. Idyls of battle and poems of the rebellion. BUTLERS BLACK BRIGADE. O tliey will not fight! those branded men, Whose crime is a dusky skin;They are dark without, so t is fair to think The blood must be pale within !They will not fight ? You have crushed themlong,They ve forgotten the way to turn !They have brains, and yet they remembernot;And hearts, but they never burn ! So, they will not fight ? You remember howThey cowered in last July ? * * The New York riots, July, 1863. BUTLERS BLACK BRIGADE. 143 They had done no wrong, but then: skinswere black,T was fitting that they should die !TJiey
. Idyls of battle and poems of the rebellion. BUTLERS BLACK BRIGADE. O tliey will not fight! those branded men, Whose crime is a dusky skin;They are dark without, so t is fair to think The blood must be pale within !They will not fight ? You have crushed themlong,They ve forgotten the way to turn !They have brains, and yet they remembernot;And hearts, but they never burn ! So, they will not fight ? You remember howThey cowered in last July ? * * The New York riots, July, 1863. BUTLERS BLACK BRIGADE. 143 They had done no wrong, but then: skinswere black,T was fitting that they should die !TJiey did not fight, but they stand to-day, As stanchly as fairer men ;Tliey are helping you on to your were hunted and tortured then ! Oh, ye will not take in a kindly clasp. The hand that is darker than yours !And ye will not walk in a plainer light, Nor bury these ancient scores !Oh, shame for your senseless and narrowcreed! And shame for your savage hate !And shame for the dulness that does notknow, Like ever will seek its mate
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookididylsofbattl, bookyear1864
