'A soldier of the Union mustered out,' br Is the inscription on an unknown grave br At Newport News, beside the salt-sea wave, br Nameless and dateless; sentinel or scout br Shot down in skirmish, or disastrous rout br Of battle, when the loud artillery drave br Its iron wedges through the ranks of brave br And doomed battalions, storming the redoubt. br Thou unknown hero sleeping by the sea br In thy forgotten grave! with secret shame br I feel my pulses beat, my forehead burn, br When I remember thou hast given for me br All that thou hadst, thy life, thy very name, br And I can give thee nothing in return.