Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LOGAN AT PEACH TREE CREEK; A VETERAN'S STORY [JULY 20, 1864], by HAMLIN GARLAND Poet's Biography First Line: You know that day at peach tree creek Last Line: As on the day mcpherson died. Subject(s): American Civil War; Atlanta Campaign (1864); Logan, John Alexander (1826-1886); Mcpherson, James Birdseye (1828-1864); United States - History | ||||||||
YOU know that day at Peach Tree Creek, When the Rebs with their circling, scorching wall Of smoke-hid cannon and sweep of flame Drove in our flanks, back! back! and all Our toil seemed lost in the storm of shell -- That desperate day McPherson fell! Our regiment stood in a little glade Set round with half-grown red oak trees -- An awful place to stand, in full fair sight, While the minie bullets hummed like bees, And comrades dropped on either side -- That fearful day McPherson died! The roar of the battle, steady, stern, Rung in our ears. Upon our eyes The belching cannon smoke, the half-hid swing Of deploying troops, the groans, the cries, The hoarse commands, the sickening smell -- That blood-red day McPherson fell! But we stood there! -- when out from the trees, Out of the smoke and dismay to the right Burst a rider -- His head was bare, his eye Had a blaze like a lion fain for fight; His long hair, black as the deepest night, Streamed out on the wind. And the might Of his plunging horse was a tale to tell, And his voice rang high like a bugle's swell; "Men, the enemy hem us on every side; We'll whip 'em yet! Close up that breach -- Remember your flag -- don't give an inch! The right flank's gaining and soon will reach -- Forward boys, and give 'em hell!" -- Said Logan after McPherson fell. We laughed and cheered and the red ground shook, As the general plunged along the line Through the deadliest rain of screaming shells; For the sound of his voice refreshed us all, And we filled the gap like a roaring tide, And saved the day McPherson died! But that was twenty years ago, And part of a horrible dream now past. For Logan, the lion, the drums throb low And the flag swings low on the mast; He has followed his mighty chieftain through The mist-hung stream, where gray and blue One color stand, And North to South extends the hand. It's right that deeds of war and blood Should be forgot, but, spite of all, I think of Logan, now, as he rode That day across the field; I hear the call Of his trumpet voice -- see the battle shine In his stern, black eyes, and down the line Of cheering men I see him ride, As on the day McPherson died. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A VISIT TO GETTYSBURG by LUCILLE CLIFTON AFTER SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE by DAVID FERRY ACROSS THE LONG DARK BORDER by EDWARD HIRSCH WALT WHITMAN IN THE CIVIL WAR HOSPITALS by DAVID IGNATOW THE DAY OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS; MARY 30, 1869 by EMMA LAZARUS MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM THE DECISION (APRIL 14, 1861) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SPARROW HARK IN THE RAIN (ALEXANDER STEPHENS HEARS NEWS) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A TRIBUTE OF GRASSES by HAMLIN GARLAND |
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