“Malvern Hill” Poem on the Battery B, 1st Maryland Light Artillery’s Action During the Battle / Sold

“Malvern Hill” Poem on the Battery B, 1st Maryland Light Artillery’s Action During the Battle: Inventory Number:  DOC 286 / Sold

Handwritten poem in ink titled “Malvern Hill” about Snow’s Battery B, Maryland Light Artillery, which played a crucial role in the July 1, 1862 battle. 

“Malvern Hill”

“Maryland arise, and sing

Thy children, and praises now

Awake and make the welkin ring

With laurel round the brow

Slumber no more sweet Cecil, wake

Thy heroes graves are wide

Who fell for their dear country’s sake

On Malvern’s sloping side

Amid the battle’s rolling drum

Their starry banner arose

Neath Virginia’s setting sun

Triumphant o’er their foes

Let heroes speak in tones of woe

Where free men’s hearts grew chill

But Cecil’s brave undaunted Snow

Can speak of Malvern’s Hill

The gallant men he led away

Are now McClellan’s pride

And he in fame’s sweet notes can say

How Rink and Abrahams died

No murmer lingered in each breast

No craven fear was there

But calm and nobly sank to rest

Mid Virginia’s flowers fair

Oh Cecil sing the heroes deeds

In tones the world may know

Who for this glorious Union bleeds

The men of Captain Snow”

By Harry Long

Rock Springs, MD

It is unknown who the poet Harry Long is, as he does not appear on the battery’s roster. The poem refers to Privates Robert G. Rink and Josepg C. Abrahams, the two members of the battery killed at Malvern Hill. The paper measures 7 ½” by 12” and has some folds, soiling, edge wear, and light pink staining. A well composed, unpublished wartime poem. 

Robert G. Rink

Enlisted on 10/24/1861 as a Private.

On 10/31/1861 he mustered into "Batty B" Co. MD 1st Light Artillery 

He was Killed on 7/1/1862 at Malvern Hill, VA

Joseph C. Abrahams

Enlisted on 1/26/1862 as a Private.

On 1/26/1862 he mustered into "Batty B" Co. MD 1st Light Artillery 

He was Killed on 7/1/1862 at Malvern Hill, VA

Other Information:

Buried: Glendale National Cemetery, Richmond, VA

Gravesite: B-43

MARYLAND BATTERY B, LIGHT ARTILLERY (Three Years)

Battery B, Light Artillery. - This battery was also a part of the Purnell Legion when it was first organized at Pikesville in the fall of 1861 and mustered into service for three years. It was commanded by Capt. Alonzo Snow and was generally referred to as "Snow's" battery. Its first service was along the eastern shore of Virginia, but in the summer of 1862 it joined the Army of the Potomac, then on the Chickahominy river. It played a considerable part in repulsing the Confederates at the battle of Malvern Hill, and after the Peninsular campaign was with McClellan in the campaign against Lee in Maryland, distinguishing itself at the battle of Antietam. In the spring of 1863 it was assigned to the department of West Virginia and was with Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley the following year, when it joined the army under Gen. Hunter for the advance upon Lynchburg. It participated in the following battles and skirmishes: New Bridge, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, New Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Salem and some minor actions along the eastern shore during the early part of its service.  It was mustered out on July 3, 1865. 

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

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 Inventory Number:  DOC 286 / Sold