Black soldiers and white were alike mad with excitement over the deed; and fear lest the colors which had not yet dipped should at last bite the ground.
Now and then he paused at some impediment: it was where the dead and dying were piled so thickly as to compel him to make a detour.

Now and then he rested a moment to press his arm tighter against his torn and open breast.

The rain fell in such torrents, the evening shadows were gathering so thickly, that they could scarcely trace his course, long before it was ended.
Slowly, painfully, he dragged himself onward,--step by step down the hill, inch by inch across the ground,--to the door of the hospital; and then, while dying eyes brightened,--dying hands and even shattered stumps were thrown into the air,--in brief, while dying men held back their souls from the eternities to cheer him,--gasped out, "I did--but do--my duty, boys,--and the dear--old flag--never once--touched the ground,"-- and then, away from the reach and sight of its foes, in the midst of its defenders, who loved and were dying for it, the flag at last fell.
* * * * * Meanwhile, other troops had gone up to the encounter; other regiments strove to win what these men had failed to gain; and through the night, and the storm, and the terrific reception, did their gallant endeavor--in vain.
* * * * * The next day a flag of truce went up to beg the body of the heroic young chief who had so led that marvellous assault.

It came back without him.
A ditch, deep and wide, had been dug; his body, and those of twenty-two of his men found dead upon and about him, flung into it in one common heap and the word sent back was, "We have buried him with his niggers." It was well done.

The fair, sweet face and gallant breast lie peacefully enough under their stately monument of ebony.
It was well done.