In the North-West

" FORWARD ! "
The captain said,
Out of the morning's red
Brave and noble and dread,
With hero and martial tread,
Into the North and the Westward.
Over dim forest and lake,
Over lone prairie and brake,
The clamor of battle to wake,
For kindred and country's sake,
Into the North and the Westward.

" Forward ! "
'Neath northern sky,
Ready to fight and die :
Where the shadowy marshbirds fly
With their weird and lonely cry,
Far to the North and the Westward.
Only the rifle's crack,
And answer of rifle back ;
Heavy each haversack,
Dreary the prairie's track
Far to the North and the Westward.

" Forward ! "
Seeking the foe,
Starving and bleeding they go,
Into the sleet and the snow,
Over bleak rivers that flow
Far to the North and the Westward.
Falling on frozen strands ;
Falling, devoted bands,
Sleeping with folded hands !
Dead, for home and for lands —
Dead in the North and the Westward !