But a handful of dust in the land of his choice,
A name in song and story—
And fame to shout with immortal voice
Dead on the field of Glory!
Henry Lynden Flash.
Near the southern line of Kentucky, the Confederates held two strong forts, Henry and Donelson, and on February 2, 1862, a Union force under General Ulysses S. Grant moved forward to attack them. The army was supported by a fleet of gunboats, and Fort Henry surrendered to the fleet before the land forces came up. The gunboat Essex led the attack and suffered severely, among her dead being Lieutenant S. B. Brittan, Jr., a boy of not quite seventeen.
BOY BRITTAN
[February 6, 1862]
I
Boy Brittan—only a lad—a fair-haired boy—sixteen,
In his uniform,
Into the storm—into the roaring jaws of grim Fort Henry—
Boldly bears the Federal flotilla—
Into the battle storm!
II
Boy Brittan is master's mate aboard of the Essex—
There he stands, buoyant and eager-eyed,
By the brave captain's side;
Ready to do and dare. Aye, aye, sir! always ready—
In his country's uniform.
Boom! Boom! and now the flag-boat sweeps, and now the Essex,
Into the battle storm!
III
Boom! Boom! till river and fort and field are overclouded
By battle's breath; then from the fort a gleam
And a crashing gun, and the Essex is wrapt and shrouded
In a scalding cloud of steam!
IV
But victory! victory!
Unto God all praise be ever rendered,
Unto God all praise and glory be!
See, Boy Brittan! see, boy, see!
They strike! Hurrah! the fort has just surrendered!
Shout! Shout! my boy, my warrior boy!
And wave your cap and clap your hands for joy!
Cheer answer cheer and bear the cheer about—
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the fiery fort is ours;
And "Victory!" "Victory!" "Victory!"
Is the shout.
Shout—for the fiery fort, and the field, and the day are ours—
The day is ours—thanks to the brave endeavor
Of heroes, boy, like thee!
The day is ours—the day is ours!
Glory and deathless love to all who shared with thee,
And bravely endured and dared with thee—
The day is ours—the day is ours—
Forever!
Glory and Love for one and all; but—but—for thee—
Home! Home! a happy "Welcome—welcome home" for thee!
And kisses of love for thee—
And a mother's happy, happy tears, and a virgin's bridal wreath of flowers—
For thee!
V
Victory! Victory!...
But suddenly wrecked and wrapt in seething steam, the Essex
Slowly drifted out of the battle's storm;
Slowly, slowly down—laden with the dead and the dying;
And there, at the captain's feet, among the dead and the dying,
The shot-marred form of a beautiful boy is lying—
There in his uniform!