A Civil War Poem  From 1862 By: James D. Pardue

(Great Grandfather of Melvin M. Pardue)

I leave my home, and the dear
with sorrow at my heart
It is my Country`s Call dear
To aid her I depart
And on the blood red battle plain,
We'll conquer or we'll die,
Tis for our honor and our name,
We raise the battle cry

then weep not, dearest weep not
if in her cause I fall
Oh, weep not dearest, weep not
It is my Country's Call

And yet my heart is sore, love
To see the weeping tears
But mark me, there's no fear love
For in Heaven is our trust
And if the heavy drooping tear
Swell's in my mournful eye,
It is that Northmen of our land
Should cause the battle cry

then weep not, dearest weep not
if in her cause I fall
Oh, weep not dearest, weep not
It is my Country's Call

Our rights have been usurped dear,
By North man of our land
Fanaticks raised the cry, dear
Politicians fired the brand,
The Southerns spurn the galling yoke
The Tyrants threats defy,
They find we're sons like sturdy oak.
To raise the battle cry

then weep not, dearest weep not
if in her cause I fall
Oh, weep not dearest, weep not
It is my Country's Call

I know you'll let me go pet
I saw it in the tear
To join the gallant men pet
Who never yet knew fear
With Beauregard and David
We'll gain our cause or die
With battles like Manasses
And raise the battle cry

then weep not, dearest weep not
if in her cause I fall
Oh, weep not dearest, weep not
It is my Country's Call
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

This poem was written by James D. Pardue and given to his mother, Elizabeth Cordray Pardue.  It was placed in his family Bible for safe keeping at the time of the Confederate call-to-arms in 1862.  In the original this poem exhibited beautiful penmanship.

JAMES D. PARDUE went to war on February 10th, 1862 and served the Confederate Army in BROOK'S LIGHT INFANTRY.  He was captured in the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi during the American Civil War.  He earned parole and returned home to Selma, Alabama.