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Poem
July 4, 1856
The Nevada Journal
Nevada City, Nevada County, California
What is this article about?
During a lull in the Crimean War siege, British soldiers in the trenches sing 'Annie Laurie,' evoking love and tenderness before the storming of the Redan. The poem reflects on their valor and the mourning that follows their losses.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
NEAR THE CAMP
A CRIMEAN INCIDENT-BY BAYARD TAYLOR
"Give us a Song!" the soldier cried,
The outer trenches guarding,
When the heated guns of the camps allied
Grew weary of bombarding.
The dark Redan, in silent scoff,
Lay, grim and threatening, under;
And the tawny mound of the Malakoff
No longer belched its thunder.
There was a pause. The garrison said
"We storm the fort to-morrow;"
Sing while we may, another day
Will bring enough of sorrow.
They lay along the battery's side,
Below the smoking cannon:
Brave hearts, from Severn and from Clyde,
And from the banks of Shannon.
They sang of love, and not of fame;
Forgot was Briton's glory:
Each heart recalled a different name,
But all sang "Annie Laurie."
Voice after voice caught up the song,
Until its tender passion
Rose like an anthem, rich and strong,
Their battle-eve confession.
Dear girl, her name no soldier speaks;
But as the song grew louder,
Something upon the soldier's cheek
Washed off the stain of powder.
Beyond the darkening ocean burned
The bloody sunset's embers,
While the Crimean valleys learned
How English love remembers.
And once again a fire of hell
Raged on its Russian quarters,
With scream of shot, and burst of shell,
And bellowing of the mortars.
In Irish Nora's eyes are dim
For a singer, dumb and gory;
And English Mary mourns for him
Who sang of "Annie Laurie."
Ah, soldiers! to your honored rest,
Your truth and valor bearing;
The bravest are the tenderest,
The loving are the daring.
A CRIMEAN INCIDENT-BY BAYARD TAYLOR
"Give us a Song!" the soldier cried,
The outer trenches guarding,
When the heated guns of the camps allied
Grew weary of bombarding.
The dark Redan, in silent scoff,
Lay, grim and threatening, under;
And the tawny mound of the Malakoff
No longer belched its thunder.
There was a pause. The garrison said
"We storm the fort to-morrow;"
Sing while we may, another day
Will bring enough of sorrow.
They lay along the battery's side,
Below the smoking cannon:
Brave hearts, from Severn and from Clyde,
And from the banks of Shannon.
They sang of love, and not of fame;
Forgot was Briton's glory:
Each heart recalled a different name,
But all sang "Annie Laurie."
Voice after voice caught up the song,
Until its tender passion
Rose like an anthem, rich and strong,
Their battle-eve confession.
Dear girl, her name no soldier speaks;
But as the song grew louder,
Something upon the soldier's cheek
Washed off the stain of powder.
Beyond the darkening ocean burned
The bloody sunset's embers,
While the Crimean valleys learned
How English love remembers.
And once again a fire of hell
Raged on its Russian quarters,
With scream of shot, and burst of shell,
And bellowing of the mortars.
In Irish Nora's eyes are dim
For a singer, dumb and gory;
And English Mary mourns for him
Who sang of "Annie Laurie."
Ah, soldiers! to your honored rest,
Your truth and valor bearing;
The bravest are the tenderest,
The loving are the daring.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Love Courtship
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Crimean War
Soldiers
Annie Laurie
Battle Song
Tender Bravery
What entities or persons were involved?
By Bayard Taylor
Poem Details
Title
Near The Camp A Crimean Incident
Author
By Bayard Taylor
Subject
Crimean War Soldiers Singing Before Battle
Key Lines
"Give Us A Song!" The Soldier Cried,
The Outer Trenches Guarding,
When The Heated Guns Of The Camps Allied
Grew Weary Of Bombarding.
Each Heart Recalled A Different Name,
But All Sang "Annie Laurie."
The Bravest Are The Tenderest,
The Loving Are The Daring.