Civil War Short Stories and Poems by Bob Blaisdell

Author:Bob Blaisdell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

“So that is all,” said the scout, rising and yawning. “The battle had begun in earnest. And maybe I didn’t dine with General R. when it was over and the victory gained. Let’s go to bed.”

The Northern Invasion of Lee

ANONYMOUS

Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia began its second “invasion” of the North, into Pennsylvania, in the beginning of June (the invasion would end on July 4, when Lee’s troops began retreating to Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg).

What means this invasion of Lee?

This Northern invasion by Lee?

Can anyone tell the extent of his lines?

And why he cuts up such impertinent shines?

And where it is going? Has any one guessed?

On a frolic up North, or a raid in the West,

This great rebel army of Lee?

Some say that this army of Lee,

This half famished army of Lee,

Has invaded the North to secure the relief

Of old Pennsylvania’s bread, butter, and beef,

And horses and blankets, and shirts, boots and shoes

And that her choice whisky they will not refuse,

These tatterdemalions of Lee.

Some guess that this army of Lee,

This penniless army of Lee,

Is destined to play us some ruinous pranks,

To surprise Philadelphia, and clean out her banks

And Uncle Sam’s mint, and their treasures untold

In “greenbacks” and nickel, and silver and gold,

This vagabond army of Lee.

And others will have it that Lee,

Or a part of this army of Lee

Is moving North-West, and to Pittsburgh is bound,

To sack it, and blow up, or burn to the ground

Its factories of great guns, and gunboats—that all

Its warlike establishments surely must fall

To the wrath of this army of Lee.

And others are certain that Lee,

And the savage battalions of Lee,

Are moving for Baltimore, there, in the name

Of pious Jeff Davis, to kindle the flame

Of a roaring rebellion—that this is the game,

The grand calculation and object and aim,

Of these terrible Tartars of Lee.

Some think that these movements of Lee,

And these raids from the army of Lee,

Are only deceptions, the tricks and the show

Of a Northern invasion, to cheat “Fighting Joe,”

And then to push on, without pausing to rest.

To a junction with Bragg to recover the West,

By these bold Carthaginians of Lee.

Some think that abandoning Lee,

The Cotton State Legions of Lee,

Care little for Richmond—that Davis & Co.

Have packed up their traps and are ready to go

To some safer refuge down South—that, in fine,

In Georgia they next will establish their shrine,

And leave old Virginia to Lee.

But it is our impression that Lee,

And this wonderful army of Lee,

Are moving with Washington still in their eyes.

Looming up as the grand and desirable prize

Which will gain the alliance of England and France,

And bring in John Bull to assist in the dance,

Hand in hand with the army of Lee.

’Tis the last chance remaining to Lee,

And the last to this army of Lee,

And the last to Jeff Davis; for, sure as they fail

In this desperate game, nothing else will avail

To keep their frail craft and its masters adrift,

Or to rescue from ruin, disastrous and swift,

This grand rebel army of Lee.

All these Border State movements of Lee

Are but

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