Chapter 2 – This poem focuses on the Army of Potomac marching north to encounter and defeat the Army of Northern Virginia. These two armies will meet at Gettysburg, PA.

by Christopher Rudolph © 2015

General George Meade

Chapter 2 – Army of Potomac Pursues

 

Late in June

Slow but resolute

Army of Potomac

Deploys into Maryland in pursuit

 

80,000 a polyglot mass

With accents strange

Different religions

Reflecting the change

 

Of a nation of immigrants

Dissimilar last volunteers

Preservers of Union

States United revered

 

Irish, Germans

and the Garibaldi Guard

With Yankees all

Ready to fight hard

 

Painful defeats many

They have seen

No faith in leaders

But in themselves fighting spirits gleam

 

To fight the last battle

They heed the call

To defeat Robert E. Lee

Once and for all

 

Go to Chapter 3