James Spring
The free-flowing hair
Of the neighbor girl
Found tangled this morning
Where two years ago
Sigel broke camp
Our poor neighbor
Saw rigor mortis flash its terrible grinning invitation
A tongue-flicking serpent in blue
Lunging from a cave
When she came for water
We found him
Filthy guerrilla
Lying in the shade
Small arms
Muffled in the woods
Robert Doll, millwright, Carthage, Missouri, July 5, 1863
Death of Wm. Crawford at first Carthage
The fight broke out with William Crawford and I, Stuart Lundy, picketed
Overlooking Dry Fork.
Our report details the engagement,
Rangers under Cptn. Shelby, Missouri State Guard, July 5, 1861.
Avoid encumbrance at any cost,
Slip away,
Ride low.
A jayhawker cursing your name and mother
Kicking stones in a cemetery.
Dry Fork is sweet honey below our post.
The hive waits unlimbered.
Caterwauling shells collide overhead at 8:32 a.m.
Black powder puffballs down on Crawford, hocus-pocus, Crawford
Sparks,
A flittering charcoal moth
Eaten alive by flame.
We shot him down.
The blues did too.
Stuart Lundy, deserter, Scotland, Missouri, January 1, 1863
