Out of the American Civil War, the darkest hour in our history, there were those who refused to let the horrors of total war blacken their souls. Julia Howe Ward, an American activist and poet, was one of these unconquerable souls.
As terrible fighting was taking place across the nation to decide the rights of all men to be free, she wrote these words. They are a tribute to the God of freedom, and to all who have given their lives for that cause, as well as a reminder of all that must yet be done to preserve our nation and our freedom.
Even after almost 150 years, this hymn is still one of the greatest pieces of patriotic poetry of all time, and it still touches the hearts of those willing to listen to its message.
There were originally six stanzas; I have omitted here the third and sixth; otherwise it is placed here as she wrote it.
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watchfires
Of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar
In the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
By the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgement seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.
Julia Howe Ward
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