And his broad sword was swinging,
And his brazen throat was ringing
Trumpet-loud;

Then the blue
Bullets flew,

And the trooper-jackets redden at the touch of

the leaden

Rifle-breath;

And rounder, rounder, rounder, roared the iron

We were not many, we who stood
Before the iron sleet that day;

Yet many a gallant spirit would
Give half his years if but he could

Have been with us at Monterey.

Now here, now there, the shot it hailed

In deadly drifts of fiery spray,

Yet not a single soldier quailed

5

When wounded comrades round them wailed

Their dying shout at Monterey.

And on, still on our column kept

10

Through walls of flame its withering way;

Where fell the dead, the living stept,

Still charging on the guns which swept

The slippery streets of Monterey.

15

The foe himself recoiled aghast,

When, striking where he strongest lay, We swooped his flanking batteries past, And braving full their murderous blast, Stormed home the towers of Monterey. 20

Our banners on those turrets wave,
And there our evening bugles play;
Where orange-boughs above their grave,
Keep green the memory of the brave
Who fought and fell at Monterey.

We are not many, we who pressed
Beside the brave who fell that day;
But who of us has not confessed
He'd rather share their warrior rest
Than not have been at Monterey?

18471

25

30

Charles Fenno Hoffman.

THE BLACK REGIMENT

MAY 27TH, 1863

DARK as the clouds of even,
Ranked in the western heaven,
Waiting the breath that lifts
All the dead mass, 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 eyeballs 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 hell betide,
Let the whole nation see
If we are fit to be

66

Free in this land; or bound
Down, like the whining hound-
Bound with red stripes of pain
In our cold 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,

ΤΟ

20

30

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.

65

46

1864.

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!

75

George Henry Boker.

BARBARA FRIETCHIE

Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,

The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.

Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,

Fair as a garden of the Lord

To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,

8

On that pleasant morn of the early fall When Lee marched over the mountain-wall;

Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.

12