They pass through the fire of death;
Pant riders and steeds for breath;
"_Halt!_" cried the Captain
Then he looked up the hill;
There on the summit still
The "Third Company" paltered.
Right through the fire of hell,
Where fifty brave Guardsmen fell,
Zagonyi had ridden well;
Foley had faltered.
Flashed like a flame of fire--
Flashed with a menace dire--
Flashed with a yell of ire
The sword of the Captain.
Kennedy saw the flash,
And ordered the "Third" to dash
Gallantly forward:
"Come on, Boys, for Liberty!
Forward, and follow me!
Remember Kentucky!"
Into the hell they broke--
Into the fire and smoke--
Dealing swift saber-stroke--
The gallant Kentuckians.
Horses plunge,
Riders lunge
Heavily forward;
Over the fallen they ride
Down to Zagonyi's side,
Mowing a swath of death
Either side,--right and left
Piling the slaughtered!
Under the storm of lead,
Still hissing overhead,
They re-formed the battle-line;
Then the brave Captain said:
"Guardsmen: avenge our dead!
_Charge_!"--Up the hill they go,--
Right into the swarming foe!
Woe to the foemen--woe!
See mad Zagonyi there;
Streams on the wind his hair,
Flashes his saber bare;
On they go--on they go;
Volleys flash,
Sabers clash,
On they plunge, on they dash,
Following Zagonyi
Into the hell again.
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