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Poem
November 25, 1879
Bristol News
Bristol, Washington County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Hymn by Herbert H. Preston, set to music by J. Max Mueller, sung at the November 19 unveiling of General George H. Thomas's statue in Washington, D.C., during the Eleventh Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. The statue is on the site of 1865 victory salutes and faces toward Arlington, General Lee's home. The lyrics praise the Union, victory, and veterans.
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The Thomas Statue.
THE GRAND HYMNUS SUNG ON THE EVENT OF ITS UNVEILING.
The following grand hymnus, words by Herbert H. Preston, music by J. Max Mueller, was sung at the unveiling of the statue of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, in Washington yesterday, Nov. 19, at the Eleventh Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland.
The site selected for the statue is the spot where the salute of eight hundred guns was fired on April 3, 1865, in honor of the fall of Petersburg and capture of Richmond, and one week later another salute of five hundred guns, in honor of the surrender of Lee's army. The statue faces south, the line of vision being directly toward Arlington, the home of Gen. Lee.
Hail, Legion of Heroes, with mighty acclaim!
Attention battalions! In phalanx proclaim
How Peace twines with Honor o'er victors' renown,
The olive and laurel, our Chieftain's great crown.
Unfurl all thy banners! Once more let the air
Resound with the drum and the trumpet's deep blare;
But not with the clangor of war's wild alarms,
As when thro' the land rang the outcry "To arms!"
For strife is at end: it was God sheathed the sword—
Hallelujahs and thanks be unto the Lord!
When serried clouds in host of gray.
Before the sun their ranks array,
He, like an armed warrior strong
In battle, routs the vap'rous throng:
And when the States, gray clad as foes
Against the nation's life uprose
In valor's heat more fierce than sun,
Their cause was lost—the Union won!
On hallowed grounds these veterans stand.
Here throbs of victory first thrilled the Land.
Then on this spot, within the Nation's heart,
Raise prouder trophy than bequeathed by art,
The Union Banner! Loyal men shall hold
With fealty born of God, each sov'reign fold.
Stand statue, firm upon thy granite base!
Thy native hills now greet thee face to face.
'Thy fearless gleam enshrined in glory's gleam,
Illumes eternal blue with starry beam.
Ten hundred times ten hundred men,
In stately front march on again.
Bid cannons boom and muskets roar:
Wave Standards! All thy colors lower
Salute with gladness, might, good-will!
GOD SAVE THE UNION—GUARD IT STILL!
With grand concordant hymns of praise,
With glorious anthems, joyful lays,
In one exulting voice prolong
With swelling note, triumphant song
Lift up your hearts in grateful strain
'Til earth and sky with glad refrain
Reverberate thy honored name.
Hosannas on Hosannas raise!
Te Deums chant with symphonies,
In everlasting harmonies.
Hosanna in Excelsis!
THE GRAND HYMNUS SUNG ON THE EVENT OF ITS UNVEILING.
The following grand hymnus, words by Herbert H. Preston, music by J. Max Mueller, was sung at the unveiling of the statue of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, in Washington yesterday, Nov. 19, at the Eleventh Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland.
The site selected for the statue is the spot where the salute of eight hundred guns was fired on April 3, 1865, in honor of the fall of Petersburg and capture of Richmond, and one week later another salute of five hundred guns, in honor of the surrender of Lee's army. The statue faces south, the line of vision being directly toward Arlington, the home of Gen. Lee.
Hail, Legion of Heroes, with mighty acclaim!
Attention battalions! In phalanx proclaim
How Peace twines with Honor o'er victors' renown,
The olive and laurel, our Chieftain's great crown.
Unfurl all thy banners! Once more let the air
Resound with the drum and the trumpet's deep blare;
But not with the clangor of war's wild alarms,
As when thro' the land rang the outcry "To arms!"
For strife is at end: it was God sheathed the sword—
Hallelujahs and thanks be unto the Lord!
When serried clouds in host of gray.
Before the sun their ranks array,
He, like an armed warrior strong
In battle, routs the vap'rous throng:
And when the States, gray clad as foes
Against the nation's life uprose
In valor's heat more fierce than sun,
Their cause was lost—the Union won!
On hallowed grounds these veterans stand.
Here throbs of victory first thrilled the Land.
Then on this spot, within the Nation's heart,
Raise prouder trophy than bequeathed by art,
The Union Banner! Loyal men shall hold
With fealty born of God, each sov'reign fold.
Stand statue, firm upon thy granite base!
Thy native hills now greet thee face to face.
'Thy fearless gleam enshrined in glory's gleam,
Illumes eternal blue with starry beam.
Ten hundred times ten hundred men,
In stately front march on again.
Bid cannons boom and muskets roar:
Wave Standards! All thy colors lower
Salute with gladness, might, good-will!
GOD SAVE THE UNION—GUARD IT STILL!
With grand concordant hymns of praise,
With glorious anthems, joyful lays,
In one exulting voice prolong
With swelling note, triumphant song
Lift up your hearts in grateful strain
'Til earth and sky with glad refrain
Reverberate thy honored name.
Hosannas on Hosannas raise!
Te Deums chant with symphonies,
In everlasting harmonies.
Hosanna in Excelsis!
What sub-type of article is it?
Hymn
Ode
Song
What themes does it cover?
Patriotism
War Military
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Thomas Statue
Union Victory
Civil War Veterans
Army Of The Cumberland
Washington Unveiling
Gen Geo H Thomas
What entities or persons were involved?
Herbert H. Preston
Poem Details
Title
The Grand Hymnus Sung On The Event Of Its Unveiling
Author
Herbert H. Preston
Subject
Unveiling Of The Statue Of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas
Key Lines
Hail, Legion Of Heroes, With Mighty Acclaim!
For Strife Is At End: It Was God Sheathed The Sword—
Hallelujahs And Thanks Be Unto The Lord!
Their Cause Was Lost—The Union Won!
God Save The Union—Guard It Still!
Hosanna In Excelsis!