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 Tribute to the 
 -BOYS IN BLUE.- 
 
 — A POEM — 
 
 John Wentworth Sanborn. 
 
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 Eead at the Decoration Day Services in Perry N. Y., May 29 
 1880. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
 
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 COPYRIGHTED AT WASHINGTON. D. C JTTNE 1880, BY 
 
 JOHN WENTWORTH SANBORN. 
 
A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. 
 
 Tribute to the Memory of tlie Boys in Blue. 
 
 'Tis fitting that we gather here to-day, 
 Another debt of gratitude to pay. 
 
 The blessings of enduring peace are ours, 
 And tearful gratitude culls brightest flowers, 
 
 And strews them broadcast o'er the martyred dead. 
 Precious as ours the life-blood that they shed. 
 
 When the first gun boomed on Sumpter; 
 
 In our nation's darkest hour; 
 When the haters of the Union 
 
 Clutched the very throne of power, 
 
 Northward rose an om'nous storm-cloud; 
 
 Wrathful lightnings fitful gleamed; 
 Murmuring thunders told of battles, 
 
 While of peace the dreamers dreamed. 
 
 Calls for men, with bugle clearness, 
 
 Sounded loud from sea to sea; 
 Men to wield the bullet's logic, 
 
 In defense of liberty. 
 
 Thousands heard Columbia calling, 
 Kissed their wives and babes "good by," 
 
 Answering at the post of duty, 
 "Father Abr'am, here am I." 
 
 Braved they then all dangers, suffering, 
 
 Suffering as we ne'er can know 
 Indescribable privations. 
 
 Never heroes suffered so. 
 
 Wherefore such self-sacrificing, 
 
 Taking each his life in hand, 
 Fearing not, 'mid leaden showers, 
 
 In the thickest fight to stand? 
 
 Let the tremblmg leaves above us, 
 
 In an atmosphere of peace, 
 Be the answer to our query 
 
 Why the boys without surcease 
 
Fought for life and home and country; 
 
 Let the springing verdure, too, 
 In its native sweetness bursting. 
 
 Tell us why to arms they flew. 
 Gladsome thought, they bled and suffered. 
 
 That their native land might be 
 Like the leaflets of the forest, 
 
 Happy, independent, free. 
 Thank God, to-day, no tyrant's iron heel 
 Columbia, our pride, is made to feel. 
 
 Thank God, no bloody rivers stain the soil. 
 Nor brigands ride abroad our peace to spoil. 
 
 The valor of the noble boys in blue. 
 Secures for us what nothing else could do; 
 
 Protection of our institutions free: 
 
 It e'en stirs loud applause beyond the sea. 
 
 And Britain, once the mistress, comes to bow. 
 And foots the Alabama bill, and now 
 
 Pays homage to the quiet soldier who, 
 
 Struck down rebellion, brought Columbia through. 
 
 Kespect abroad, and peace at home are sure, 
 The slave is free, and freedom must endure. 
 
 When queenly Rome ruled with imperial sway, 
 And built her temples for eternal daj'^. 
 
 She called for Vestal virgins to repair 
 
 To wreathed temples reared with altars fair, 
 
 And daily, they the Vestal fires supply 
 With oil, that Vestal fires may never die. 
 
 The statue of the goddess Pallas fair. 
 
 They guarded, too, with most assiduous care. 
 
 Palladium was Troy's shield; who would dare 
 Forget God-given Pallas, cease to care 
 
 For Vestal flame! That Vestal flame is ours, 
 
 And o'er these graves— our altar— strew we flowers. 
 
 The flame of gratitude shall never die, 
 
 '•Our country's altar?" where these heroes lie. 
 
 Their death secured to us, who still are spared, 
 L^nnumbered benefils we long have shared. 
 
 To-day we come with flowers to feed anew. 
 Fires of a patriotism tried and true. 
 
This bright, this Vestal flame shall never die, 
 Each year its incense shall ascend on high. 
 
 Forever fresh and green their mera'ry be, 
 Who fought, who died to set Columbia free. 
 
 The nation mourns to-day her honored dead, 
 Fresh flow her tears; subdued, withrev'rent tread, 
 
 She moves among the mounds with fragrant flowers. 
 Emblems of love, upon the graves she showers. 
 
 But while we mourn, 'tis right that we rejoice; 
 Amid our mourning, joy shall lift her voice, 
 
 And tell of glory circling every name, 
 Perpetuating mem'ry, and their fame. 
 
 So long as deeds of valor stir the soul. 
 So long as patriotism has control. 
 
 So long the record of the boys in blue 
 Shall dazzle man with glory ever new. 
 
 The soldier boy that shed his blood, that we 
 With peace might sit beneath our own roof-tree. 
 The theme of admiration e''er shall be. 
 
 Glory enough that husbands, brothers fought 
 For Union colors; and to-day we ought 
 
 With great good cheer to lift our heads and sing; 
 And with the anthem make our country ring — 
 
 The boys in blue. 
 Were staunch and true. 
 All honor to 
 The boys in blue. 
 
 Emblems of purity and peace; 
 
 Types of a resurrection morn; 
 Sweet flowers we scatter o'er the graves. 
 
 And joyful wait the coming dawn. 
 
 And let these flowers, bedewed with tears, 
 Speak now the purpose of each heart; 
 
 We'll follow in the steps of these 
 Who died for us, act well our part. 
 
 To you, on whom black cannon stared, 
 Whom God's most gracious mercy spared, 
 
 Who live, to tell the loved at home. 
 How fierce the conflict, dark the storm 
 
That drenched our land with blood and fire; 
 Your names, by Fame, are written higher 
 
 Than ancient heroes' exploits be 
 Than Spartans, at Thermopylae. 
 
 Palladium of our country they. 
 
 Whose comrades' graves we deck to-day. 
 
 God bless the boys in blue who fought, 
 And peace secured, and glory brought 
 
 To this Republic; let us praise 
 Their valor to the end of days ; 
 
 Cherish the mem'ry of their lives. 
 All honor to their noble wivis 
 
 Who lovod their native country so. 
 Foregoing comforts, braving woe 
 As only the bereaved can know, 
 With patriotic zeal cried "Go, 
 
 Fight 'for your homes, your altars, fires; 
 Fight for the green graves of your sires.' " 
 
 Rejoice! the dove of peace, once more. 
 At God's behest, is brooding o'er 
 
 This fairest land beneath the sun. 
 No North, no South; moulded in one. 
 
 One nation bound with bands of steel, 
 Delighting at the Cross to kneel. 
 
 Within each heart, may heaven-born peace 
 Cry, "Strifes and tumults, wars shall cease." 
 
LiBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 ■•P. 
 
 015 871 531 4 ^ 
 
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