"The star spangled banner, O long may it wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!"

I can never forget the impression of that glorious spectacle, and that
song of victory that went up from five thousand voices. The colored
soldier pacing to and fro, with beating heart and gazing aloft with
pride upon the "flag of the free hearts' hope and home," could now
exclaim, "Yes, that is now _my_ flag! and yonder, at Fort Wagner, the
colored soldier fought and died to restore it. Four years ago, when
that flag went down, more than four millions of my people _had_ no
flag! But to-day it is _our_ flag, and _our_ country!"

Immediately followed the grand artillery salute to the flag; and I
left my seat and climbed the look-out high above upon the wall to
obtain an unobstructed view of the bay. First, the heavy guns of
Sumter thundered forth their hearty greeting to the flag. Then, in
loyal and quick response, came the answering notes from Fort Moultrie
and Morris Island, followed by a national salute from every fort and
rebel battery that had fired upon the flag four years before.

Finally the fleet, with the little monitors, joined in the deep
harmonies of the grand chorus, till the earth trembled with the
cannonade, the air grew heavy with smoke, and nothing was visible but
the rapid flashes of the artillery. For a moment it seemed as if the
assault of '61 was being re-enacted before me. But it is safe to add
that had this been the case, I should hardly have chosen such an
elevated position upon the observatory of the fort. At length the roar
of cannon ceased, the dense clouds of smoke and sand drifted away, and
order was restored. The orator of the day, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
then began his address, of which the opening and closing sentences
were as follows:

"On this solemn and joyful day, we again lift to the breeze
our fathers' flag, now, again, the banner of _the United
States_, with the fervent prayer that God would crown it
with honor, protect it from treason, and send it down to our
children, with all the blessings of civilization, liberty
and religion. Terrible in battle, may it be beneficent in
peace. Happily, no bird or beast of prey has been inscribed
upon it. The stars that redeem the night from darkness, and
the beams of red light that beautify the morning, have been
united upon its folds. As long as the sun endures, or the
stars,