In marching and in fighting,
                In bearing any loss,
              It seems they were delighting,
                Like soldiers of the Cross.
              "'We're coming, Father Abram,
                Hundreds of thousands more!
              To Shem and Japeth let Ham
                 Prove now, the world before,
              His principle and valor
                For God and Liberty;
              Our hue's not made for pallor;
                 No signs of fear you'll see.
              "They came; and more were coming
                Till peace was won; and they
              Returned with joyful drumming
                To lay their arms away;
              But to be ever ready,
                They, or their future sons,
              To muster, brave and steady,
                At freedom's signal guns."

         A Hero of the Gettysburg Campaign
  A vital incident of the Gettysburg campaign in 1863, which
contributed largely to make General Lee's invasion a failure, and
helped to decide the fate of the Confederacy, was the plucky fight
of Pennsylvania militia against General Gordon's veteran Con-
federates at the Columbia bridge on Sunday, June 28th, and the
burning of the structure to prevent his force from crossing the
Susquehanna River.
  A company of colored men from Columbia, Lancaster County,
Penna., after three white companies from that place had re-
turned to their homes, continued at their post on the Wrightsville
side to dig rifle-pits, and when the fight commenced to take up
their arms manfully to oppose the advance and attack of the
enemy. It required a strong combination of patriotism and cour-
age for them to stand their ground until ordered to retreat across
the bridge and then destroy it. Their brave and skilful course
on this occasion is attested by official records and reports.
  Let me refer to the achivements of the famous Fifty-fourth
Massachusetts Colored Regiment, which led the famous assault
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OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Progress of the Negro Race: Address at a Patriotic Race Service, Philadelphia