"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, Down they tear, man and horse, “Freedom!" their battle-cry They gave their spirits out; Rolled in triumphant blood, So they could once more see This was what "Freedom" lent To the Black Regiment. Hundreds on hundreds fell; Scorn the Black Regiment! G. H. Boker. CCCXLVII. FORWARD! LOD, to the human soul, GOD, And all the spheres that roll, Wrapped by his Spirit in their robes of light, 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; " Comes down the freezing air, And stiffens all things with its deadly chill. He who doth God resist God's old antagonist Would snap the chain that binds all things to him; All peoples would divide, And scatter even the choirs of seraphim. God, all the orbs that roll, One source of light and life - his radiant throne. All races would he bind, Tyrants with tyrants league, To strangle infant Liberty conspire. Let self-devoted men Gather, and keep unquenched her vital fire. When Tyranny, grown bold, To Freedom's host cries," Hold! Ye towards her temple at your peril march; 66 'Stop," that great host replies, Raising to heaven its eyes, 99 06 Stop, first, the host that moves across yon arch!" When Tyranny commands, "Hold thou my victim's hands, While I more firmly rivet on his chains, Or with my bowie-knife I'll take your craven life, Or show my streets bespattered with your brains, Freedom with forward tread, And drawing from its sheath her flashing glave, Touch of my head one hair, rul cut the cord that holds your every slave!" 99 J. Pierpont. |