Charles E. Sprague

“ What shall be the monument o'er gallant Ellsworth's grave?
How shall we commemorate the life he freely gave,
Resolved that o'er our country no disloyal flag shall wave
As his soul goes marching on? ”

“ High in air the starry symbol of our loved but troubled land,
Just received, with consecration from a loyal woman's hand;
While a vow had been recorded by the whole ten hundred men:
"Never shall that flag be lowered till we bring it back again,
And we'll keep it from dishonor, by the help of God. Amen."
So the Forty-fourth departed as the heroes of the hour,
But their deeds were only promist, ‘twas the bud but now the flower.
All the records of the ages they were ready to surpass
Like the self-sufficient students of the graduating class. ”

“ They must learn to suffer hunger, laugh at labor and privation,
They must stand and take their chances, whether death or mutiliation,
Of the prison worse that either with its torture and starvation. ”