I Saw Old General At Bay

I SAW old General at bay;
(Old as he was, his grey eyes yet shone out in battle like stars
His small force was now completely hemm’d in, in his works;
He call’d for volunteers to run the enemy’s lines–a desperate
emergency;
I saw a hundred and more step forth from the ranks–but two or three
were selected;
I saw them receive their orders aside–they listen’d with care–the
adjutant was very grave;
I saw them depart with cheerfulness, freely risking their lives.