From "The Southern Poems of the War" by Emily Virginia Mason, 1867

HYMN TO THE NATIONAL FLAG.

BY MRS. M. J. PRESTON.

Float aloft, thou stainless banner,
Azure cross and field of light,
Be thy brilliant stars the symbol
Of the pure and true and right;
Shelter Freedom's holy cause,
Liberty and sacred laws,
Guard the youngest of the Nations—
Keep her virgin honor bright.

From Virginia's storied border,
Down to Tampa's furthest shore,
From the blue Atlantic's dashings
To the Rio Grande's roar,
Over many a crimson plain,
Where our martyred one's lie slain,
Fling abroad thy blessed shelter,
Stream and mount and valley o'er.

In thy cross of Heavenly azure,
Has our faith its emblem high,
In thy field of white, the hallowed
Truth, for which we'll dare and die.
In thy red, the patriot blood
Ah! the consecrated flood!
Lift thyself! resistless banner!
Ever fill our Southern sky!

Flash with living lightning motion
In the sight of all the brave,
Tell the price at which we purchased
Room and right for thee to wave
Freely in our God's free air,
Pure and proud and stainless fair—
Banner of the youngest nation,
Banner we would die to save!

Strike thou for us—King of Armies!
Grant us room in thy broad world,
Loosen all the despot's fetters,
Back be all his legions hurled!
Give us peace and liberty!
Let the land we love be free!
Then oh! bright and stainless banner
Never shall thy folds be furled!