Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

52. “all hail to the Stars and Stripes.”

by George T. Bourne.

“After the soldiers from the Old ‘Bay State’ had been brutally shot down, one young man, scarcely twenty years old, lay upon the ground mortally wounded. With his eyes fast growing dim, he raised himself erect, and tossing his arms wildly about, exclaimed, ‘All hail to the Stars and Stripes,’ and fell back dead.” [Extract from a Letter.

When home returning from the fight
     They wend their way, with noble scars,
They'll point to wounds by traitorous hands
     Which fought against the Stripes and Stars.
But noble wounds will be forgot
     As each his blood-stained sabre wipes,
And thinks how rose that dying voice,
     “All hail the glorious Stars and Stripes.”

“All hail the Stars and Stripes!” The words
     Are graven now, on every heart,
A Nation's watchword — Freedom's song!--
     Of every future act a part.
“All hail the glorious Stars and Stripes!”
     The echo leaps from hill to hill!
We first drew breath beneath its folds,
     We'll live and die beneath it still!

“All hail the Stars and Stripes,” the cry,
     From forest home to ocean shore!
Ten thousand times ten thousand hands
     Are raised to free that flag once more.
To each proud heart new hope is sent,
     To each strong arm new strength is given,
And raised aloft from every home,
     The Stars and Stripes float nearer heaven!

New York, April 13, 1861.