YES, yes, my boy, there's no mistake, You put the contract through! You lads with Shafter, I'll allow, Were heroes tried and true; But don't forget the men who fought About Manila Bay, And don't forget brave McIlrath Who died at Malate. The night was black, save where the forks Of tropic lightning ran, When, with a long deep thunder-roar, The typhoon storm began. Then, suddenly above the din, We heard the steady bay Of volleys from the trenches where The Pennsylvanias lay. The Tenth, we thought, could hold their own Against the feigned attack, And, if the Spaniards dared advance Would pay them doubly back. But soon we marked the volleys sink Into a scattered fire -- And now we heard the Spanish guns Boom nigher yet and nigher! Then, like a ghost, a courier Seemed past our picket tossed, With wild hair streaming in his face -- "We're lost -- we're lost -- we're lost!" "Front, front -- in God's name -- front!" he cried: "Our ammunition 's gone!" He turned a face of dazed dismay -- And through the night sped on! "Men, follow me!" cried McIlrath, Our acting sergeant then; And when he gave the word he knew He gave the word to men! Twenty there -- not one man more -- But down the sunken road We dragged the guns of Battery H, Nor even stopped to load! Sudden, from the darkness poured A storm of Mauser hail -- But not a man there thought to pause, Nor any man to quail! Ahead, the Pennsylvanias' guns In scattered firing broke; The Spanish trenches, red with flame, In fiercer volleys spoke! Down with a rush our twenty came -- The open field we passed -- And in among the hard-pressed Tenth We set our feet at last! Up, with a leap, sprang McIlrath, Mud-spattered, worn and wet, And, in an instant, there he stood High on the parapet! "Steady, boys! we've got 'em now -- Only a minute late! It's all right, lads -- we've got 'em whipped -- Just give 'em volleys straight!" Then, up and down the parapet With head erect he went, As cool as when he sat with us Beside our evening tent! Not one of us, close sheltered there Down in the trench's pen, But felt that we would rather die Than shame or grieve him then! The fire so close to being quenched In panic and defeat, Leaped forth, by rapid volleys sped, In one long deadly sheet! A cheer went up along the line As breaks the thunder-call -- But, as it rose, great God, we saw Our gallant sergeant fall! He sank into our outstretched arms Dead -- but immortal grown; And Glory brightened where he fell, And valor claimed her own! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CURTAIN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO A CHILD EMBRACING HIS MOTHER by THOMAS HOOD NEW YORK AT NIGHT by AMY LOWELL MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 4 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE BLUEBIRD by WILLIAM P. ALEXANDER TO MR. BARBAULD, WITH A MAP OF THE LAND OF MATRIMONY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |