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| Interior of a Fort in Washington, DC During the Civil War |
The anonymous poem below was contributed by a member of the 85th Pennsylvania for a reunion in 1885 held in Canonsburg, Washington County. This regimental reunion was held jointly with the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves.
First, some information about the reunion. A local newspaper noted of the event, "The town was in gay attire, the buildings being decked with flags,
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| From Boyd Crumrine History of Washington County 1882 |
After several addresses, the veterans continued to the town's skating rink where a banquet dinner was served. At a campfire later in the day, Reverend Jacob L. Thompson, a veteran of Company A, shared some remarks. Another address was made by Alexander Pollock of Company A entitled, "Our Country: The Best Government on Earth." Reverend James S. Speer, a veteran of Company B also made a speech entitled, "Our Absent Comrades."
During their stay at Fort Good Hope in the District of Columbia during the winter of 1861-1862, the regiment constructed its own fortification (one of 33 that ringed the nation's capital during the war) and performed duties at several other facilities in the vicinity. Fort Good Hope was located across the eastern branch of the Potomac River, in the southwest corner of Washington, DC near the border with Prince Georges County, Maryland. When they had time, the men would tour the nation's capital. Several claimed to have encountered President Abraham Lincoln near the Capitol Building on various occasions.
The poem,written during the 85th Pennsylvania's third month in Washington, DC and sixth overall in the army, reflects the writer's homesickness, restlessness in not yet having participated in battle, and frustration with the cold winter weather.
Washington Daily Reporter
October 2, 1885
WINTER IN CAMP
The following lines
were written by a member of Company E, 85th regiment PA. Vols. In
February, 1862, at Camp Good Hope, Washington, D.C. and are handed us with a
request to publish,
Alas the
pleasant days have fled,
The rude
storm king has come,
And I’m
nodding in my canvass bunk,
With
thoughts of “Home” sweet home.
I’m nodding
by my friends,
The snow
falls thick and fast,
And I’m
thinking of the joy’d ones left
And happy
hours we’ve passed.
I’m thinking
of the little ones,
Now distant
many miles,
Their
childish glee, their numerous pranks,
Their tears
and gentle smiles.
I’m thinking
of the good things too,
Roasts,
jellies, cakes and cream,
But oh! Alas
such dainty things,
In camp are
seldom seen.
I’m thinking
of the merry dance,
I see each
fairy form
As
gracefully they promenade,
And smiling
partners turn.
But Oh! How
different here the scene;
My heart
grows faint and sick,
“Tis
shoulder arms,” “Right shoulder shift,”
“Now
forward” “Double quick.”
The glorious
orb of day is hid,
Nor sheds
its genial heat,
To cheer the
shivering sentinel,
While on his
lonely beat.
The silver
moon, the twinkling stars,
With clouds
are overcast,
And each in
haste a shelter seeks,
To shield
him from the storm.
And still
the storm king rages on,
With
unrelenting will,
As though it
were his chief delight,
Our icy cups
to fill,
The rain,
the hail, the sleet and snow,
Continue to
descend,
Old Boreas
blows his bitter blast,
That seem to
have no end.
But cease
complaint, my country calls,
Away with
idle thought,
We came to
save the stars and stripes,
Our fathers
dearly bought.
No blood yet
trickling from our feet,
We’re amply
clothed and fed,
‘Twas not so
with our noble sires
When forth
to battle led.
Their
footsteps left a bloody path,
As o’er the
clods they passed,
Undaunted
still they forward pressed,
To triumph
at the last.
Though kinds
and crowns may threaten us,
Though wild
rebellion rolls,
Undaunted by
our flag we’ll stand,
Or sleep
beneath its folds.
Then
comrades on with heart and hand,
We’ll show
the gazing world.
While life
and through and being lasts,
Our flag
remains unfurled.
When limbs
are stiff and ache with toil,
The cure
lies in St. Jacobs Oil.
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| New York Illustrated Times May 24, 1862 |
