The Cumberland

At anchor in Hampton Roads welay, On board of tlie Oumberlaod sloop-of-nar And at times, from the fortress aoross the ba1 The alarm of drums swept past, Or a buglé blast From the camp on shore. Then far awny to Ihe South iiprose A little featherof snow-wliite smoke, And wc knew the Ircn Ship of our foes Was steadily steering its eour.ie 'J'o try tlie forco Of our ril:-; of ook Down ypoi) us heavily runs, Silenl and sullen, the floating fort ; Thcn comes a puft of smoke from berguns, And leaps the terrible dcatl), M'itli fu-ry breath, Krom eaeli open port. We are not idle. but senil her straight Defmnce back in a f uil broadside ! As huil reboundi from a roof of slate, Reboimds our heavier hail From cacli iron scale Of the moster's hide. ■ " Strike your flag! " the rebel cries, In bis arrogant old plantatiop strain; " Neyer! " onr gallaul Morris replies ; "It is bettef to sink than to yield ! " And tlie whole air pealetl ilh the chorus of our men. Tlien, like a kraken, buge and black, She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp ! Down went the Cumlierland all a wreek, Wilh a ehudder of doath, Atul the camion'a breatli For her dying gasp. Kext moni, as (lie sun rose over the bay, Stillfloated our flag at the maiuiuast hefld, Lord, how beautiful was thy day ! Every walt of air Was a whisper of prayer, ,0r a diige for the dead. Ho ! brave hearts t ! ■ a t went down in the seas ! Ye are at pe&ce in the troubled stream. Ho! brave land! wilh hearts ;j.-c thase, Tiiv II-.M, fUSTi is rent. in twaiu, Sha !! be one agaiti, And without a seaiu ! __ _.H__d Mih. fch k p ii