Hillsborough Recorder

August 21, 1861

Page 4

From the North Carolina Standard

VICTORY AT MANASSAS

By Luola

Not surer was the sword of Gideon

Wielded by almighty power,

Than the Lord was with our armies

In their great victorious hour;

By the well of Harod gathered

Israel’s feeble scatter’d bands,

While the mighty host of Midian

Lay around like ocean sands.

Proudly o’er the hill of Moreb

Swell’d the trumpet’s pealing blast;

But the morn that sparkled o’er them

Was to Midian’s host the last;

Torn at evening lay their banners

And the dying and the dead

Mark’d the way where, panic stricken,

They fled from Israel’s God had fled.

Brightly dawn’d the summer morning

Brightly beam’d the Sabbath blest,

As the pomp of Lincoln’s army

Onward to Manassas press’d.

Proudly waved their spangled banners

Breathed they vengeance on the foe;

“Death to traitors” was their watch-word,

“Crush the rebels evermore.”

And their Senate, wise in counsel,

With the nobles of their land,

Waited at a distance prudent,

For their great victorious band.

Costliest viands, like Belshazzar’s,

And the richest, rosiest, wine,

Waited the returning conqueror

With a wreath his brow to twine.

Alas! that conqueror! Better far,

That he had fallen long ago,

When his brow was wreathed in laurels,

Bravely won in Mexico,

Better for himself and country

He had fill’d an infant’s tomb,

Than to have his gray hairs merit

And await a traitor’s doom!

On they rush’d with hearts exultant,

Might and power were on their side,

Batteries strong and dauntless leaders

Should the day for them decide;

On they rush’d with iron bracelets

For the captives, soon to be,

Southern freemen! Iron bracelets

Forged by Northern hands for THEE!

On they rush’d, but God who gave us

Victory at Bethel’s hill,

In the valley of Manassas

Proved himself our leader still;

Scatter’d, routed, crush’d, o’erpower’d,

All their mighty columns riven,

Like the chafe before the whirlwind,

Were they by our army driven.

Land of the South! adore, exalt Him,

God did for your brave sons fight;

‘Twas his hand that gain’d the victory,

And proclaim’d the struggle right.

Not to human skill or wisdom,

Be the song or ____ raised,

To the Lord, the God of battles,

Be the glory and the praise!

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]