Old Pleasant Hill in De Soto Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 28, 2017

1. Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial (front)

Inscription.

Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial. . Front In memory of the thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers buried in unmarked graves on this battlefield, . Rear At Pleasant Hill. On the Battle-field at Pleasant Hill, the night following the engagement, a boy only nineteen years of age and an old man were found dead, lying side by side, each face wearing a smile., Two faces lying pale and stark beneath the solemn midnight calm; two rifles gleaming in the dark, dropped from the unnerved dying palm; two faces bleak and stark and white, in silence fading through the night., One face a boy's, with auburn hair its outlines fringing like a veil; a forehead rounded, soft, and fair, that until then no pelting hail in all life's storm had scarred or torn, that never one sad look had work., Still on the lips a smile remained, as if some dream had loitered there- some dream of home that, travel-stained, had come to him with holy prayer- had come and whispered words of cheer, and fond good-byes from kindred dear., One face a boy's; - the others own and seamed with prints of weary years - sad years that in their march had strewn life's way with shadows, losses, tears - a face with beard of silver white, wet with the falling dews of night. , No braver souls than theirs that day had faced the battle's fiery rain - through all, sweet voices far away talked with them, soothing all their pain - the pain of wounds they panted for and, having won, as trophies wore. , Death came at last - came in the flash of desperate charge, and here they lie - lie in a sleep no cannon's crash shall ever break - no storms that fly shall ever smite with harsh alarm - a sleep god - watched against all harm. , The noble Dead! - Not lost are they: through all the years their worth shall shine; their deeds shall live, and light our way to those far heights were God shall twine all royal souls with garlands white as were these faces on that night. , Originally published in Harper's Weekly, May 14, 1864.

Front
In memory of the thousands
of Confederate
and Union soldiers buried in
unmarked
graves on this battlefield

Rear
At Pleasant Hill
On the Battle-field at Pleasant Hill, the night following the engagement, a boy only nineteen years of age and an old man were found dead, lying side by side, each face wearing a smile.

Two faces lying pale and stark
beneath the solemn midnight calm;
two rifles gleaming in the dark,
dropped from the unnerved dying palm;
two faces bleak and stark and white,
in silence fading through the night.

One face a boy's, with auburn hair
its outlines fringing like a veil;
a forehead rounded, soft, and fair,
that until then no pelting hail
in all life's storm had scarred or torn,
that never one sad look had work.

Still on the lips a smile remained,
as if some dream had loitered there-
some dream of home that, travel-stained,
had come to him with holy prayer-
had come and whispered words of cheer,
and fond good-byes from kindred dear.

One face a boy's; - the others own
and seamed with prints of weary years -
sad years that in their march had strewn
life's

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way with shadows, losses, tears -
a face with beard of silver white,
wet with the falling dews of night.

No braver souls than theirs that day
had faced the battle's fiery rain -
through all, sweet voices far away
talked with them, soothing all their pain -
the pain of wounds they panted for
and, having won, as trophies wore.

Death came at last - came in the flash
of desperate charge, and here they lie -
lie in a sleep no cannon's crash
shall ever break - no storms that fly
shall ever smite with harsh alarm -
a sleep god - watched against all harm.

The noble Dead! - Not lost are they:
through all the years their worth shall shine;
their deeds shall live, and light our way
to those far heights were God shall twine
all royal souls with garlands white
as were these faces on that night.

Originally published in Harper's Weekly, May 14, 1864

Erected by the Poimboeuf, Bayard and Breaux Families.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 31° 51.207′ N, 93° 30.842′ W. Marker is in Old Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, in De Soto Parish. Memorial can be reached from Louisiana Route 175

Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 28, 2017

2. Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial (rear)

near Parish Road 1068. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23271 LA-175, Pelican LA 71063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Road to Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Headquarters Department of the Gulf / Headquarters Trans-Mississippi Dept. (a few steps from this marker); Pleasant Hill Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Pleasant Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Cistern (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Pleasant Hill Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Pleasant Hill Battle Park (within shouting distance of this marker); War for Southern Independence (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Old Pleasant Hill.

Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 28, 2017

3. Confederate and Union Soldier Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 384 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 12, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.