The American Union Speaker Part 64

Lead armies or councils,--be soldier a-field,-- Alike, so your valor is Liberty's shield!

Alike, so you strike when the bugle-notes call, For Country, for Fireside, for Freedom to All!

The blows of the boldest will carry the day,-- Who's ready? O, forward!--there's death in delay!

Earth's n.o.blest are praying, at home and o'er sea,-- "G.o.d keep the great nation united and free!"

Her tyrants watch, eager to leap at our life, If once we should falter or faint in the strife; Our trust is unshaken, though legions a.s.sail,-- Who's ready? O, forward! and Right shall prevail.

Who's ready? "All ready!" undaunted we cry; "For Country, for Freedom, we'll fight till we die; No traitor, at midnight, shall pierce us in rest; No alien, at noonday, shall stab us abreast; The G.o.d of our Fathers is guiding us still,-- All forward! we're ready,--and conquer we will!"

E. D. Proctor.

CCCXLIV.

MITCh.e.l.l.

"HUNG BE THE HEAVENS WITH BLACK."

His mighty life was burned away By Carolina's fiery sun; The pestilence that walks by day Smote him before his course seemed run.

The constellations of the sky,-- The Pleiades, the Southern Cross,-- Looked sadly down to see him die, To see a nation weep his loss.

"Send him to us," the stars might cry,-- "You do not feel his worth below; Your petty great men do not try The measure of his mind to know.

"His eye could pierce our vast expanse,-- His ear could hear our morning songs,-- His mind, amid our mystic dance, Could follow all our myriad throngs.

"Send him to us! No martyr's soul, No hero slain in righteous wars No raptured saint could e'er control A holier welcome from the stars."

Take him, ye stars! Take him on high To your vast realms of boundless s.p.a.ce; But once he turned from you to try His name on martial scrolls to trace.

That once was when his country's call

Said danger to her flag was nigh; And then her banner's stars dimmed all The radiant lights which gemmed the sky.

Take him, loved orbs! His country's life,-- Freedom for all,--for these he wars; For these he welcomed b.l.o.o.d.y strife, And followed in the wake of Mars.

W. F. Williams.

CCCXLV.

WAR SONG.

DEDICATED TO THE Ma.s.sACHUSETTS REGIMENTS.

Up with the Flag of the Stripes and the Stars!

Gather together from plough and from loom!

Hark to the signal!--the music of wars Sounding for tyrants and traitors their doom.

March, march, march, march!

Brothers unite--rouse in your might, For Justice and Freedom, for G.o.d and the Right!

Down with the foe to the land and the laws!

Marching together our country to save, G.o.d shall be with us to strengthen our cause, Nerving the heart and the hand of the brave.

March, march, march, march!

Brother's unite--rouse in your might, For Justice and Freedom, for G.o.d and the Right!

Flag of the Free! under thee will we fight, Shoulder to shoulder, our face to the foe; Death to all traitors, and G.o.d for the Right!

Singing this song as to battle we go: March, march, march, march!

Freemen unite--rouse in your might For Justice and Freedom, for G.o.d and the Right!

Land of the Free--that our fathers of old, Bleeding together, cemented in blood-- Give us thy blessing, as brave and as bold, Standing like one, as our ancestors stood-- We march, march, march, march!

Conquer or fall! Hark to the call: Justice and Freedom for one and for all!

Chain of the slave we have suffered so long-- Striving together thy links we will break!

Hark! for G.o.d hears us, as echoes our song, Sounding the cry to make Tyranny quake: March, march, march, march!

Conquer or fall! Rouse to the call-- Justice and Freedom for one and for all!

Workmen, arise! There is work for us now; Ours the red ledger for bayonet pen; Sword be our hammer, and cannon our plough; Liberty's loom must be driven by men.

March, march, march, march!

Freemen we fight, roused in our might, For Justice and Freedom, for G.o.d and the Right.

W. W. Story.

CCCXLVI.

THE BLACK REGIMENT; OR, THE SECOND LOUISIANA AT THE STORMING OF PORT HUDSON.

Dark as the clouds of even, Ranked in the western heaven, Waiting the breath that lifts All the dread ma.s.s, and drifts Tempest and falling brand Over a ruined land-- So still and orderly, Arm to arm, knee to knee Waiting the great event, Stands the Black Regiment.

Down the long dusky line Teeth gleam and eyeb.a.l.l.s shine; And the bright bayonet, Bristling and firmly set, Flashed with a purpose grand, Long ere the sharp command Of the fierce rolling drum Told them their time had come-- Told them what work was sent For the Black Regiment.

"Now," the flag-sergeant cried, "Though death and h.e.l.l betide, Let the whole nation see If we are fit to be Free in this land; or bound Down like the whining hound-- Bound with red stripes of pain In our old chains again!"

Oh! what a shout there went From the Black Regiment.

"Charge!" Trump and drum awoke; Onward the bondmen broke; Bayonet and sabre stroke Vainly opposed their rush.

Through the wild battle's crush, With but one thought aflush, Driving their lords like chaff, In the guns' mouths they laugh; Or at the slippery brands Leaping with open hands, Down they tear, man and horse, Down in their awful course; Trampling with b.l.o.o.d.y heel Over the crashing steel, All their eyes forward bent, Rushed the Black Regiment.

"Freedom!" their battle-cry "Freedom! or leave to die!"

Ah! and they meant the word, Not as with us 't is heard, Not a mere party shout; They gave their spirits out; Trusted the end to G.o.d, And on the gory sod Rolled in triumphant blood, Glad to strike one free blow, Whether for weal or woe; Glad to breathe one free breath, Though on the lips of death, Praying--alas! in vain!-- That they might fall again, So they could once more see That burst to liberty!

This was what "Freedom" lent To the Black Regiment.

Hundreds on hundreds fell; But they are resting well; Scourges and shackles strong Never shall do them wrong.

Oh, to the living few, Soldiers, be just and true!

Hail them as comrades tried; Fight with them side by side; Never, in field or tent, Scorn the Black Regiment!

G. H. Boker.

CCCXLVII.

FORWARD!

G.o.d, to the human soul, And all the spheres that roll, Wrapped by his Spirit in their robes of light, Hath said: "The primal plan, Of all the world, and man, Is forward! Progress is your law--your right."

The despots of the earth, Since Freedom had her birth, Have to their subject nations said, "Stand still;"

So, from the Polar Bear, Comes down the freezing air, And stiffens all things with its deadly chill.