The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat1
The soldier’s last tattoo ;2
No more on Life’s parade shall meet3
That brave and fallen few.4
On Fame’s eternal camping ground5
Their silent tents are spread,6
And Glory guards, with solemn round,7
The bivouac of the dead.8
No rumor of the foe’s advance9
Now swells upon the wind ;10
No troubled thought at midnight haunts11
Of loved ones left behind ;12
No vision of the morrow’s strife13
The warrior’s dream alarms ;14
No braying horn, no screaming fife,15
At dawn shall call to arms.16
Their shivered swords are red with rust,17
Their plumed heads are bowed ;18
Their haughty banner trained in dust19
Is now their martial shroud—20
And plenteous funeral tears have washed21
The red stains from each brow,22
And the proud forms by battle gashed23
Are free from anguish now.24
The neighing troop, the flashing blade,25
The bugle’s stirring blast,26
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,27
The din and shout are past—28
Nor War’s wild note, nor Glory’s peal,29
Shall thrill with fierce delight30
Those breasts that never more may feel31
The rapture of the fight.32
Like the fierce Northern hurricane33
That sweeps his great plateau,34
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain,35
Came down the serried foe—36
Who heard the thunder of the fray37
Break o’er the field beneath,38
Knew well the watchword of that day39
Was ‘ Victory or Death ! ’40
Full many a Norther’s breath hath swept41
O’er Angostura’s plain,42
And long the pitying sky has wept43
Above its moldered slain.44
The raven’s scream, or eagle’s flight,45
Or Shepherd’s pensive lay,46
Alone now wake each solemn height47
That frowned o’er that dread fray.48
Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground !49
Ye must not slumber there,50
Where stranger steps and tongues resound51
Along the heedless air.52
Your own proud land’s heroic soil53
Shall be your fitter grave ;54
She claims from War his richest spoil—55
The ashes of her brave.56
Thus ’neath their parent turf they rest,57
Far from the gory field ;58
Born to a Spartan mother’s breast59
On many a bloody shield.60
The sunshine of their native sky61
Smiles sadly on them here,62
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by63
The heroes’ sepulchre.64
Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead !65
Dear as the blood ye gave !66
No impious footstep here shall tread67
The herbage of your grave ;68
Nor shall your glory be forgot69
While Fame her record keeps,70
Or Honor points the hallowed spot71
Where Valor proudly sleeps.72
Yon marble minstrel’s voiceless stone73
In deathless song shall tell,74
When many a vanished year hath flown75
The story how ye fell.76
Nor wreck, nor change, nor Winter’s blight,77
Nor Time’s remorseless doom,78
Can dim one ray of holy light79
That gilds your glorious tomb.80