130 WELCOME OF 1865. Of your loved and brave McPherson, Welcome, welcome! then you answered, Put this vile rebellion down! Dig the poisonous upas up, Ere the tree is larger grown! Welcome home! Welcome, welcome! you the gallant Hood surrounded, And the prized Atlanta won; Quickly through the north it sounded, The good work that you had done. Welcome home! For that battle ask of Sherman, What's the glory? He will answer, "home elysian, Robes of ermine you should wear!" Welcome, welcome from Fort Fisher, Till the fort was badly shattered, And the flag of treason tattered! In the face of bristling cannon, When your bleeding ranks were thinning you Welcome home! One by one you took each traverse; Then cheer on cheer went up from all, When you saw the stars and stripes Welcome, welcome! We are thinking, Of that long and bloody route, 132 WELCOME OF 1865. When brave Sheridan just returning- Welcome home! Then you saw the flying columns, Then you cheered and cheered for Sheridan, From Kenesaw and Rocky Face, Welcome home! Welcome, welcome! Those were battles, Filling traitorous hearts with shame. Welcome, welcome for those battles-ask Ulysses, What of honor you may know, More than mortals can bestow!" Welcome, welcome! We have shrined you Welcome, welcome! God has kept you, 'Tis for the sleeping heroes In their distant graves, While their blood-bought banner waves. |