Old Fort Meigs.

69

BY A SOLDIER.

AIR -- "Oh! lonely is the forest shade."

Oh! lonely is our old green fort,
Where oft in days of old,
Our gallant soldiers bravely fought,
'Gainst savage allies bold,
But with the change of years have past,
That unrelenting foe,
Since we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.

70

It seems but yesterday, I heard,
From yonder thicket nigh,
Th' unerring rifle's sharp report,
The Indian's startling cry.
Yon brooklet winding at our feet,
With crimson gore din flow,
When we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.

The river rolls between its banks,
As when of old we came,
Each grassy path, each shady nook,
Seems to me still the same.
But we are scattered now whose faith,
Pledg'd here through weal or woe,
With Harrison our soil to guard,
A long time ago.

But many a soldier's lip is mute,
And clouded many a brow,
And hearts that beat for honor then,
Have ceased their throbbing now;
We ne'er shall meet again in life,
As then we met, I trow,
When we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.