The Clopton Chronicles
A Project of the Clopton Family Genealogical Society
WHEN PEACE RETURNS
By Olivia Tully Thomas[1]
When “war has smoothed his
wrinkled front,”
An meek-eyed peace returning,
Has brightened hearts that
long were wont
To sigh in grief and mourning –
How blissful then will be
the day
When, from the wars returning,
The weary soldier wends his
way
To dear ones that are
yearning.
To clasp in true love’s fond
embrace,
To gaze with looks so tender
Upon the war-worn form and
face
Of Liberty’s defender;
To count with pride each
cruel scar,
That mars the manly beauty,
Of him who proved so brave
in war,
So beautiful in duty.
When peace returns,
throughout our land,
Glad shouts of welcome render
The gallant few of Freedom’s
band
Whose cry was “no surrender”
Who battled bravely to be
free
From tyranny’s oppressions,
And won, for Southern
chivalry,
The homage of all nations!
And when again, in Southern
bowers
The ray of peace is shining,
Her maidens gather fairest
flowers,
And honor’s wreaths are twining,
To bind the brows victorious
On many a field so gory,
Whose names renowned and
glorious,
Shall live in song and story.
Then will affection’s tear
be shed,
And pity, joy restraining,
For those, the lost,
lamented dead,
Are all beyond our plaining;
They fell in manhood’s prime
and might;
And we should not weep the story
That tells of Fame, a sacred
light,
Above each grave of glory!
TABLE
OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY
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[1] War Songs and Poems of the Southern
Confederacy, 1861-1865, A Collection of the Most Popular and Impressive Songs
and Poems of War Times, Dear to Every Southern Heart,
Collected and Retold with Personal Reminiscences of the War by H. M.
Wharton, D.D., p. 280-281