Pittsylvania

by Duval Porter, Cascade, Virginia

Grand old Pittsylvania, deserving every way,
Of pride of all thy children, and homage they should pay.
Thy record bright and glorious shines out at every stage,
And merits place the foremost upon Virginia's page.
Though other States and countries have found a willing pen,
To sing the deeds of daring of their heroic men.
Yet grand old Pittsylvania, who second stands to none,
Finds not a single spokesman to tell what she has done.
Hence grand old Banner County, inspire me today,
To sing of thy true greatness, deserving every way.
A poet's highest praises and the historic pen,
To chronical the achievements of Pittsylvania Men.

Before the Revolution, aye in Colonial Days,
Her sons were ever ready, for so the record says.
To brave the trackless forest when duty bade them go,
To fight the cunning savage who sought their overthrow.
And when the Revolution, that stubborn strife began,
The sons of Pittsylvania fought for the right of man.
As bravely as the bravest, on many bloody fields,
Until the haughty Briton at Yorktown humble yields.
Nay, more, she furnished sinews for that protracted strife,
By giving to Greene's army its nourishment and life;
For Peytonsburg supplied him with food for man and beast,
Else they must have perished, or given up at least.
And yet what is far greater remains as yet unsung,
Surpassing all achievements of days when she was young.

To Virginia of the “Sixties” no other county gave,
So many to defend her as Pittsylvania brave.
Ye sons of Pittsylvania! Come listen as I tell,
Of Gettysburg immortal! Well may your bosom swell.
At the glorious charge of Pickett upon that bloody day,
Your fathers were the foremost in that terrific fray.
Who are those few brave heroes, with Armistead at the Wall?
Through shot and shell, they've fought their way, and with their leader fall.
Tis Carter, White and Tredway, their names will ever shine.
With Rawley W. Martin's, that dauntless son of thine.

And in the living present thou hast another son,
Bestowing now upon thee, the fame he has won.
Beginning life a plow boy, unaided and unknown,
By virtue of his talent he came into his own.
The name of Claude A. Swanson, thy most distinguished son,
In halls of State and Congress with many honors won.
Will shine as one belonging to that illustrious roll,
Whose brilliance the historian will on his page extol.

Be proud, ye sons and daughters of the historic worth,
That crowns your grand old County, the County of your birth.
Resolve that never, never shall any act of thine,
Dim the brightness of the glories, that on Pittsylvania shine.