freedmen came from miles around
just to lend a helping hand
but they was given half the money
thouh it may seem funny
they had to follow a white command
forged by the black committee
to regain a sense of pride
Fredrick Douglas gave them his mighty blessing
and watched as Southward they'd ride
abused by Colonel Montgomery
to burn down the Darian Streets
no enemy was ever sighted
no victory, no defeat
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
but they were used like mules to pull lumber
not one of their muskets made a sound
but when the chance came at last
the load 'em and blast
they stopped the grays on James Island ground
Wagner was a high fortress
along the Charleston Beach
walls so thick & daunting
ramparts no army could breach
54th came marchin'
with Gould Shaw in command
now he's was buried "along with his niggers"
in a trench down along the sand
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
William Harvey's got his medal of valour
that honour will long resound
he grabbed the flag from the fallen and shouted
"the stars and stripes will never touch the ground"
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
just to lend a helping hand
but they was given half the money
thouh it may seem funny
they had to follow a white command
forged by the black committee
to regain a sense of pride
Fredrick Douglas gave them his mighty blessing
and watched as Southward they'd ride
abused by Colonel Montgomery
to burn down the Darian Streets
no enemy was ever sighted
no victory, no defeat
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
but they were used like mules to pull lumber
not one of their muskets made a sound
but when the chance came at last
the load 'em and blast
they stopped the grays on James Island ground
Wagner was a high fortress
along the Charleston Beach
walls so thick & daunting
ramparts no army could breach
54th came marchin'
with Gould Shaw in command
now he's was buried "along with his niggers"
in a trench down along the sand
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
William Harvey's got his medal of valour
that honour will long resound
he grabbed the flag from the fallen and shouted
"the stars and stripes will never touch the ground"
after years have passed us by
after cannons have turned to rust
the 54th will be remembered
long after bleached bones have turned to dust
Contributed by Dq82 - 2024/12/6 - 17:46
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Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
2010
Chapter Of Night
Chapter Of Night is a retrospective of the "Great Divide" known as The Civil War which took place in America between April 12, 1861 and April 14, 1865.
The War pitted the Northern Industrial society with its crowded immigrant poulations stretching the boundaries westward into new territories and the static Southern Aggrarian life of Plantations and slave labour. It became clear that the anathema of Slavery could not continue.
Two worlds colliding with a winner take all outcome.
The South had 18,000 factories to the North's 100,000. The population of The South was 10 million, 3 million which were slaves.
This CD does not villify the vanquished nor praise the victor. It merely tells stories of the struggles and courage of this most terrible tragedy.
It brings into sharp focus the need for critical thinking in order to avoid history's mistakes and prevent the repeat of such a catastrophy.
Although the 54th was not the 1st coloured regiment used in the Civil War they became the most prominent through their courageous assault on Fort Wagner in 1863. Although it failed their valour was recognized and became an inspiration for many soldiers black and white.