When Col. Murray drew his sword,
It was in Freedom's cause,
To fight against the rebels,
That defied our Flag and laws.
The Pennsylvania Eighty-fourth,
Of which he had command,
Against the rebels, ten to one,
At Hancock made a stand.
It was the twenty-third of March,
Near Winchester we lay,
At eight o'clock the shell and shot,
On us began to play.
When Gen'l Shields, that never yields,
He heard the distant noise,
Then faced about and with a shout,
Said, "Double-quick, my boys."
When Gen'l Shields came on the field,
They fought like heroes brave,
With sword in hand he gave command,
Our flag did proudly wave.
Although our Regiment suffered most,
They did not shrink or fail,
Their gallant Colonel led them on
Through storms of iron hail.
The Eighty-fourth was ordered up
To charge the enemy,
To drive the rebels from their guns,
And save their battery.
Like veterans they made their charge,
It was conducted well,
But in the mid'st of victory,
Our gallant Murray fell.
He boldly led the Eighty-fourth,
Until he was shot dead;
While bravely cheering on his men
A bullet pierced his head.
Their fire seemed directed most
Against the Eighty-fourth,
But hand to hand they could not stand
Our tigers of the North.
The Stars and Stripes of Liberty,
That always lead to fame,
Linked with its brave defenders now
Is Col. Murray's name.
And soon they will avenge his death,
The gallant Eighty-fourth,
For none but those who knew him well
Could estimate his worth.
The gallant officers and men,
Receive our heart-felt thanks,
They would not fly but rather die,
Within the Union ranks.
The rose and evergreen will bloom,
Upon the honored grave
Of Col. William G. Murray,
The bravest of the brave.
The account of the battle in the New York _World_, as reported by its
correspondent, contained the following:
"The 84th Pa. suffered more than any other. This Regiment, of which
there were only 300 engaged (proper number 255), lost 23 killed and 63
wounded from the bullets of the enemy, among them Col. Murray."