[written for the Richmond Dispatch.]
stand by your flag.
Inscribed to Mrs. James W. Jackson, whose husband fell at the Marshall House, Alexandria, May 24th, whilst gallantly defending his flag.
Stand by your flag, ye Southrons brave,
You hold it as fair freedom's trust;
Swear it shall o'er in triumph wave,
Or else you'll with it kiss the dust;
'Tis yours by every sacred tie,
Of honor, valor, interest, birth;
The hopes of millions 'neath it lie,
The bravest and the best of earth.
Stand by your flag, like Jackson stood,
Who let the font usurpers know
That ore it fell, his own life's blood
In its defence, should freely flow--
That if they wished invasion make,
Alone he'd there begin the fray,
And for each inch they dared to take,
At least an Edsworth they should pay.
He loved his flag, and wished it saved,
He prized the beauties that it wore;
Near Vernon's sleeping Chief it waved--
His house the name of ‘"Marshall"’ bore.
But hark! the sound of fife and drum,
In glittering files behold the foe;
With shouts and cries they come, they come!
They halt, menacing, at his door.
‘"Down with your flag,"’ the spoilers cry,
O! how his brave pulsations bound!
Did he obey? His shots reply,
He brought his forman to the ground,
But he fell too — for country's sake,
He on her altar bleeding lies,
He sleeps — in realms of bliss to wake,
For God accepts the sacrifice.
That blood will bless his Mother State--
He died obedient to her laws;
And while in tears we mourn his fate,
We joy he bled in freedom's cause,
And though from earth thus rudely torn,
The living shall enshrine his fame,
And little children, yet unborn,
Will learn to lisp the martyr's name.
M. B. Wharton. Culpeper, Va., May 28, 1861.
