The sunlight dies with a sickening glare,—
What went ye out for to see?
And the vultures are darkening the upper air,—
What went ye out for to see?
Oh! the soldiers were strong and brave and bold,
And the red blood of life ran hot, ran cold,
With the fruitage of death for the grave's dark mould,—
What went ye out for to see?

They have gathered them up with moan and groan,
What went ye out for to see?
But one, forgotten, was left alone,—
What went ye out for to see?
He lies with his brow to the quiet skies,
With heaven's blue in his open eyes,
And a shadow falls as a vulture flies,—
What went ye out for to see?

He lies in the light of the rising moon,—
What went ye out for to see?
For the life of the charge, death came too soon,—
What went ye out for to see?
Ah! the solemn shadows come and go,
As the vagrant winds through the brown locks blow,—
But he died with his brave young face to the foe,—
What went ye out for to see?

Ah! pitiless death in the ghostly gleam,—
What went ye out for to see?
Hide, pitiful moon, from the ghastly dream,—
What went ye out for to see?
For the locks are bright as a baby's hair,
And under the bloodstained jacket there,
Is the breast of a woman, soft and fair,—
What went ye out for to see?

Ah! fearful the breach that she strove to fill,—
What went ye out for to see?
And fearful the force, the strength of will,—
What went ye out for to see?
A lily cast in the leaden hail?
A dove in the teeth of the whistling gale?
God pity the cause, that such faith should fail!
What went ye out for to see?

What matters it whether she wore the Gray,—
What went ye out for to see?
Or died in victorious Blue that day,—
What went ye out for to see?
For valor will heed when 't is valor that calls,
And the gap was filled,—'t is the story that palls,—
For over the past God's sunlight falls,—
What went ye out for to see?