USCT Soldier's Prayer
Abolitionist Colonel Higginson recorded a soldier’s prayer
that revealed the source of strength of the black soldier in the
civil war:

"Let me so lib (live) dat (that) when I die I
shall hab (have) manners; dat (that) I shall
know what to say when I see my heabenly
(heavenly) Lord.

Let me lib wid (with) de (the) musket in one
hand, an' de Bible  in de oder (other) dat if I
die at de muzzle of de musket, die in de
water, die on de land, I may know I hab de
bressed (blessed) Jesus in my hand, an'
hab no fear.

I hab lef (left) my wife in de land o'
bondage; my little ones dey (they) say eb'ry
(every) night, "Whar (where) is my fader
(father)?".

But when I die, when de breseed mornin'
rises, when I shall stan' in de glory, mid
(with) one foot on de water an' one foot on
do (dry or the) land, den (then), O Lord! I
shall see my wife an' my little chil'en
(children) once more.”