For brothers dear and lovers fond
Are there amid the strife;
Tearful the sister's anxious gaze—
Pallid the promised wife.
Yet breathed no heart one thought of fear,
Prompt at their country's call,
They yielded forth their dearest hopes,
And gave to honor all!
Now comes a message from below—
Oh! quick the tidings tell—
"At Moultrie and Fort Johnson, too,
And Morris', all are well!"
Then mark the joyous bright'ning;
See how each bosom swells;
That friends and loved ones all are safe,
Each to the other tells.
All day the shot flew thick and fast,
All night the cannon roared,
While wreathed in smoke stern Sumter stood
And vengeful answer poured.
Again the sun rose, bright and clear,
'Twas on the thirteenth day,
While, lo! at prudent distance moored,
Five hostile vessels lay.
With choicest Abolition crews,—
The bravest of their brave,—
They'd come to pull our Crescent down
And dig Secession's grave.
"See, see, how Sumter's banner trails,
They're signalling for aid.
See you no boats of armed men?
Is yet no movement made?"
Now densest smoke and lurid flames
Burst out o'er Sumter's walls;
"The fort's on fire," is the cry,
Again for aid he calls.
See you no boats or vessels yet?
Dare they not risk one shot;
To make report grandiloquent
Of aid they rendered not?