Cumberland County ME Archives Biographies.....Cobb, Herbert Gray  
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Tina Vickery tsvickery@adelphia.net March 29, 2007, 4:14 pm

Author: Sprague's Journal of Maine History 

Sprague's Journal of Maine History
No.  II
Vol.  VII
AUG. SEPT. OCT 1919
pages 78-79


The Boy on Pulpit Rock
To Herbert Gray Cobb
Killed in Action
Oct. 14, 1918
(By Windsor P. Daggett)

The author of these gracious lines in a note to the editor
says:  "Lt. Herbert Gray Cobb, son of Mr. and Mrs. William L.
Cobb of Woodfords, Maine (a village in Portland, Maine?), was
killed in action at Bruilles-sur-Meuse, Oct. 14, 1918.  He was
a junior at the University of Maine when he enlisted in April,
1917.  He crossed to France in September of that year as
leader of the 103rd Inf. Band.  On his twenty-third birthday,
Feb. 8, 1918, at an Officers' Training School in France, he
received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant.  He was assigned to
Co. L of the 61st Reg. Inf., and saw service for several
months.  At the time of his death he was Liaison Officer for
his battalion.  According to the inscription on the cross at
his grave, he had been raised to the rank of 1st Lieut.  He is
buried in the Argonne Cemetery at Romagne with 23,000 other
American heroes."

Against God's open sky of searchless blue,
Kissed by September breeze,
Sebago shimmering at our feet; and you,
Companion of the trees,
Against that background -- lake and sky and space --
A living statue stood:
In all the youthful splendor of your grace,
With gift of life endued.

We loved the imaged ledge, the paths entwined, 
And Pulpit Rock so steep,
Where lonely Hawthorne soothed his boyish mind,
Hushed in the woodland deep.
I thought he stood beside your eager form --
Looking so far!!  looked he. --
He took your hand and pressed it, oh, so warm,
Then left it lingeringly.

'Gainst crimson cloud, 'gainst lurid sky, unmoored, 
A Yankee troopship lay;
There 'neath it world-flung, star-lit flag you stood,
Beckoned by Liberty!
Oh, who could mourn your death!  You pledged your dreams
Of honor, valor, truth!
My heart still sings 'round Pulpit Rock, where gleams
A halo of immortal youth!

You stand there still, hour high gaze turned to west --
Your helmet silver white;
A sun-ray strikes the cross upon your breast,
Your alter fire to light.
You stand --oh, flowers are bright beyond the sea;
But here where pine trees wave,
Your body'll rise, your spirit mightest be 
Where homing hearts are brave.



(c) 1998
Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society


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