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.