By Charles Fenno Hoffman.
Wewere not many—we who stoodBefore the iron sleet that day:Yet many a gallant spirit wouldGive half his years if but he couldHave with us been at Monterey.Now here, now there, the shot it hail'dIn deadly drifts of fiery spray,Yet not a single soldier quail'dWhen wounded comrades round them wail'dTheir dying shout at Monterey.And on—still on our column keptThrough walls of flame its withering wayWhere fell the dead, the living stept,Still charging on the guns which sweptThe slippery streets of Monterey.The foe himself recoil'd aghast,When, striking where he strongest lay,We swoop'd his flanking batteries past,And braving full their murderous blast,Storm'd home the towers of Monterey.Our banners on those turrets wave,And there our evening bugles play:Where orange-boughs above their graveKeep green the memory of the braveWho fought and fell at Monterey.We are not many—we who press'dBeside the brave who fell that day—But who of us has not confess'dHe'd rather share their warrior restThan not have been at Monterey?
Wewere not many—we who stoodBefore the iron sleet that day:Yet many a gallant spirit wouldGive half his years if but he couldHave with us been at Monterey.
Now here, now there, the shot it hail'dIn deadly drifts of fiery spray,Yet not a single soldier quail'dWhen wounded comrades round them wail'dTheir dying shout at Monterey.
And on—still on our column keptThrough walls of flame its withering wayWhere fell the dead, the living stept,Still charging on the guns which sweptThe slippery streets of Monterey.
The foe himself recoil'd aghast,When, striking where he strongest lay,We swoop'd his flanking batteries past,And braving full their murderous blast,Storm'd home the towers of Monterey.
Our banners on those turrets wave,And there our evening bugles play:Where orange-boughs above their graveKeep green the memory of the braveWho fought and fell at Monterey.
We are not many—we who press'dBeside the brave who fell that day—But who of us has not confess'dHe'd rather share their warrior restThan not have been at Monterey?