"Oh, the glorious cheer of triumph, When the foeman turn'd and fled, Leaving us the field of battle, Strewn with dying and with dead. Oh, the torture and the anguish, That I could not follow on, But here amid my fallen comrades, I must wait till morning's dawn." [Illustration] [Illustration: _CHARLES CARROLL SAWYER_] _WHEN THIS CRUEL WAR IS OVER_. Dearest love, do you remember, When we last did meet, How you told me that you lov'd me, Kneeling at my feet? Oh! how proud you stood before me, In your suit of blue, When you vow'd to me and country Ever to be true. Weeping, sad and lonely, Hopes and fears how vain! When this cruel war is over, Praying that we meet again! When the summer breeze is sighing, Mournfully along; Or when autumn leaves are falling, Sadly breathes the song. Oft in dreams I see thee lying On the battle plain, Lonely, wounded, even dying, Calling, but in vain. If amid the din of battle Nobly you should fall, Far away from those who love you, None to hear you call-- Who would whisper words of comfort Who would soothe your pain? Ah! the many cruel fancies, Ever in my brain. But our country call'd you, darling, Angels cheer your way; While our nation's sons are fighting, We can only pray. Nobly strike for God and liberty, Let all nations see How we love the starry banner, Emblem of the free. --_Charles Carroll Sawyer._ Charles Carroll Sawyer was born in Mystic, Connecticut, in 1833. His father, Captain Joshua Sawyer, was an old-fashioned Yankee sea captain. The family moved to New York when Charles was quite young, and he obtained his education in that city. The poetic instinct was marked in his youth, and at the age of twelve he wrote several sonnets which attracted a good deal of attention among his acquaintances. At the breaking out of the war he began to write war songs, and in a few months was recognized everywhere as one of the most successful musical composers of the day. His most popular songs were _Who will Care for Mother Now?_ _Mother would Comfort Me_, and the one we have selected--_When this Cruel War is Over_. Each of these three songs named reached a sale of over a million copies before the close of the war, and were sung in almost every mansion and farmhouse and cabin from the Atlantic to the Pacific throughout all the northern part of the Union, as well as in every camp where soldiers waited for battle.