Classic Poem

Welcome ! welcome! Hark! the greeting
From the glad home-voices comes,
Words which echo is repeating
With the triumph-speaking drums
Welcome home from fields of glory,
Sacred evermore in story,
Won by you in battles gory,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! We remember
When you proudly took the field;
'T was the beautiful September,
And the war-trumps loudly pealed.
Oh, how proud you seemed when passing
To the front, where troops were massing,
Loyal from disloyal classing,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! We are thinking
Of the wilds of Tennessee,
When with Burnside, all unshrinking,
You assumed supremacy;
And from then, your name maintaining,
Honors new and noble gaining,
Well you won the praise we're naming,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! Ask of Sherman
What of honor you may know!
He will answer, “Robes of ermine,
Gold and gems, cannot bestow
Half the fame on those who wear them,
And in princely power bear them!”
Who with honor would compare them?—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! Months have vanished
Since on frowning Rocky Face
You all thoughts and feelings banished,
Save to fill the hero's place
Never were you seen retreating,
But the haughty foe defeating,
While the wildest storms were beating,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! Those were battles
Which the world is proud to name;
Freeing all the human chattels,
Filling traitor-hearts with shame
Kenesaw's destructive charges,
Dallas and Lost Mountain's gorges,
Resaca—how the theme enlarges!—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! Hood surrounded
And the fair Atlanta won,
Pæans through the Northland sounded
For the good work you had done;
And your great achievements summing,
In our hearts we said, “They're coming,
Hark! the song of peace is humming!”—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! Darkness lowered
Fearfully above us all,
When brave Thomas seemed o'erpowered,
And his strength about to fall;
But at Franklin, death defying,
While your comrades low were lying,
Back you sent the foemen flying,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! We shall never
Cease to see the Nashville rout,
When with gleaming steel you ever
Made the rebels face about.
Hood's battalions are retreating,
Bugles blare and drums are beating,
Fame extends you royal greeting,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! We have shrined you
In the temple of our heart;
And within it have entwined you
Fadeless wreaths with subtle art.
There are lines in Love's own letters,
Battles, prison-cells, and fetters;
To your prowess we are debtors,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! God who kept you
All these weary days agone,
Though of comrades He bereft you,
He but gathered home His own;
Ever guide you by His power,
Though the angry tempests lower,
Peace her blessings o'er you shower,—
Welcome home!

Welcome! welcome! For the sleeping
Heroes in their distant graves,
We the silent tears are weeping,
While their blood-bought banner waves;
But its sacred folds can never
Treason lift a hand to sever,
Clasp we hands, then, and forever!—