To smash Grant’s army to bits, before Buell can join it, And water his wagon-trains in the Tennessee. He has sneaked his army along through wilderness roads Till now they are only a mile and a half away Tonight from the Union lines. He is tall and active. Light brown hair streaked with grey feathers, blue claymore eyes That get steel shadows in battle, a face like Hamilton’s, Old Westpointer, old cavalry-colonel, well-schooled in war. Lincoln offered to make him a major-general And rumor says that he could have had the command Of the Union armies, once. But he resigned And later, went with his State. It is hard to say What he might have been. They called him the “ preux chevalier ” At times, as they called and were to call many others