THE MISSISSIPPI.
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Traitors claiming all the South-land, and the River once so free,
Under forts and frowning ridges, rolling, alien, to the sea!
Freedom's banner madly trampled, and the motto flaunted high,
"On the Slave we found Dominion,—who shall dare our right deny?"
Under forts and frowning ridges, rolling, alien, to the sea!
Freedom's banner madly trampled, and the motto flaunted high,
"On the Slave we found Dominion,—who shall dare our right deny?"
God of Justice! how our rally rung through all the startled air!
Million-voiced, the North made answer, rising calm and strong from prayer!
Caught the rifle, clasped the sabre, put the pen, the ploughshare by,—
Fathers, brothers, surging Southward when they heard the gathering cry,
Till, from green Dakota uplands to the rocky isles of Maine,
Every hamlet, every city, lent its bravest to the train;
Freedom's flag above them waving, freedom's songs triumphant sung,
Ne'er, I ween, to such an army, foe the gage of battle flung.
Million-voiced, the North made answer, rising calm and strong from prayer!
Caught the rifle, clasped the sabre, put the pen, the ploughshare by,—
Fathers, brothers, surging Southward when they heard the gathering cry,
Till, from green Dakota uplands to the rocky isles of Maine,
Every hamlet, every city, lent its bravest to the train;
Freedom's flag above them waving, freedom's songs triumphant sung,
Ne'er, I ween, to such an army, foe the gage of battle flung.
Then they saw the captive River, and from every port and bay
Summoned straight each armèd vessel that at anchor watching lay;—
Summoned straight each armèd vessel that at anchor watching lay;—
