O'er the green fields of Eden forever and aye

SWMODave

Sergeant Major
Thread Medic
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Location
Southwest Missouri
A_dead_horse.jpg

My Old Army Horse
By [Lt] Edward P Tobie [First Maine Cavalry]
US Medal of Honor bearer


He did his full duty through four years of war;
What horse could do better, what man say more?
He was true to our colors in camp and in field;
And he gave up his life for the land we adore.

Untrained were we both when we went into camp;
Together we took our first lessons in drill,
He learned how to carry me, I how to ride,
And each to obey a superior will.

Together we marched over many a mile,
Oft in darkness of midnight, o'er pathways unseen;
When he carried me safely, this good horse of mine,
With his foot ever sure and his eye ever keen.

We stood picket together on many a night,
For he was as good a vidette as was I;
For he warned me oft times with his vigilant ears,
In the darkness and stillness that danger was nigh.

He often went hungry, so often did I,
Till starvation threatened and all was forlorn;
But we shared with each other, we brothers in arms,
And oft ate a lunch from the same ear of corn.

Together we slept, many times, he and I
As I lay on the ground, with his rein o'er my arms;
And he stood close beside me, this comrade of mine.
Like a sentinel faithful to guard me from harm.

I thought not of him as I rode from the field,
Nor noticed that he, my best friend, had been hit;
But when he had borne me well out of harm's way
He lay down and died—had e'er man better grit?

Are there horses in heaven? Then my old army horse
Is in heaven with winged heads, and is waking the day
That I'll mount him again, then to course, he and I,
O'er the green fields of Eden forever and aye.

Maine Bugle - read at 27th regimental reunion
 
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