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In this poem, we again have Shaw’s
role featured as the head of the Fifty-fourth. He leads the
charge into doom. His men happily follow him. Importantly, the
flag comes with them all the way. It’s the representation of
them as Americans. It’s also portrayed as saying “We’ll be
a Union again” to the rebels.
In the end, Shaw’s burial with his
men is discussed. Not in a negative way, however, but rather as
being honorable. These are the men that he was fighting and dying
with. Being buried with them was not dishonorable. Even Shaw’s
father wanted him to stay there with his men.
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We marched
across the stormy isle with strong and fearless tread.
Though
worn with toll and scantily supplied with warfare-bread;
No
stimulant but blood that burned our suffering race to save
--
Following with joy our youthful chief to Freedom or
the grave.
The post of honor he had claimed -- that
post for us had won --
To lead the van at Death's right
hand, where bloodiest deeds are done;
Foremost to pay
Oppression's debt -- ages of lash and chain --
With
the fierce cross of bayonet, the musket's deadly rain.
Six
hundred yards from Wagner's fort the storming parties rest,
High
courage kindling every eye and arming every breast.
"Now,
men, arise!" our Colonel cries, "and show your
manhood's worth;
Follow my path through life or
death! Forward the Fifty-fourth!"
Then
poured upon the dauntless heads of our advancing band
A
fire more dread than rained of yore on Sodom's fated land --
From Sumter's murder-waking throat, from Wagner's
death-fraught hold.
From batteries near and points remote the
iron deluge rolled:
Sulphurous flames from
countless guns illumed the grim night air --
No
fitful flash. but blazing on with one continuous glare!
We
staggered not -- we halted not for wounded friend or dead
--
Through scourging shell and hissing shot fast toward
the foe we sped.
"Onward, my boys!" our
leader's voice rings cheerly o'er the storm;
"We'll
gain the parapet, and there your shattered ranks
re-form:
Onward, my friends, my heroes, come, for every
humam right --
For kindred, country, hearth and
home, honor and freedom, fight!"
Rushing, as
lions spring through fire, we gain the parapet,
In view of
all the rebel crew the starry banner set.
"Now, hand
to hand!" our leader cries, "what though some
brave men fall?
Above their grave that flag shall wave
which frees and guards us all!"
"Onward!"
Ah me! I saw him lie beside me where I fell,
While
bellowing o'er us shrieked and roared the thunderbolts of
hell!
From Sumter's treason-tainted walls, from Wagner's
sandbuilt hold,
Through files of living, piles of dead, the
flery tempest rolled.
I strove to grasp his gallant
hand -- to raise his head once more --
"Onward!"
That word had cleared his way to the eternal shore.
What hopes
went down with him? But yet no step we backward
gave;
Our blood was pledged to him -- with him -- for
freedom or the grave.
Around him drew the rebel
crew with curse and gibe and jeer.
"That
Yankee dog! -- we'll bury him beneath his negroes dear:
We'll
dig a pit for twenty-one, and him the lowest lay.
A score
of blacks above his head to keep him down for aye."
O!
glorious gravel! what monument of marble rich and fair
Can
with that wealth of loyal blood and faithful
hearts compare?
"Ære perennius"
-- sacrum sit! No tomb beneath the sun
"Shall true
men honor more than that which holds the Twenty-one.
"Ære
perennius!" They shall live in many a
deathless song:
"Renown shall lift their names
from out the unnamed heroic throng:
Embalmed with their
devoted chief in everlasting fame,
What nobler
resting-place than his could saint or hero claim?
"Ære
perennius!" Monuments rock-sculptured fade away.
But
there are deeds whose praise shall live through heaven's
unclosing day.
Martyrs for Truth and Right Divine! to God your
souls ye gave,
And pledged your blood -- and kept the
pledge -- for freedom or the grave.
A.N.
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