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But who shall break the guards that wait Before the awful face of Fate? The tattered standards of the South Were shriveled at the cannon s mouth, And all her hopes were desolate. In vain the Tennesseean set His breast against the bayonet! In vain Virginia charged and raged, A tigress in her wrath uncaged, Till all the hill was red and wet! Above the bayonets, mixed and crossed, Men saw a gray, gigantic ghost Receding through the battle cloud, And heard across the tempest loud The death cry of a nation lost! The brave went down! Without disgrace They leaped to Ruin s red embrace. They only heard Fame s thunders wake, And saw the dazzling sunburst break In smiles on Glory s bloody face! They fell, who lifted up a hand And bade the sun in heaven to stand! They smote and fell, who set the bars Against the progress of the stars, And stayed the march of Motherland! They stood, who saw the future come On through the fight s delirium! They smote and stood, who held the hope Of nations on that slipper)- slope Amid the cheers of Christendom.