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GOING HOME
Slowly through the silent night they marched along
some limping, leaning heavily upon a crutch or cane
ragged, tattered, shoulders sagging,but onward
slowly through the night they came
and all of them with one single sweet accord
the war was over now, and 'Thank Ye Lord"
some walked beside a comrad
some walked along
and like a slow grey line there in the night
they traveled on
for they were going home
Weary soldiers, defeated now and tired
battle weary veterans straining eyes and ears
some with thankful tears
all longing for their loved ones and their homes
and so methodically, they just kept walking on
old men with battle scars and wounds
young boys hoping to see their sweethearts soon
hungry, beat, with aching muscles sore
where was the beauty of these old familiar lands
that they had left some months before
and now in bright sunlight or through the tempest storm
they traveled slowly on
toward the land where they were born
Weeks passed
and Virginia's high green mountains lay behind them now
and through Carolina's thick green forrests, they limped along
scrounging, stealing food where ere they could
a crust of bread, an egg, a carrot patch, a lone pheasant they could roast
for to them, any thing was good
and still onward now they came
still singing Dixie whenere they could
ragged soldiers of a sacred and lost cause
why did they go to war
they went with pride and honor
and they fought for home and freedom and for principals
and for 'Just Because'
Lord, help us, they kept saying as they
slowly walked along
but nothing could stop them now
for they were headed home
And as they lay rolled up in tattered blankets in the night
they dreamed of loves ones far away
of straight long furrows in their homestead fields
of tables laden down with the summer's goodly yields
they dreamed of a mothers love, her loving arms, a tender smile
a fire place bright and just to rest awhile
a comphy pillow and a feather bed
of home, a place of safety in the night
a place to lay your weary head
they thought of such pleasant things to come
and so they just kept walking on
for they were going home
An old grey jacket, a battered rifle, a torn Confederate flag
a canteen of water
to some, thats all they had
some had no shoes and broken feet lay bare
as they walked through North Georgia's red clay hills
with pain beyond compare
but nothing could stop them now
not blackened shells of burned out homes
not echos of some distant cannons roar
they tried not to think of these sad and sorrowful things
for life would never be as it had been before
and for some whose hearts were hard as stone
they seemed light hearted and most happy now
for they were almost home
Onward now they trudged
through thick swamps
with song birds singing so devine
toward home to wives and families
and soon they crossed the Georgia-Florida line
and now the land became flat and lush and low
where palmetto shrubs so thickly grow
now they were truly homeward bound
some dropped to heir knees
and kissed this sacred hallowed ground
for four long years
they had waited for this blessed day
and here they were at last
and in this beautious land they planned to stay
and now familiar scents filled up the air
wild flowers blooming, old spreading oak trees, tall brown pines
Oh God, they were almost there
and now things would once again be fine
They crossed the tumbling Suwannee River
and Withlacoochee's black waters lay ahead
the place where indians still did tread
but naught to dread
Old mother river with her cypress trees
where panthers roam
and with renewed strength, they leaped into the air
for family and friends would all be there
no need now to ever feel alone
for Florida's Company F, 8th Infantry
was home
