At last the guns of the fleet are still, and now from far and near Are heard the shouts of a victor's crew as they answer cheer with cheer. The shrilly call of the bo's'n's mate the crew from quarters pipes, And the dead are stretched on the quarter-deck, wrapped in the stars and stripes, While the setting sun sinks in the west, a blazing ball of fire, Lighting the scene of a battle fought, and the carnage of man's desire. FREDERICKSBURG1 December 13, 1862 BY THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH The increasing moonlight drifts across my bed, 1By permission of the publishers, Houghton, Mifflin & Co. A single-rocket pierces the dense night, Flings its spent stars upon the town beneath: Hark! the black squadrons wheeling down to Death. THE LAST FIGHT BY LEWIS FRANK TOOKER That night I think that no one slept; So when one fool, unheeding, cried But vain my care; for when the day By noon we saw his black bows throw All day our crew had lined the side One of our wild songs tried to sing; Shook fists, and roared a cursing hail. Thereon, all hot for war, they bound Their heads with cool, wet bands, and drew Their belts close, and their keen blades ground; Then, at the next gun's puff of blue, We set the grog-cup on its round, And pledged for life or pledged for death Laughing, our brown young singer fell As their next shot crashed through our rail; Then 'twixt us flashed the fire of hell, That shattered spar and riddled sail, What ill we wrought we could not tell; But blood-red all their scuppers dripped When their black hull to starboard dipped. Nine times I saw our helmsman fall, I knew where I should surely lie. I could not send more men to stand So to the wheel I went. Like bees And black spots whirled about the sky. A wounded creature drew him where I grasped the wheel, and begged to steer. It mattered not how he might fare The little time he had for fear; So if I left this to his care He too might serve us yet, he said. I would not fall so like a dog, My helpless back turned to the foe; So when his great hulk, like a log, Came surging past our quarter, lo! With helm hard down, straight through the fog Of battle smoke, and luffing wide, I sent our sharp bow through his side. The willing waves came rushing in Of clashing steel and battle-shout, Around me in a closing ring My grim-faced foemen darkly drew; Then, sweeter than the lark in spring, Loud rang our blades; the red sparks flew. Twice, thrice, I felt the sudden sting Of some keen stroke; then, swinging fair, My own clave more than empty air. The fight went raging past me when I paused to breathe a little space. Elsewhere the deck roared like a glen When mountain torrents meet; the fray A moment then seemed far away. The barren sea swept to the sky; Far overhead an ominous bird Rode down the gale with wings unstirred. |