SAYS Stonewall Jackson to "Little Phil:" "Phil, have you heard the news? Why, our 'Joe' Wheeler -- 'Fighting Joe' -- has gone and joined the blues. "Ay, no mistake -- I saw him come -- I heard the oath he took -- And you'll find it duly entered up in yon great Record Book. "Yes, 'Phil,' it is a change since then (we give the Lord due thanks) When 'Joe' came swooping like a hawk upon your Sherman's flanks! "Why, 'Phil,' you knew the trick yourself -- but 'Joe' had all the points -- And we've yet to hear his horses died of stiff or rusty joints! "But what of that? -- the deed I saw to-day in yonder town Leads all we did and all 'Joe' did in troopings up and down; "For, 'Phil,' that oath shall be the heal of many a bleeding wound, And many a Southland song shall yet to that same oath be tuned! "The oath 'Joe' swore has done the work of thrice a score of years -- Ay, more than oath -- he swore away mistrust and hate and tears!" "Yes, yes," says "Phil," "he was, indeed, a right good worthy foe, And well he knew, in those fierce days, to give us blow for blow. "When 'Joe' came round to pay a call-- the commissaries said -- Full many a swearing, grumbling 'Yank' went supperless to bed: "He seemed to have a pesky knack -- so Sherman used to say -- Of calling, when he should by rights be ninety miles away! "Come, Stonewall, put your hand in mine, -- 'Joe' 's sworn old Samuel's oath -- We're never North or South again -- he kissed the Book for both!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LILY, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE QUESTION ANSWER'D by WILLIAM BLAKE OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR-HOUSE by WILLIAM MCKENDREE CARLETON BURIAL OF THE MINNISINK by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW INSCRIPTIONS: 2. FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK by MARK AKENSIDE |