New England’s seamen swelled the rallying cry Along the coasts; the Middle States replied From thronging marts; the echoes leaped along The Mississippi Valley, whose vast floods Throb like the pulses of the Nation’s heart, And pale Virginia, all besprinkled now With War’s red baptism, to Kentucky spoke; Kentucky, tried but faithful unto death, To sad Missouri called; Missouri passed The kindling watchword to the vast Northwest, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Who louder sang than Niagara’s roar To the unconquered heights of Tennessee; Hoarse echoes, like the low sepulchral moan Of subterranean fires, disturbed the Gulf-- The bleeding Gulf betrayed and overawed-- Then swelling loud as an Archangel’s trump, Or shrill winds piping o’er the stormy flood, It thundered back from far Pacific’s coast. Come to the tombs by mourning millions thronged Beneath the oak of weeping. Glorious dead, Fame’s cemetery holds no hero dust More dearly honored in sublime repose. Pale ashes, with a nation’s tears bedewed, And fanned by sighs as numerous as the winds, The laurels that you nurture shall be green And bloom forever round the precious urns Of Baker and Lyon. Fortune smiled Upon them, casting from her ample lap, Her lavish stores of fame and wealth and ease, And wooed them to repose. Though sweet her song, She sang unheeded. Honor, fortune, life They offered freely on their country’s shrine, In the red heat and fury of the fight, Deeming the dearest jewels of the world Were nought when weighed against the nation’s life. DIRGE. He who led our faltering ranks Up the ambuscaded banks-- He who poured his heart’s red rain Over Springfield’s stormy plain, Heeding not the volleys deadly Nor the life’s blood running redly, Cold in death shall lead no more Where our country’s eagles soar. Such, oh War, thy fearful pleasure, Priceless blood and costliest treasure, Still the victims whom thou smitest Are the loveliest and the brightest. But the martyrs shall be glorious When our flag returns victorious; Death, who seals such patriot eyes, Opens them in Paradise.