134. I saw Old General at Bay. Whitman, Walt. 1900. Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

134. I saw Old General at Bay

I SAW old General at bay;
(Old as he was, his grey eyes yet shone out in battle like stars;)
His small force was now completely hemm’d in, in his works;
He call’d for volunteers to run the enemy’s lines—a desperate emergency;
I saw a hundred and more step forth from the ranks—but two or three were selected;	5
I saw them receive their orders aside—they listen’d with care—the adjutant was very grave;
I saw them depart with cheerfulness, freely risking their lives.