True
to the Gray
By Pearl Rives
I cannot listen to
your words
The land is long and wide
Go seek some happy Northern girl
To be your loving bride
My brother they
were soldiers --
The youngest of the three
Was slain while fighting by the side
Of gallant Fitzhugh Lee
They left his body
ion the field
(Your side the had won the day)
A soldier spurned him with his foot
You might have been the one.
My lover was a
soldier
He belonged to Gordon’s band
A saber pierced his gallant heart
Yours might have been the hand.
He reeled and
fell, but was not dead
A horseman spurred his stead,
And trampled on the dying brain
Your might have done the deed.
I hold no hated in
my heart
No cold, unrighteous pride
For many a gallant soldier fought
Upon the other side
But still I cannot
kiss the hand
That smote my country sore,
Nor love the foes that trampled down
The colors that she bore.
Between my heart
and yours there roll
A deep and crimson tide –
My brother’s and my lover’s blood
Forbid me be your bride.
The girls
who loved the boys in gray
The girls to country true,
May ne’er in wedlock give their hand.
To those who wore the blue.
Title: True to The Gray
Author: Pearl Rives
Location: Somewhere in the land of
cotton
Date: estimated 1865 - 1870
Media: One column newspaper article, glued to Page 194 of the Ledger of
Captain W. B. Blair
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