The Battle Of Pilots Knob Poem by Jim Milks

September of 1864 on a fine fall day.
6000 men got the call
“the enemy is coming this way they stand strong, they stand tall,
they stand 20,000 in all
they come with their rifles
they come with their cannons
they come with their orders to kill us all”
The sun rose on that fateful day 6000 souls, stood nervous and ready. “My nerves are on fire god wont they come already? ”
Through the woods, they came the sun at their backs.
The defenders stood ready to repulse the attack
The cry rang out from post to post
“Rebels are Coming, Rebels are coming”
The sound of their rifles like the sound of
popcorn popping in the pan rang out across the land
The defenders held firm the stayed with their plan
The sky grew dark with the smoke from their rifles.
The cries of the dead and the dying filed the air
Men filled with worry anguish and despair
“Hold on boys, ” I cried with a voice full of dread, “I am not dead”
Three times they drove forward in their attack
three times they were pushed back.
Cannons pounded her walls but Old Fort Davidson sheltered them well The defenders knew they were bound for salvation
since they spent their time in Hell
A call rang out to a solider named O’Shea
His friends needed to know if he was ok.
“Are you hurt? ” they called with a twinge of fear.
“Hurt, hell fire! ” he said, “I am killed, killed outright”
He called “get me out of here! ”
The sun rose again on second day.
The rifles and the cannons took up their terrible song.
They sang and hollered all the day long.
The attacks came one after the other
all through the day and into the night.
The defenders held a meeting and examined their plight.
“The enemy outnumbers us and our supplies are running low”
“Although we fear it, it is now time for us to go”
The supply sergeant moved about the men Handing out tobacco and food “Here some for you and you, and you again”
“Divide it amongst yourselves boys.”
“I would rather see you get it then the Rebels, I ain’t giving them no joys.” The plan was set the time to depart grew near.
“If they hear us leave, none will make it out of here.”
The bridges and horseshoes were covered with canvas and gauze
As the defenders took a moment to pause.
So the defenders left the defended but before they left.
before things were ended there was one more task to complete
on this task all hope depended
Old Fort Davidson would be destroyed
the gun powder that was left would the trick
20 men were picked to handle the grim task
that none had enjoyed but for this honor they did ask
The last life to take, the fort herself
The powder was laid piled high on the floor
The torch placed to it the sparkle and flair
The explosion rocked the night
great clouds of dust and debris
The Old Fort Davidson was no more
The fight was over the Old Fort gone
The battle was lost the war raged on
The capitol was saved and the country was won