MY NIAGARA
A Song After the
Battle of Spotsylvania
Home of my heart I sing
of thee—
Niagara,
My Niagara!
Thy lake-bound shores
I long to see,
Niagara!
From Olcott’s groves
and whispering pines,
To where the
Cataract’s waters shine,
Around my heart sweet
memories twine,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
Dark rolled the
Rappahannock’s flood,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
All crimson with thy
son’s best blood,
Niagara!
Still Spotsylvania is
out boast,
Although for us the
day was lost,
We saved thy honor at
great cost,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
When weary watching
traitor foes,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
The welcome night
brings sweet repose,
Niagara!
The soldiers weary
for the fight,
Sleep sound, nor fear
the rebels’ might
Niagara is on guard
tonight,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
And when the happy
day shall come,
Niagara,
My Niagara!
That brings thy war-worn
heroes home,
Niagara!
What welcome from thy
cataract roar,
Shall on the ears of
heroes pour,
What tears for those
who come no more
Niagara,
My Niagara!
By George Humphrey
Skeel’s Post
349, GAR Hartland, N. Y.
My Niagara is a poem written by George Humphrey about his experience in the Civil War Battle at Spotsylvania, Virginia. George Humphrey, an immigrant from England, enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 18 from Niagara County, New York. He participated in a number of engagements including Wilderness Campaign, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church, and Petersburg.
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