Our leader frank and bold;
The British soldier trembles
When Marion's name is told.
Our fortress is the good greenwood,
Our tent the cypress tree;
We know the forest round us;
As seamen know the sea;
We know its walls of thorny vines,
Its glades of reedy grass,
Its safe and silent islands
Within the dark morass.
Woe to the English soldiery
That little dread us near!
On them shall light at midnight
A strange and sudden fear;
When, waking to their tents on fire,
They grasp their arms in vain,
And they who stand to face us
Are beat to earth again;
And they who fly in terror deem
A mighty host behind,
And hear the tramp of thousands
Upon the hollow wind.
Then sweet the hour that brings release
From danger and from toil;
We talk the battle over,
And share the battle's spoil.
The woodland rings with laugh and shout,
As if a hunt were up,
And woodland flowers are gathered
To crown the soldier's cup.
With merry songs we mock the wind
That in the pine-top grieves,
And slumber long and sweetly
On beds of oaken leaves.
Well knows the fair and friendly moon
The band that Marion leads,--
The glitter of their rifles,
The scampering of their steeds.
'Tis life to guide the fiery barb
Across the moonlight plain;
'Tis life to feel the night wind
That lifts his tossing mane.
A moment in the British camp--
A moment--and away
Back to the pathless forest,
Before the peep of day.
Grave men there are by broad Santee,
Grave men with hoary hairs;
Their hearts are all with Marion,
For Marion are their prayers.
And lovely ladies greet our band
With kindliest welcoming,
With smiles like those of summer,
And tears like those of spring.
For them we wear these trusty arms,
And lay them down no more
Till we have driven the Briton
Forever from our shore.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
HAIL COLUMBIA.
BY JOSEPH HOPKINSON.
(First sung at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, in 1798.)
[This song was inspired by the troubles with France, which threatened
but did not actually result in open war. For convenience it is classed
with the ballads and lyrics of the Revolution, to the actors in which
its references point, though, strictly speaking, it belongs to none of
the groups into which this collection is divided.--EDITOR.]
Hail! Columbia, happy land!
Hail! ye heroes, heav'n-born band,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
And when the storm of war was gone,
Enjoyed the peace your valor won;
Let independence be your boast,
Ever mindful what it cost,
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its altar reach the skies.
_Chorus._
Firm, united let us be,
Rallying round our liberty,
As a band of brothers joined,
Peace and safety we shall find.
Immortal patriots, rise once more!
Defend your rights, defend your shore;
Let no rude foe with impious hand,
Let no rude foe with impious hand
Invade the shrine where sacred lies
Of toil and blood the well-earned prize;
While offering peace, sincere and just,
In heav'n we place a manly trust,
That truth and justice may prevail,
And ev'ry scheme of bondage fail.--_Chorus._
Sound, sound the trump of fame!
Let Washington's great name
Ring thro' the world with loud applause!
Ring thro' the world with loud applause!
Let ev'ry clime to freedom dear
Listen with a joyful ear;
With equal skill, with steady pow'r,
He governs in the fearful hour
Of horrid war, or guides with ease
The happier time of honest peace.--_Chorus._
Behold the chief, who now commands,
Once more to serve his country stands,
The rock on which the storm will beat!
The rock on which the storm will beat!
But armed in virtue, firm and true,
His hopes are fixed on heav'n and you.
When hope was sinking in dismay,
When gloom obscured Columbia's day,
His steady mind, from changes free,
Resolved on death or liberty.--_Chorus._
[Illustration]
[Illustration:
THE WAR OF 1812-15]
[Illustration:
_TRUXTON'S VICTORY_]
(Action between the _Constellation_ and the _Insurgente_, 9 Feb., 1799.)
[This song and the one that follows it relate to a naval conflict of
1799, during the troubles which for a time threatened war between
France and the United States. As the second of the two songs was
written in 1813, and both were much sung at that period, it has been
thought best to present both of them where one properly belongs,
namely, among the poems of the last war with Great Britain.--EDITOR.]
When Freedom, fair Freedom, her banner display'd,
Defying each foe whom her rights would invade,
Columbia's brave sons swore those rights to maintain,
And o'er ocean and earth to establish her reign;
United they cry,
While that standard shall fly,
Resolved, firm, and steady,
We always are ready
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
Tho' Gallia through Europe has rushed like a flood,
And deluged the earth with an ocean of blood:
While by faction she's led, while she's governed by knaves,
We court not her smiles, and will ne'er be her slaves;
Her threats we defy,
While our standard shall fly,
Resolved, firm, and steady,
We always are ready
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
Tho' France with caprice dares our Statesmen upbraid,
A tribute demands, or sets bounds to our trade;
From our young rising Navy our thunders shall roar,
And our Commerce extend to the earth's utmost shore.
Our cannon we'll ply,
While our standard shall fly;
Resolved, firm, and steady,
We always are ready
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
To know we're resolved, let them think on the hour,
When Truxton, brave Truxton off Nevis's shore,
His ship mann'd for battle, the standard unfurl'd,
And at the _Insurgente_ defiance he hurled;
And his valiant tars cry,
While our standard shall fly,
Resolved, firm, and steady,
We always are ready
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
Each heart beat exulting, inspir'd by the cause;
They fought for their country, their freedom and laws;
From their cannon loud volleys of vengeance they pour'd,
And the standard of France to Columbia was lower'd.
Huzza! they now cry,
Let the Eagle wave high;
Resolved, firm, and steady,
We always are ready
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
Then raise high the strain, pay the tribute that's due
To the fair _Constellation_, and all her brave Crew;
Be Truxton revered, and his name be enrolled,
'Mongst the chiefs of the ocean, the heroes of old.
Each invader defy,
While such heroes are nigh,
Who always are ready,
Resolved, firm, and steady
To fight, and to conquer, to conquer or die.
[Illustration]
THE "CONSTELLATION" AND THE "INSURGENTE."
(Action of 9 February, 1799.)
Come all ye Yankee sailors, with swords and pikes advance,
'Tis time to try your courage and humble haughty France,
The sons of France our seas invade,
Destroy our commerce and our trade,
'Tis time the reckoning should be paid!
To brave Yankee boys.
On board the _Constellation_, from Baltimore we came,
We had a bold commander and Truxton was his name!
Our ship she mounted forty guns,
And on the main so swiftly runs,
To prove to France Columbia's sons
Are brave Yankee boys.
We sailed to the West Indies in order to annoy
The invaders of our commerce, to burn, sink, and destroy;
Our _Constellation_ shone so bright,
The Frenchmen could not bear the sight,
And away they scamper'd in affright,
From the brave Yankee boys.
'Twas on the 9th of February, at Montserrat we lay,
And there we spy'd the _Insurgente_ just at the break of day,
We raised the orange and the blue,
To see if they our signals knew,
The _Constellation_ and her crew
Of brave Yankee boys.
Then all hands were called to quarters, while we pursued in chase,
With well prim'd guns, our tompions out, well spliced the main brace.
Soon to the French we did draw nigh,
Compelled to fight, they were, or fly,
The word was passed, "CONQUER OR DIE,"
My brave Yankee boys.
Lord! our Cannons thunder'd with peals tremendous roar,
And death upon our bullets' wings that drenched their decks with gore,
The blood did from their scuppers run,
Their chief exclaimed, "We are undone!"
Their flag they struck, the battle won,
By the brave Yankee boys.
Then to St. Kitts we steered, we bro't her safe in port,
The grand salute was fired and answered from the fort,
John Adams in full bumpers toast,
George Washington, Columbia's boast,
And now "the girl we love the most!"
My brave Yankee boys.
1813.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE WASP'S FROLIC.
(Action of 18 October, 1812.)
[From "Naval Songster," 1815.]
'Twas on board the sloop-of-war _Wasp_ boys,
We set sail from Delaware Bay,
To cruise on Columbia's fair coast, sirs,
Our rights to maintain on the sea.
Three days were not passed on our station,
When the _Frolic_ came up to our view;
Says Jones, "Show the flag of our nation";
Three cheers were then gave by our crew.
We boldly bore up to this Briton,
Whose cannon began for to roar;
The _Wasp_ soon her stings from her side ran,
When we on them a broadside did pour.
Each sailor stood firm at his quarters,
'Twas minutes past forty and three,
When fifty bold Britons were slaughter'd,
Whilst our guns swept their masts in the sea.
Their breasts then with valor still glowing,
Acknowledged the battle we'd won,
On us then bright laurels bestowing,
When to leeward they fired a gun.
On their decks we the twenty guns counted,
With a crew for to answer the same;
Eighteen was the number we mounted,
Being served by the lads of true game.
With the _Frolic_ in tow, we were standing,
All in for Columbia's fair shore;
But fate on our laurels was frowning,
We were taken by a seventy-four.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
"CONSTITUTION" AND "GUERRIÈRE."
(Action of 19 August, 1812.)
It oft times has been told,
That the British seamen bold,
Could flog the tars of France so neat and handy, oh!
But they never found their match,
Till the Yankees did them catch,
Oh, the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
The _Guerrière_ a frigate bold,
On the foaming ocean rolled,
Commanded by proud Dacres, the grandee, oh!
With as choice a British crew,
As a rammer ever drew,
Could flog the Frenchmen two to one so handy, oh!
When this frigate hove in view,
Says proud Dacres to his crew,
"Come clear ship for action and be handy, oh!
To the weather gage, boys, get her,"
And to make his men fight better,
Gave them to drink gun-powder mixed with brandy, oh!
Then Dacres loudly cries,
"Make this Yankee ship your prize,
You can in thirty minutes, neat and handy, oh!
Twenty-five's enough I'm sure,
And if you'll do it in a score,
I'll treat you to a double share of brandy, oh!"
The British shot flew hot,
Which the Yankees answered not,
Till they got within the distance they called handy, oh!
"Now," says Hull unto his crew,
"Boys, let's see what we can do,
If we take this boasting Briton we're the dandy, oh!"
The first broadside we pour'd
Carried her mainmast by the board,
Which made this loftly frigate look abandon'd, oh!
Then Dacres shook his head,
And to his officers said,
"Lord! I didn't think those Yankees were so handy, oh!"
Our second told so well
That their fore and mizzen fell,
Which dous'd the Royal ensign neat and handy, oh!
"By George!" says he, "we're done,"
And they fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, oh!
Then Dacres came on board,
To deliver up his sword,
Tho' loth was he to part with it, it was so handy, oh!
"Oh keep your sword," says Hull,
"For it only makes you dull,
"Cheer up and take a little drink of brandy, oh!"
Now, fill your glasses full,
And we'll drink to Captain Hull,
And so merrily we'll push about the brandy, oh!
John Bull may toast his fill,
But let the world say what they will,
The Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy, oh!
[Illustration]
THE "UNITED STATES" AND "MACEDONIAN."
(Action 25 of October, 1812.)
How glows each patriot bosom that boasts a Yankee heart,
To emulate such glorious deeds and nobly take a part;
When sailors with their thund'ring guns,
Prove to the English, French, and Danes
That Neptune's chosen fav'rite sons
Are brave Yankees boys.
The twenty-fifth of October, that glorious happy day,
When we beyond all precedent, from Britons bore the sway,--
'Twas in the ship _United States_,
Four and forty guns the rates,
That she should rule, decreed the Fates,
And brave Yankee boys.
Decatur and his hardy tars were cruising on the deep,
When off the Western Islands they to and fro did sweep,
The _Macedonian_ they espied,
"Huzza! bravo!" Decatur cried,
"We'll humble Britain's boasted pride,
My brave Yankee boys."
The decks were cleared, the hammocks stowed, the boatswain pipes all hands,
The tompions out, the guns well sponged, the Captain now commands;
The boys who for their country fight,
Their words, "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights!"
Three times they cheered with all their might,
Those brave Yankee boys.
Now chain-shot, grape, and langrage pierce through her oaken sides,
And many a gallant sailor's blood runs purpling in the tides;
While death flew nimbly o'er their decks,
Some lost their legs, and some their necks,
And Glory's wreath our ship be-decks,
For brave Yankee boys.
My boys, the proud St. George's Cross, the stripes above it wave,
And busy are our gen'rous tars, the conquered foe to save,
Our Captain cries "Give me your hand,"
Then of the ship who took command
But brave Yankee boys?
Our enemy lost her mizzen, her main and fore-top-mast,
For ev'ry shot with death was winged, which slew her men so fast,
That they lost five to one in killed,
And ten to one their blood was spilled,
So Fate decreed and Heaven had willed,
For brave Yankee boys.
Then homeward steered the captive ship, now safe in port she lies,
The old and young with rapture viewed our sailors' noble prize;
Through seas of wine their health we'll drink,
And wish them sweet-hearts, friends, and chink,
Who 'fore they'd strike, will nobly sink
Our brave Yankee boys.
1813.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE "UNITED STATES" AND "MACEDONIAN."
(Action of 25 October, 1812.)
The banner of Freedom high floated unfurled,
While the silver-tipt surges in low homage curled,
Flashing bright round the bow of Decatur's brave bark,
In contest, an "eagle"--in chasing a "lark."
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
All canvas expanded to woo the coy gale,
The ship cleared for action, in chase of a sail;
The foemen in view, every bosom beats high,
All eager for conquest, or ready to die.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly.
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
Now havoc stands ready, with optics of flame,
And battle-hounds "strain on the start" for the game;
The blood demons rise on the surge for their prey,
While Pity, rejected, awaits the dread fray.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
The gay floating streamers of Britain appear,
Waving light on the breeze as the stranger we near;
And now could the quick-sighted Yankee discern
"_Macedonian_," emblazoned at large on her stern.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
She waited our approach, and the contest began,
But to waste ammunition is no Yankee plan;
In awful suspense every match was withheld,
While the bull-dogs of Britain incessantly yelled.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
Unawed by her thunders, alongside we came,
While the foe seemed enwrapped in a mantle of flame;
When, prompt to the word, such a flood we return,
That Neptune aghast, thought his trident would burn.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
Now the lightning of battle gleams horridly red,
With a tempest of iron and hail-storm of lead;
And our fire on the foe we so copiously poured,
His mizzen and topmasts soon went by the board.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
So fierce and so bright did our flashes aspire,
They thought that their cannon had set us on fire,
"The Yankee's in flames!"--every British tar hears,
And hails the false omen with three hearty cheers.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
In seventeen minutes they found their mistake,
And were glad to surrender and fall in our wake;
Her decks were with carnage and blood deluged o'er,
Where welt'ring in blood lay an hundred and four.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
But though she was made so completely a wreck,
With blood they had scarcely encrimsoned our deck;
Only five valiant Yankees in the contest were slain,
And our ship in five minutes was fitted again.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
Let Britain no longer lay claim to the seas,
For the trident of Neptune is ours, if we please,
While Hull and Decatur and Jones are our boast,
We dare their whole navy to come on our coast.
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Will ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
Rise, tars of Columbia!--and share in the fame,
Which gilds Hull's, Decatur's and Jones's bright name;
Fill a bumper, and drink, "Here's success to the cause,
But Decatur supremely deserves our applause."
The bold _United States_,
Which four-and-forty rates,
Shall ne'er be known to yield--be known to yield or fly,
Her motto is "Glory! we conquer or we die."
1813.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
PERRY'S VICTORY.
(Battle of Lake Erie, 10 September, 1813.)
[This ballad, clumsy as it is in construction, was very popular in its
day, mainly, perhaps, because of the peculiarly dramatic character of
the action it was written to celebrate.--EDITOR.]
We sailed to and fro in Erie's broad lake,
To find British bullies or get into their wake,
When we hoisted our canvas with true Yankee speed,
And the brave Captain Perry our squadron did lead.
We sailed thro' the lake, boys, in search of the foe,
In the cause of Columbia our brav'ry to show,
To be equal in combat was all our delight,
As we wished the proud Britons to know we could fight.
And whether like Yeo, boys, they'd taken affright,
We could see not, nor find them by day or by night;
So cruising we went in a glorious cause,
In defence of our rights, our freedom, and laws.
At length to our liking six sails hove in view,
Huzzah! says brave Perry, huzzah! says his crew,
And then for the chase, boys, with our brave little crew,
We fell in with the bullies and gave them "burgoo."
Though the force was unequal, determined to fight,
We brought them to action before it was night;
We let loose our thunder, our bullets did fly,
"Now give them your shot, boys," our commander did cry.
We gave them a broadside, our cannon to try,
"Well done," says brave Perry, "for quarter they'll cry,
Shot well home, my brave boys, they shortly shall see,
That quite brave as they are, still braver are we."
Then we drew up our squadron, each man full of fight,
And put the proud Britons in a terrible plight,
The brave Perry's movements will prove fully as bold,
As the fam'd Admiral Nelson's prowess of old.
The conflict was sharp, boys, each man to his guns,
For our country, her glory, the vict'ry was won,
So six sail (the whole fleet) was our fortune to take,
Here's a health to brave Perry, who governs the Lake.
1813.
[Illustration]
YANKEE THUNDERS.
Britannia's gallant streamers,
Float proudly o'er the tide,
And fairly wave Columbia's stripes,
In battle side by side.
And ne'er did bolder seamen meet,
Where ocean's surges pour;
O'er the tide now they ride,
While the bell'wing thunders roar,
While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
And the bell'wing thunders roar.
When Yankee meets the Briton,
Whose blood congenial flows,
By Heav'n created to be friends,
By fortune rendered foes;
Hard then must be the battle fray,
Ere well the fight is o'er;
Now they ride, side by side,
While the bell'wing thunders roar,
While her cannon's fire is flashing fast,
And the bell'wing thunders roar.
Still, still, for noble England
Bold D'Acres' streamers fly;
And for Columbia, gallant Hull's
As proudly and as high;
Now louder rings the battle din,
And thick the volumes pour;
Still they ride, side by side,
While the bell'wing thunders roar,
While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
And the bell'wing thunders roar.
Why lulls Britannia's thunder,
That waked the wat'ry war?
Why stays the gallant _Guerrière_,
Whose streamers waved so fair?
That streamer drinks the ocean wave,
That warrior's fight is o'er!
Still they ride, side by side,
While the bell'wing thunders roar,
While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
And the bell'wing thunders roar.
Hark! 'tis the Briton's lee gun!
Ne'er bolder warrior kneeled!
And ne'er to gallant mariners
Did braver seamen yield.
Proud be the sires, whose hardy boys
Then fell to fight no more:
With the brave, mid the wave;
When the cannon's thunders roar,
Their spirits then shall trim the blast,
And swell the thunder's roar.
Vain were the cheers of Britons,
Their hearts did vainly swell,
Where virtue, skill, and bravery
With gallant Morris fell.
That heart so well in battle tried,
Along the Moorish shore,
And again o'er the main,
When Columbia's thunders roar,
Shall prove its Yankee spirit true,
When Columbia's thunder's roar.
Hence be our floating bulwark
Those oaks our mountains yield;
'Tis mighty Heaven's plain decree--
Then take the wat'ry field!
To ocean's farthest barrier then
Your whit'ning sail shall pour;
Safe they'll ride o'er the tide,
While Columbia's thunders roar,
While her cannon's fire is flashing fast,
And her Yankee thunders roar.
1813.
[Illustration]
YE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.
[This rudely constructed song--evidently composed in the forecastle,
where poets are not exigent in the matter of rhymes, is included in
this collection, notwithstanding its imperfections, because of the hold
it took upon the minds of patriotic people. It was still a favorite
song in many parts of the country as late as 1859, and it is valuable
as a reflection of the spirit in which the War of 1812-14 was regarded
by those who fought it.--EDITOR.]
Ye parliament of England,
You lords and commons, too,
Consider well what you're about,
And what you're going to do;
You're now to fight with Yankees,
I'm sure you'll rue the day,
You roused the sons of liberty,
In North America.
You first confined our commerce,
And said our ships shant trade,
You next impressed our seamen,
And used them as your slaves;
You then insulted Rogers,
While ploughing o'er the main,
And had not we declarèd war,
You'd have done it o'er again.
You thought our frigates were but few,
And Yankees could not fight,
Until brave Hull your _Guerrière_ took
And banished her from your sight.
The _Wasp_ then took your _Frolic_,
We'll nothing say to that,
The _Poictiers_ being of the line,
Of course she took her back.
The next, your _Macedonian_,
No finer ship could swim,
Decatur took her gilt-work off,
And then he sent her in.
The _Java_, by a Yankee ship
Was sunk, you all must know;
The _Peacock_ fine, in all her plume,
By Lawrence down did go.
Then next you sent your _Boxer_,
To box us all about,
But we had an _Enterprising_ brig
That beat your _Boxer_ out;
We boxed her up to Portland,
And moored her off the town,
To show the sons of liberty
The _Boxer_ of renown.
The next upon Lake Erie,
Where Perry had some fun,
You own he beat your naval force,
And caused them for to run;
This was to you a sore defeat,
The like ne'er known before--
Your British squadron beat complete--
Some took, some run ashore.
There's Rogers in the _President_,
Will burn, sink, and destroy;
The _Congress_, on the Brazil coast,
Your commerce will annoy;
The _Essex_, in the South Seas,
Will put out all your lights,
The flag she waves at her mast-head--
"Free Trade and Sailor's Rights."