Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.

August 5

Farragut

By William Tuckey Meredith

A naval victory gained in Mobile Bay by the Federals under Farragut over the Confederates under Buchanan on August 5, 1864.

FARRAGUT, Farragut,

Old heart of oak,

Daring Dave Farragut,

Thunderbolt stroke,

Watches the hoary mist

Lift from the bay,

Till his flag, glory-kissed,

Greets the young day.

Far, by gray Morgan’s walls,

Looms the black fleet.

Hark, deck to rampart calls

With the drum’s beat!

Buoy your chains overboard,

While the steam hums;

Men! to the battlement,

Farragut comes.

See, as the hurricane

Hurtles in wrath

Squadrons of clouds amain

Back from its path!

Back to the parapet,

To the guns’ lips,

Thunderbolt Farragut

Hurls the black ships.

Now through the battle’s roar

Clear the boy sings,

“By the mark fathoms four,”

While his lead swings.

Steady the wheelmen five

“Nor’ by East keep her,”

“Steady,” but two alive:

How the shells sweep her!

Lashed to the mast that sways

Over red decks,

Over the flame that plays

Round the torn wrecks,

Over the dying lips

Framed for a cheer,

Farragut leads his ships,

Guides the line clear.

On by heights cannon-browed,

While the spars quiver;

Onward still flames the cloud

Where the hulks shiver.

See, yon fort’s star is set,

Storm and fire past.

Cheer him, lads—Farragut,

Lashed to the mast!

Oh! while Atlantic’s breast

Bears a white sail,

While the Gulf’s towering crest

Tops a green vale,

Men thy bold deeds shall tell,

Old Heart of Oak,

Daring Dave Farragut,

Thunderbolt stroke!