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 bloody 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 God,
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!

501

GEORGE HENRY BOKER.

Shortly after the fall of Vicksburg, Grant was severely injured by a fall from a horse, and it was some months before he could take the field again. Most of his troops were sent to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, under Rosecrans, which was operating against the Confederates under Bragg, in Tennessee. Chattanooga was occupied by the Union forces on September 16, 1863. Rosecrans pushed forward to the Chickamauga valley, where, on September 18, Bragg attacked in force. The battle raged for two days, the Union line was broken, and General Thomas and his division were isolated on a slope of Missionary Ridge. Assault after assault was delivered against him, but he stood like a rock, and at sundown still held the position.

THE BALLAD OF CHICKAMAUGA [September 19, 20, 1863]

By Chickamauga's crooked stream the martial trumpets blew;

The North and South stood face to face, with War's dread work to do.

O lion-strong, unselfish, brave, twin athletes battle-wise,

Brothers yet enemies, the fire of conflict in their eyes,

All banner-led and bugle-stirred, they set them to the fight,

Hearing the god of slaughter laugh from mountain height to height.

The ruddy, fair-haired, giant North breathed loud and strove amain;

The swarthy shoulders of the South did heave them to the strain;

An earthquake shuddered underfoot, a cloud rolled overhead:

And serpent-tongues of flame cut through and lapped and twinkled red,

Where back and forth a bullet-stream went singing like a breeze,

What time the snarling cannon-balls to splinters tore the trees.

"Make way, make way!" a voice boomed out, "I'm marching to the sea!" The answer was a rebel yell and Bragg's artillery. Where Negley struck, the cohorts gray like storm-tossed clouds were rent;

503

With bayonets and muskets clubbed, they close the rush and roar;

Their stepping-stones to glory are their comrades gone before.

O vanished majesty of days not all forgotten yet,

We consecrate unto thy praise one hour of deep regret;

One hour to them whose days were years of glory that shall flood

The Nation's sombre night of tears, of carnage, and of blood!

O vanished majesty of days, when men were gauged by worth,

Set crowned and dowered in the way to judge the sons of earth;

When all the little great fell down before the great unknown,

And priest put off the hampering gown and coward donned his own!

O vanished majesty of days that saw the sun. shine on

The deeds that wake sublimer praise than Ghent or Marathon;

When patriots in homespun rose

where

one was called for, ten And heroes sprang full-armored from the humblest walks of men!

O vanished majesty of days! Rise, type and mould to-day,

And teach our sons to follow on where duty leads the way;

That whatsoever trial comes, defying doubt and fear,

They in the thickest fight shall stand and proudly answer, Here!"

KATE BROWNLEE SHERWOOD.

Rosecrans could not reinforce Thomas, and at four o'clock General James A. Garfield was intrusted with the perilous task of taking him an order to withdraw. Garfield got to Thomas safely and the retreat began at sundown. The Confederates attempted no pursuit.

GARFIELD'S RIDE AT CHICKAMAUGA

[September 20, 1863]

AGAIN the summer-fevered skies, The breath of autumn calms; Again the golden moons arise On harvest-happy farms.