You should have seen our leader go upon the battle's burning marge, Sweeping like falcon on the foe, heading the Gray line's iron charge! All outcasts from our ruined marts, we heard th' undying serpent hiss, And in the desert of our hearts the fatal spell of Nemesis. [Illustration: "My right arm bared for fiercer play."] The Southern yell rang loud and high the moment that we thundered in, Smiting the demons hip and thigh, cleaving them to the very chin; My right arm bared for fiercer play, the left one held the rein in slack; In all the fury of the fray I sought the white man, not the black. The dabbled clots of brain and gore across the swirling sabres ran; To me each brutal visage bore the front of one accurs'd man! Throbbing along the frenzied vein, my blood seem'd kindled into song-- The death-dirge of the sacred slain, the slogan of immortal wrong. It glared athwart the dripping glaves, it blazed in each avenging eye-- The thought of desecrated graves and some lone sister's desperate cry. [Illustration: Virginia Sword-Belt Clasp.] DUTY AND DEFIANCE. By COLONEL HAMILTON WASHINGTON. Raise the thrilling cry, to arms! Texas needs us all, Texans! Home and love and pleasure's charms, Yield to duty's call, Texans! Now the stream of battle lowers-- Who before the tempest cowers? Who could hide in woman's bowers? Show him to the field, Texans! Twice our sires for freedom fought-- Twice with blood the treasure bought-- By the lessons they have taught We'll die, but never yield, Texans! Long we've heard the storm afar; Now 'tis coming near, Texans! Onward rolls the din of war, Let us meet it here, Texans! All we have and love's in danger, Forward, then, each Texan Ranger! Let us meet the daring stranger, That brings us war at home, Texans!-- Never shall our happy land Be ravaged by a robber band-- We will meet them hand to hand, And fight each step they come, Texans. THE CONFEDERATE OATH.[5] _Air--"My Maryland."_ By the Cross upon our banner--glory of our Southern sky-- Swear we now, a band of brothers, free to live, or free to die! Northrons! by the rights denied, listen to our solemn vow-- Here we swear, as freemen, never to your galling yoke to bow! By our brave ones lost in battle, best and noblest of our land, Fighting with your Northern hirelings, face to face and hand to hand; By a sacrifice so priceless, by the spirits of the slain-- Swear we now, our Southern heroes shall not thus have died in vain. Wide and deep the breach between us--rent by hatred's poisoned darts, And ye cannot now cement it with the blood of Southern hearts! Streams of gore that gulf shall widen, running strong and deep and red, Severing you from us forever, while there is a drop to shed.