Dark as the clouds even,
Ranked in the western heaven,
Waiting the breath that lifts
All the dread mass, and drifts
Tempest and falling brand
Over a ruined land,—
So still and orderly,
Arm to arm, knee to knee,
Waiting the great event,
Stands the black regiment.
Down the long dusky line
Teeth gleam and eyeballs shine;
And the bright bayonet,
Bristling and firmly set,
Flashed with a purpose grand,
Long ere the sharp command
Of the fierce rolling drum
Told them their time had come,
Told them what word was sent
For the black regiment.
‘Now,’ the flag-sergeant cried,
‘Though death and hell betide,
Let the whole nation see
If we are fit to be
Free in this land; or bound
Down, like the whining hound,—
Bound with red stripes of pain
In our old chains again!’
Oh, what a shout there went
From the black regiment!
‘Charge!’ trump and drum awoke;
Onward the bondmen broke;
Bayonet and saber stroke
Vainly opposed their rush,
Through the wild battles’ crush,
With but one thought aflush,
Driving their lords like chaff,
In the guns’ mouths they laugh,
Or at the slippery brands,
Leaping with open hands,
Down they tear man and horse,
Down in their awful course;
Trampling with bloody heel
Over the crashing steel,
All their eyes forward bent,
Rushed the black regiment.
‘Freedom!’ their battle cry,—
‘Freedom! or leave to die!’
Ah! and they meant the word,
Not as with us ’tis heard,
Not a mere party shout:
They gave their spirits out;
Trusted the end to God,
And on the gory sod
Rolled in triumphant blood,
Glad to strike one free blow,
Whether for weal or woe;
Glad to breathe one free breath,
Though on the lips of death;
Praying—alas! in vain!—
That they might fall again
So they could once more see
That burst to liberty!
This was what ‘freedom’ lent
To the black regiment.
Hundreds on hundreds fell;
But they are resting well;
Scourges and shackles strong,
Never shall do them wrong.
Oh, to the living few,
Soldiers, be just and true!
Hail them as comrades tried;
Fight with them side by side;
Never, in field or tent,
Scorn the black regiment.
[Illustration: VIEWS TAKEN FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE GREAT WAR
1. French Anti-Aircraft Gun. 2. Long German Gun. 3. Mrs. Hunton in
barbed wire entanglement in “No Man’s Land.” 4. A View of Trench in
Hindenburg Line, at Soissons. 5. Dead Man’s Hill. 6. French Flame
Throwers. 7. Burying German Dead.]