Stern endurance, bitterer still,
Sharp with self-denial,
Fraught with loftier sacrifice,
Fuller far of trial--
Strews our flinty path of thorns--
Marks our bloody story--
Fits us for the victor's palm--
Weaves our robe of glory!
Shall we faint with God above,
And His strong arm under--
And the cold world gazing on,
In a maze of wonder?
No! with more resistless march,
More resolved endeavor,
Press we onward--struggle still,
Fight and win forever!
--Holy peace will heal all ills,
Joy all losses cover,
Raptures rend our Southern skies,
When the war is over!