[written for the Richmond Dispatch.]
The illumination
of the
city of Richmond.in honor of the victory of the battle of Fort Sumter, painted by the Confederate States, April 12th, 1861.
by Mary Copland.
‘ Honor to General Beauregard, and to the noble South.
Who hath proclaimed their freedom thro' the thundering cannon's mouth;
But be the glory given, as to Carolina due,
The bravest, and the noblest, and truest of the true.
Then, Richmond gleamed with a thousand lights.
And bonfires blazed on a thousand heights;
While the light of the stars was paled by
The glow, that flashed against the clear blue sky;
And over all streamed, full and free,
The flag of twice-won liberty;
And all Virginia's Capital
Rejoiced o'er the conquered citadel.
Honor to noble Davis, brave soldier and true man.
Who dares to be, and dares to do, all that a great man can;
But be the glory given, as to Carolina due.
The noblest, and the bravest, the truest of the true.
And an hundred cannon thundered forth
Their message, to the impatient earth,
And a nation rose in its power and might,
To prove that Virginia's heart was right;
And every breast in that human tide,
Throbs with a fuller, freer pride;
Then a thousand voices they upraise,
To shout forth Carolina's praise.
Honor to brave old Ruffin, to that true and faithful heart.
The four-score years old patriot, who took the foremost part.
But be the glory given, as to Carolina due,
The bravest of the brave, and truest of the true.
Oh, favored land, that boasts a son,
Davis, the second Washington.
Know that Virginia, now by thee,
Will battle for her liberty;
Her sons, beneath thy flag unfurled,
Will hurl defiance to the world,
And, fighting hand in hand with thee,
Will conquer, to be doubly free,
Honor to glorious Wise, the fearless and the bold,
Who dared to tell a nation the truth, that should be told;
But unto Carolina be the glory evermore,
For, she hath done a holder deed than o'er was done before.
Aye, clothe her name with glory bright--
Around it throw a radiant light;
For, oh! it is a glorious sight,
This nation rising in the right,
And Carolina well may claim
The greatest, most unsullied name--
Brave, and magnanimous, and pure,
Her fame will o'er remain, her power endure.
Honor to them all — to each brave and gallant heart
That manfully and earnestly will strive to do his part;
But be the glory given, as to Carolina due,
The noblest and the bravest — the truest of the true.
’
Richmond, April 17, 1861.
