At Gettysburg on Roundtop Mountain, I stand,
View the majestic hill and flowery land
Just were I stood more than twenty years ago,
When all earth convulsed and man lay in his gore.
Can it be? Mighty cannon shook this very rock
Where I stood, gun to cheek and hand on lock,
daring the defying Federals to strike,
To take heart’s blood and such like.
There stood a small tree, now a majestic oak,
Its branches many I see still shattered and broke;
Old Rocks, changed from want to lay,
Huge cannon balls moved them away
Just over there the Federals line stood
Firm to a man, popping away all they could-
Cutting away almost every living creature
Leaving bare rocks and withered nature.
Here my heart throbbed with emotion grand,
Before defying Federal and al his might band;
While musket and cannon ball did play
Around my head with a whizzing mighty sway,
Whiz! Whee! Bullets by we would pass,
Scaling rocks and cutting hero and grass;
So you wicked, whizzing wretch, I could cry-
For my country, I stand, I live or die.
How I stood here I no cannot tell,
Fir six noble comrades by my side fell;
But left me like a statue all alone
This terrible story to write and own.

This poem was written particularly for the 1906 reunion of Hood’s Texas Brigade Association held in Somerville, Texas, on June 27-28.Sergeant Brantly reminisces about his role at Gettysburg on a visit to the battlefield site twenty years after the battle.R.A Brantly was the original 2^nd corporal of Co. D, 5th Texas Infantry Regiment. This company was originally known as the "Waverly Confederates," and was raised in Montgomery County, Texas. Captain (later Colonel) Robert M. Powell was the original captain of the company. The Waverly Confederates were mustered in "for the war" at Richmond, Virginia on September 13, 1861.

Brantlty was promoted to 1st Corporal on Februray 1, 1862, to 5^th Sergeant on August 23, 1862, and to 4^th Sergeant on April 30, 1863. Sergeant Brantly was wounded in the abdomen at the battle of Second Manassas on August 23, 1862, and was captured by the Federals at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 and confined at Ft. Delaware prison. Sergeant Brantly was paroled June 7, 1865.