Col. Robert G. Shaw

This poem was written by Ellen Murray, a co-founder of the Penn School on St. Helena Island in South Carolina. The poem was originally published in the National Anti-Slavery Standard on August 22, 1863.

"How did he die?" we asked. His comrades turned away,

With trembling lips that scarce the mournful words could say:

"We cannot tell, we know but that he led us on,
And, mid the smoke and flame, fell on the rampart won."

"How did he die?" His men, with sudden energy,
Answered from low cot beds: "We only seem to see,
In waking and in dreams, his bright form on the wall,
And hear in every wind his well-known rallying call."

"How did he die?" the foe made answer brief: "He died;

We laid him 'neath the earth, his soldiers by his side."
And none can ever know if parting word or prayer
Breathed from his dying lips upon that smoke-filled air.

We know but how he lived—that young and gallant form,
Breasting, with dauntless brow, the battle's fiercest storm,
And shouting to his men the "Onward," which shall be
Henceforth to them the voice of beckoning victory.

Over the conquered heap of citadel and town
His troops shall yet rush on, bearing oppression down,
And when their deeds are praised, point to a low grave
Then,

Saying, "We end their work—our Colonel and his men."

On the fair Saxon brow, upon the sunny hair,
The South sand lieth warm, and those his rest who share
Are fitting body-guard, none nobler could we crave,
To glorify the spot and share the hero's grave.
E. Murray