VI
Finally, wearying of the joke,
Starved with hunger and blind with smoke
From blazing barracks of pine and oak,
Set fire from Morris' Island,
The gallant Anderson struck his flag
And packed his things in a carpet-bag,
While cheers from bobtail, rag, and tag,
Arose on Morris' Island.
VII
Then came the comforting piece of fun
Of counting the noses one by one,
To see if anything had been done
On glorious Morris' Island:
"Nobody hurt!" the cry arose;
There was not missing a single nose,
And this was the sadly ludicrous close
Of the battle of Morris' Island.
VIII
But, gentle gunners, just wait and see
What sort of a battle there yet will be;
You'll hardly escape so easily,
Next time on Morris' Island!
There's a man in Washington with a will,
Who won't mind shooting a little "to kill,"
If it proves that We Have a Government Still,
Even on Morris' Island!
Hokee pokee, winkee wum,
Shattering shot and thundering bomb,
Look out for the battle that's yet to come
Down there on Morris' Island!
Anderson's total force numbered one hundred and twenty-eight. The South Carolina army opposed to him numbered about six thousand, and was made up largely of the best blood of the state. Planters and their sons, men of wealth and family, did not scruple to serve in the ranks. Their sweethearts and wives turned out in gala attire to witness their triumph, and when the fort surrendered, Charleston gave itself up to joy.
SUMTER—A BALLAD OF 1861
'Twas on the twelfth of April,
Before the break of day.
We heard the guns of Moultrie
Give signal for the fray.
Anon across the waters
There boomed the answering gun,
From north and south came flash on flash;
The battle had begun.
The mortars belched their deadly food
And spiteful whizz'd the balls,
A fearful storm of iron hailed
On Sumter's doomèd walls.
We watched the meteor flight of shell,
And saw the lightning flash—
Saw where each fiery missile fell,
And heard the sullen crash.
The morn was dark and cloudy
Yet till the sun arose,
No answer to our gallant boys
Came booming from our foes.