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Chickamauga
| Open Poetry #5 |
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Chickamauga |
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John Yaws Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860Texas 
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The dust of time has spread a shroud Upon the verdant hills- And only monuments remain- To show where men were killed. Just south of Chattanooga- Along a lazy creek- Known as the Chickamauga- Did the Yanks and Rebels meet. The middle of September, In eighteen sixty-three.... Braxton Bragg and his command Were nearing Tennessee.. Rosecrans was on the move- In the muggy autumn heat... Just south of Rossville, Georgia Did their armies chance to meet. The hills were thickly wooded Terrain was rough and steep- And battle lines were very near- Impossible to keep. Sharp the fighting from the first, Clouds of flame and smoke... Darkness flared like scenes from hell Before the daylight broke. Polk confronted breastworks Erected in the night- And sacrificed his whole command Ah, what a dreadful sight. With the slaughter taking place- Longstreet, called “Old Pete”- Flanked the Federal battle line- And havoc he did wreak. Upon the crest of Snodgrass Hill Bold Thomas made his stand- And held the crest as hundreds fell And died on every hand. The Federal lines were ripped to shreds The troopers reeled in shock- Yet o’er the chilling Rebel yells- He held just like a Rock. The Indians had named it well- The name is said to mean- “The Place of Death” and so it was The worst the war had seen. Over thirty thousand lives- Were sadly thrown away... The trees were ruined as lumber- By the bullets, so they say- All is quiet on the field- But sometimes late at night You hear the tramp of soldiers feet They’re marching out to fight. And on the wind a rebel yell... Faint and far away- The roar of guns, and clash of steel The sounds of deadly fray. Old soldiers never seem to die- At least that’s what they say.. But as the years roll slowly by They merely fade away. |
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| © Copyright 2000 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
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poetFemmeFatale Member Elite
since 1999-07-25
Posts 2646Arkansas |
What an incredible poem! If history class had of only been half this good, I would have paid some attention! I refuse to let this gem go by without more eyes falling on it, so back to the top! This was an outstanding work sir. You sure know how to make it come alive again. The ending was breathtaking too....."They merely fade away...." BRAVO! I could go on and on about this....odd that it had such a strong impact on me...usually this sort of thing loses me, but I was taken by this! ** I'm reaching for the brightest star I've ever seen - knock my ladder out from under me, and you'll wish you hadn't !! -pFF ** Here's to 2000! |
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
Applause!!! |
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devina Member Elite
since 1999-10-28
Posts 3539Cali |
I thank you for the upbrush on history, I think I needed that, your words are never wasted friend!!! Open arms can be the most fragile in the world... |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Another excellent look into history, gs |
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