“With heavy hearts we laid us down, but, mind you, not to sleep,
Nor did we turn aside to sing, or turn aside to weep,
But as we pondered o’er our griefs, a sudden moan was heard,
Far louder than the willow’s moan, when by the wind ’tis stirred.
“It woke the camp from reverie, it woke the camp to fear;
And louder, louder grew the wail, most dreadful then to hear.
And nearer came the weeping crowd, and something stiff and still
Was borne, we knew not what it was, but followed with a will.
“At last within our Gen’ral’s tent the precious load was laid,
And then a pallid soldier turned unto us all, and said: