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The Dying Words of Stonewall Jackson.

By Sidney Lanier

Topics: classic

"Order A. P. Hill to prepare for battle."     "Tell Major Hawks to advance the Commissary train."     "Let us cross the river and rest in the shade."     The stars of Night contain the glittering Day     And rain his glory down with sweeter grace     Upon the dark World's grand, enchanted face -     All loth to turn away.     And so the Day, about to yield his breath,     Utters the stars unto the listening Night,     To stand for burning fare-thee-wells of light     Said on the verge of death.     O hero-life that lit us like the sun!     O hero-words that glittered like the stars     And stood and shone above the gloomy wars     When the hero-life was done!     The phantoms of a battle came to dwell     I' the fitful vision of his dying eyes -     Yet even in battle-dreams, he sends supplies     To those he loved so well.     His army stands in battle-line arrayed:     His couriers fly: all's done: now God decide!      - And not till then saw he the Other Side     Or would accept the shade.     Thou Land whose sun is gone, thy stars remain!     Still shine the words that miniature his deeds.     O thrice-beloved, where'er thy great heart bleeds,     Solace hast thou for pain!     Georgia, September, 1865.

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""Order A. P. Hill to prepare for battle."..."

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Author:Sidney Lanier

""Order A. P. Hill to prepare for battle."..." by Sidney Lanier

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"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Sidney Lanier

About Sidney Lanier

Sidney Lanier (1842–1881) was an American poet and musician whose poems—including "The Marshes of Glynn" and "Song of the Chattahoochee"—are known for their musical quality and celebration of the Southern landscape.

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