Lee
to Jefferson Davis, P.S.C.
"Up," it said, "out of Richmond drive
Ere the third of April, 'Sixty-five."
Twelve at night, and the crashing shell