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What shall be the monument o'er gallant Ellsworth's grave? How shall we commemorate the life he freely gave, Resolved that o'er our country no disloyal flag shall wave As his soul goes marching on?
Not of bronze or marble was his monument to be, But a thousand stalwart soldiers, just as true of heart as he, To bear the starry banner from the mountains to the sea, Just fifty years ago.
So this old town hear the rhythmic cadence of the soldiers' feet; Down the hill that fronts the State-house, through the old historic street Comes the long majestic column and the August sunbeams strike On a thousand polished rifles slanted every one alike. Just a thousand sturdy soldiers with a unison superb, Kept their accurate alignments stretching straight from curb to curb. The serene, phlegmatic city felt a sympathetic thrill, For the thousand youthful warriors marching down the State-street hill. Many a radiant eye was watching for the soldier's hasty glance, Not directed, as per tactics, "fifteen paces in advance", Many a photograph was buttoned next the soldier's faithful heart, Whose original, reluctant that her hero should depart, Waved farewell, perhaps the last one, with her gently little hand, While "The girl I left behind me" was the theme of Schreiber's band.
All the line of march was bordered with a patriotic throng, And its hearty cheers resounded as the column strode along. Pouring out the pent-up feeling of the newly-wakened North, Bidding them "Remember Ellsworth," and "God bless the Forty-fourth!"
Trim and shining, neat and spotless, were the uniforms they wore, Stately stept the stalwart standard bearer proud because he bore High in air the starry symbol of our loved but troubled land, Just received, with consecration from a loyal woman's hand; While a vow had been recorded by the whole ten hundred men: "Never shall that flag be lowered till we bring it back again, And we'll keep it from dishonor, by the help of God. Amen."
So the Forty-fourth departed as the heroes of the hour, But their deeds were only promist, ‘twas the bud but now the flower. All the records of the ages they were ready to surpass Like the self-sufficient students of the graduating class. But their history was unwritten, all their laurels were unwon, There were trials yet in waiting for the boys of ‘sixty-one. They must learn to suffer hunger, laugh at labor and privation, They must stand and take their chances, whether death or mutiliation, Of the prison worse that either with its torture and starvation.
Not to march to Schreiber's music with its strains to stir the blood, But to struggle worn and weary through the thick Virginia mud, Where the only music listened for would be the Rebel yell, With the bullet's angry whining and the screaming of the shell. To lie down with muscles aching from the strains upon the back, In the slumber of exhaustion at the hasty bivouac; And when kindly sleep administers her soothing medicine To be wakened by the hoarse command. "Second relief, fall in!" Shivering with the chill miasma, on the lonely picket posts, Vainly peering into darkness after visionary hosts.
Wading swamps and building bridges, digging ditches, felling trees, Till the overburdened body falls a victim to disease. Then in hospital to linger on the harsh straw mattress lying, Far from mother's care and nursing near the dead, among the dying. This is what awaits the soldier, this, what he enlisted for, Not the pride, parade and pomp the circumstance of glorious war!
Was our regiment found wasting in this stern and bitter trial? Ask us not; not ours to give you affirmation or denial. We refer you for the answer to that dear old dingy rag, That forlorn and tattered remnant of the consecrated flag Which was borne in all its splendor by the thousand stalwart men, Down the hill that fronts the State house; eight score brought this back again.
Let those colors tell the story of the Forty-fourth's career, Plainer than the poet's rhyming can convey it to the ear. They have marked its line of battle, facing victory or defeat, They have rallied it in column for advance or for retreat, Over many a field of conflict, during many a long campaign, Never dropping, save at moments when the color guard was slain.