Never was the Republic in greater danger. A month before, Lee had been desperately defending Richmond against two armies; now he had defeated them both and was ready to invade the North. He pushed forward with decision and celerity, and by September 7, 1862, his whole army had crossed the Potomac into Maryland.
BEYOND THE POTOMAC
[September 7, 1862]
They slept on the field which their valor had won,
But arose with the first early blush of the sun,
For they knew that a great deed remained to be done,
When they passed o'er the river.
They arose with the sun, and caught life from his light,—
Those giants of courage, those Anaks in fight,—
And they laughed out aloud in the joy of their might,
Marching swift for the river.
On! on! like the rushing of storms through the hills;
On! on! with a tramp that is firm as their wills;
And the one heart of thousands grows buoyant, and thrills,
At the thought of the river.
Oh, the sheen of their swords! the fierce gleam of their eyes!
It seemed as on earth a new sunlight would rise,
And, king-like, flash up to the sun in the skies,
O'er their path to the river.
But their banners, shot-scarred, and all darkened with gore,
On a strong wind of morning streamed wildly before,
Like the wings of death-angels swept fast to the shore,
The green shore of the river.
As they march, from the hillside, the hamlet, the stream,
Gaunt throngs whom the foemen had manacled, teem,
Like men just aroused from some terrible dream,
To cross sternly the river.
They behold the broad banners, blood-darkened, yet fair,
And a moment dissolves the last spell of despair,
While a peal, as of victory, swells on the air,
Rolling out to the river.