But when the darkness swallowed up the day, As if we entered the Elysian fields, Through the encircling clouds of awful night, We saw a glowing Paradise of light. A thousand camp-fires blossomed on the hills, The flame-leaved lilies of the Field of Mars, Minerva’s bloody roses, passion-flowers, Planted by sooty Vulcan, whose red disc Thrive best in crimson showers, and gather strength, Fanned by the moans and sighs of dying men, Each tented hill and pyramid of fire Flashed round the dark horizon, till it seemed A billowed sea of many-twinkling lights, Or burning girdle of Vesuvian crests Whose surging lava trembled to o’erleap Their glowing craters and engulf the plains. Alas, for many a harnessed warrior when Yon Battle-Titan turns him in his den! THE PRELUDE. Hearken! In the murky morning, Sounds the awful note of warning. Winding down the river shore Tramps the veteran Sixteenth Corps, Wilson’s bugles charm the river, With the signal of advance, Twenty thousand guidons quiver From the horsemen’s tapering lance! Twenty thousand chargers’ feet Hurry through the startled street, Stretching “to the crack of doom” Till they vanish in the gloom Of the woods which fringe the west Round Fort Zollicoffer’s crest. We hear along the western shore The sullen battle’s opening roar, While in the clouds, like the Angel of Death, The white-winged shells pour their sulphurous breath. Hatch’s horsemen spur their steeds, Croxton’s sabres bright and gleaming, Johnson in the vanguard leads Still encircling, still advancing, Onward like a torrent’s dashing, Spaulding’s carbine fire is flashing, Like a serpent line of fire-- Stewart reels before their ire. Rolls the battle-tumult higher-- The soldier falls--the charger bleeds, Stewart’s line recoils!--recedes! “Charge the batteries!”--It is done-- Stewart’s legions turn and fly-- Swells the glad shout of Victory!-- So the first day’s strife is won THE SECOND DAY.