OF THE

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT

MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS

IN THE

WAR FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION

1861-1865

WITH

STATISTICS OF THE WAR AND OF REBEL PRISONS

K BY

CHARLES F. WALCOTT

CAPTAIN IN THE REGIMENT; COLONEL SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS;
BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL U. S. VOLUNTEERS; MEMBER OF THE MILITARY

THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.

Thou hast not always been, as here to-day, so comfortably ensovereigned.
In other scenes than these have I observed thee, Flag,

Not quite so trim and whole, in folds of stainless silk;

But I have seen thee to tatters torn, upon thy splintered staff,

Or clutched to some young color-bearer's breast, with desperate hands,

Savagely struggled for, for life and death fought over long,

'Mid cannons' thunder-crash, and many a curse and groan and yell, and rifle

volleys cracking sharp,

And moving masses as wild demons surging — and lives as nothing risked,

For thy mere remnant, grimed with dirt and smoke, and sopped in blood;

For sake of that, my Beauty, and that thou might'st dally as now, secure up there Many a good man have I seen go under.

WALT WHITMAN.