Our Flag Is There
Our Flag Is There
R.W. Burt was born on April 23, 1823 in Warwick, Orange County, New York. R.W. Burt grew up on the farm and obtained a practical education in the common school. During the Mexican War R.W. Burt served as a private for one year in Company B, Third Ohio Infantry. Burt wrote many war songs and poems. Burt loved his country and this poem expresses how much he did.
Our Flag is there, our Flag is there,
It proudly waves o'er Sumpter's walls,
And noble men they truly are
Who are to die before it falls.God save that gallant little band
And give them strength that flag to save,
So long as Sumpter's walls shall stand
May traitor's flag n'er o'er it wave
Our Flag is there, Our Flag is there,
Let Freedom shout their loud huzzahs,
And may no traitor ever dare
To lower our bright Stripes and Stars.
May Freedom's Flag forever wave,
Though traitors view it with disdain;
And may they find an early grave
Who fire on that Flag again.
Brave Anderson has nobly stood
Defender of his Country's cause,
And every patriot will applaud
That noble band with loud huzzahs
For we are proud our Flag is there
Long may it wave in Freedom's wars.
Our Flag is there, our Flag is there,
Behold its glorious Stripes and Stars.
Our Flag is there, our Flag is there,
It proudly waves from sea to sea,
The slaves their chains no longer wear
But sing the song of Liberty
That glorious Flag in triumph waves,
Respected by all foreign powers,
When traitors find deserved graves
A glorious destiny is ours.
Our Flag is there, our Flag is there,
We fought that glorious Flag to save
Our Flag is there, our Flag is there
O'er Sumpter evermore to wave.
In this poem R.W. Burt is say9ingthat the American flag is what the solders are fighting for. B.W. Burt mentions about how the soldiers feel about he flag that would be in honor, and how the traitors’ view the way the Americans act towards their flag which would be in great disdain. Burt also mentions how when the Americans won how all slaves were free and everyone was rejoicing. The image of the soldiers winning their victory is told in the lines, "The slaves their chains no longer wear/But sing the song of Liberty… That glorious flag in triumph waves…".
In the first paragraph R.W. Burt explains his feelings for what he is fighting for. The men are noble and are willing to die before the flag could fall. Then, Burt explains the way he would think the battle would turn out. (In victory)
The symbol is obvious. It is our flag. What does it mean? Liberty, the nation and its people, victory, nobility, and proudly. Imagery also takes place in this poem. When the narrator (R.W. Burt) is describing are soldiers rejoicing their victory. "And every patriot will applaud/That noble band with loud huzzahs/For we are proud our flag is there."
In the last paragraph R.W. Burt is describing the battle and its victory. He is saying that their flag was always there through the whole war. The rhythm in this poem is like the flag blowing in the wind. For example, "Our flag is there, our flag is there." This line from the poem has the sound of a flag that waves in the wind. Also, the mood of this poem suggests that R.W. Burt was expecting to win the battle. Through out the poem he is giving hope or saying that the enemy has no chance. For instance, "For we are proud our flag is there."
When R.W. Burt died at the age of 89 on July 8, 1911, a news release said, "The flag on the government building flies at half mast in his honor, a tribute that is peculiarly fitting to a man who loved his country with exhalted fervor and twice offered his life for its defense."
Poem and information about the poet found at the following URL’s:
http://www.infinet.com/~lstevens/burt/burtad.html
http://www.infinet.com/~lstevens/burt/burintro.html
The Prophetic Dream
This short story is about prophetic dreams that Abraham Lincoln had before his assassination. He had two dreams, one was repeated often. In his first dream, the president was in the White House. There was a death like stillness all around him. He heard people sobbing, crying, and moaning. "There seemed to be a death like stillness all around me. Then I heard subdued sobs, as if a number of people were weeping." But he could not see them. He was determined to find the meaning to all of this. He went to the East Room and entered. There he found a corpse on a table wrapped in cloth. There were soldiers that guarded it all around it. There was also a crowd of people around the corpse that were morning. He asked, "Who has died?" One of the soldiers answered, "The president, he was killed by an assassin!" Abe Lincoln then awoke from his dream, but could not get back to sleep. Lincoln and his wife decided to try and forget about the dream.
Later, Abe Lincoln had another strange dream, which was repeated so often; he began to welcome it. It was not a bad dream. In this dream he saw a ship sailing away rapidly, badly damaged, and our victorious vessels in close pursuit. Also, Lincoln saw a battle on the land, the enemy routed, and our forces in possession of vantage ground. Abe Lincoln stated as a fact that this dream he had just before the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and other signal engagements throughout the war.
Abe Lincoln had this dream the night before his assassination. There was a meeting in which General Grant was present. Abe Lincoln asked Grant if he had any news from General Sherman (who was confronting Johnston) the reply was negative. Then Lincoln said, "We shall hear very soon, and the news will be very important." Grant asked why he thought so. Lincoln said, "Because, I had a dream, last night, and ever since this war began I have had the same dream just before every event of great importance. It portends some important event that will happen very soon.
After Lincoln said this he became very cheerful. Mrs. Lincoln (Mary) and Abe went for a ride in the carriage. Afterwards Mrs. Lincoln never saw him look happier. When she questioned him about this he said, ""And well may I feel so, Mary, for I consider that this day the war has come to an end. Now, we must try to be more cheerful in the future, for between this terrible war and the loss of our darling son we have suffered much misery. Let us both try to be happy.
On the night of the fatal 14th of April 1865, when the president was assassinated. Mrs. Lincoln’s first exclamation was, "His dreams were prophetic." I liked this story because I like things that sort of tell the future. That is why I picked this story.
This information was found from the book A Civil War Treasury of Tales, Legends, and Folklore. Written by B.A. Botkin.
By: Rachel 8-2 Fisher Jr./Sr. High School