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Hurrah For You, General Grant
Hurrah For You, General Grant!
The windows let the cool breeze in,
With Bob White’s lonesome call.
I worked the evening hours away
With bookwork, covered all.
The ledgers I had reassessed
For audit in the morn,
When suddenly a rustling
I heard from field of corn.
Then blowing out the lamp I stood,
Took up my hoops and skirt,
And holding them I ran the hall,
Grabbed pistol, now alert.
The menfolk all had long been gone
To fight the Yankee horde.
They left me unprotected here.
My soul cried out, “Dear Lord!”
“I know not what has caused the sound
I heard while at my desk,
But Thou alone must helpest me.
I need to stand this test.”
I knew that though our farm was small,
Posterity would tell,
If I had done the best I could
To hold it sure and well.
I stood inside the shadows there
Upon that shaded porch,
And watched the field of just ripe corn
Until I saw the torch.
Poppa had left me a warning,
When they rode out to war.
Said, “I’ll be home when it’s finished.
Remember who you are.
Your life’s been hard since Momma died.
Girl, you know how to shoot.
This war's a hideous trial,
With evil at it’s root.
The boys and I will come back soon.
We leave you with the land.
Do your best to protect it, Child,
If needed make a stand.”
Remembering the words he spoke
I drew myself apart.
I watched the field as anger then
Replaced fear in my heart.
My family had fought and died
To make a homeplace sure.
A white-hot rage consumed me there,
So total, deadly, pure.
I watched the torch point to the road,
And hearing now acute,
Saw a succession of riders,
Leave field by horse then foot,
To see so many took my breath.
I could not stand alone.
But I am stubborn through and through,
Right down and into bone.
Disoriented for a bit,
I almost made a cry.
Annoyed at my own foolishness,
I lifted my chin high.
If they torched the field, a famine,
Would kill me anyway,
So I stood tall on my front porch,
To meet them there I’d wait.
So many soldiers in the road,
Caused me to cringe inside.
I closely watched as one rider,
Come slowly up the drive.
“Good evening, Mam’m,” he said to me,
As on high steed he sat,
“Would it be an imposition,”
(Now doffing his Yankee hat)
“If my men pulled corn in your field?
You see they’ve naught to eat.”
The Lord above had surely heard,
And rage fell at my feet.
I stood in shock and dumbstruck quite
To hear this man’s request.
He waited ‘til I answered him.
With trembling lips said, “Yes.”
“Yes, it’s an imposition, Mam’m?
Or yes, it’ll be all right?”
I told him, take what he needed.
His smile lit up the night.
Cotton and lace hid my pistol,
But now there was no need.
My gracious heavenly Father
On my behalf did lead.
Not one lone soldier entered house.
Consigned to field they stayed.
On orders from the general,
Enjoying the supper I made,
Ulysses, I think, he called himself.
Ragged and battle-sore.
Took the corn, there was nothing else,
And showed himself the door.
Just before leaving he told me,
With broad smile and a wink,
“In green eyes there’s conspiracy.”
He laughed then as I blinked.
“Just put that pistol up somewhere,”
“Green Eyes,” he called me then.
My mouth fell open and he laughed.
“One gun against my men!”
He slid a flask from his pocket,
And took a good long pull.
Said, “Thank you, Mam’m for my supper.
For certain, it was not dull.”
I’ve thought about that evening since,
It’s not a mystery.
The man who headed Northern troops
Had come to visit me.
Secure in my speculation,
I think I came out well.
The foe encamped upon my field.
See! I have lived to tell.
Unless I have been mistaken,
Good news being so scant,
Alone, still he did protect me,
Hurrah for you, General Grant!
Jessica,
I read this poem for the second time now and it completely captured me. This is surely a very worthy winner for the best of the month. Congratulations on a challenge well met.
Christine M
Excellent, Jess.....Sometimes the game is easy, sometimes a challenge. I don't know which you felt this one was, but you certainly came through with flying colours! Loved it, quite a tale.
Kris
Jess,
i've been sitting on this for a while now. It is stupendous. you certainly met your challenge here. What a reas!. I know I have read it a few times. Thanks Linda
Lady, you are the champ...totally awesome. Would love to see what you could do with one about General Lee
I just did the second read and I enjoyed this even more than the first time I read it, commented, and got booted before the comment was published.
I LOVED this Jes. You did your challenge well. I know Ted as well and we are E-mail buddies. He said that he was going to start giving us titles. I have not yet received mine. I have not forgot about your title but just so much going on right now.
This is a very good addition to this site of such talent.
I loved the way you told the story. I could picture so well the setting and feel the fear and courage as this young woman prepared to defend her homestead and the trust that had been given to her by her father and brother's to do so.
I love this period of history. I love the cloths and always wanted to wear a hooped skirt.
As everything you write this was wonderful! I am sure that Teddy was very pleased!
Love,
Lesa
WOW!!!!!! Doubleyou!!!!! Ohhhhhh!!!! Doubleyou!!!!!
And I was presumptuous enough to think I might have ever understood you!!! And I'll N E V E R STUMP you!! WHAT A PERSPECTIVE!! But, I think that you do know that there have existed...& still DO exist...some chivalrous & SENSITIVE Yankees!!...don't you??!!! I look forward (& backward, often), to the challenge of keeping you "kind" to some of us Yankees; your word-pallet is VERY attractive. CUL, BRB, 'JNRR'. THIS IS S U P E R B FUN!!!!!
"Poe" I'm not, nor "Rich" am I,
but I'll be famous, b'ye and b'ye !
Very interesting and well written.
Well now, wasn't that special!!
Honestly, I loved the story, how'd you come up with that one, Jess?
Have you been watching Gone With the Wind? You always suprize me with what's next.
Kim