A Song of sixty-one.
by Mary Upesur.
‘"Boys, don't surrender!"’--Last words of Lieut Col. Charles Dedier Derux. ‘ ‘"Boys don't surrender!"’ Mid the battles din,
We are the wild the fight
Our trump and drum and roaring culverin,
This echo stirs the tide of war;
‘"Boys, don't surrender!"’
While the patriot heart and sturdy arm,
Ale the loud clancor and the sabre clash?
Resound above the trumpet loud alarm
sweeps far, where the red ordnance fires flash
‘"Boys don't surrender!"’
Angels in heaven love the brave who die
And the great cause of country and of light--
Hear from the threshold of eternity
An up they bear him from the field of fight;
‘"Boys, don't surrender!"’
‘"Boys don't surrender!"’ Down the track of time.
Into the future ages be bequeathed
Thing disaster the notes sublime--
The burning words be in our banner wreathed;
‘"Boys, don't surrender!"’
’ Norfolk, Va., July 27th, 1861.
