he jolly soldier-sports,
But ever was the first at bugle-call,
Mastered the drill and often drilled the men.
Fatigued with duty, weary with the march
Under the blaze of the midsummer sun,
He murmured not--alike in sun or rain
His utmost duty eager to perform,
And ever ready--always just the same
Patient and earnest, sad and silent Paul.

"The day of battle came--that Sabbath day,
Midsummer.[A] Hot and blistering as the flames
Of prairie-fires wind-driven, the burning sun
Blazed down upon us and the blinding dust
Wheeled in dense clouds and covered all our ranks,
As we marched on to battle. Then the roar
Of batteries broke upon us. Glad indeed
That music to my soldiers, and they cheered
And cheered again and boasted--all but Paul--
And shouted _'On to Richmond!'_--He alone
Was silent--but his eyes were full of fire.

[A] The first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

"Then came the order--_'Forward, double quick!'_
And we rushed into battle--formed our line
Facing the foe--the ambushed, deadly foe,
Hid in the thicket, with the Union flag--
A cheat--hung out before it--luring us
Into a blazing hell. The battle broke
With wildest fury on us--crashed and roared
The rolling thunder of continuous fire.
We broke and rallied--charged and broke again,
And rallied still--broke counter-charge and charged
Loud-yelling, furious, on the hidden foe;--
Met thrice our numbers and came flying back
Disordered and disheartened. Yet again
I strove to rally my discouraged men,
But hell was fairly howling;--only Paul--
Eager, but bleeding from a bullet-wound
In the left arm--came bounding to my side.
But at that moment I was struck and fell--
Fell prostrate; and a swooning sense of death
Came on me, and I saw and heard no more
Of battle on that Sabbath.

"I awoke,
Confined and jolted in an ambulance
Piled with the wounded--driven recklessly
By one who chiefly cared to save himself.
Dizzy and faint I raised my head: my wound
Was not as dangerous as it might have been--
A scalp-wound on the temple; there, you see--"
He put his finger on the ugly scar--
"Half an inch deeper and some soldier friend,
Among the veterans gathered here to-night,
Perchance had told a briefer tale than mine.

"In front and rear I saw the reckless rout--
A broken army flying panic-struck--
Our proud brigades of undulating steel
That marched at sunrise under blazoned flags,
Singing the victory ere the cannon roared,
And e