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36
FORT BLOUNT.
'Twas in the beauteous Land of Flowers,
And many years ago:
Secreted in the sylvan bowers
Where birds flit to and fro,
On Apalachicola's bank,
Below the Georgia line—
Now hid by reeds and rushes rank,
And stately Southern pine—
And many years ago:
Secreted in the sylvan bowers
Where birds flit to and fro,
On Apalachicola's bank,
Below the Georgia line—
Now hid by reeds and rushes rank,
And stately Southern pine—
There stood, in solitude, Fort Blount;
A menace to the foe—
The enemy who dare attempt
To forage from below.
A refuge for the pioneer
Pursued by Red Men bold;
And all who sought protection here,
Secured a safe stronghold.
A menace to the foe—
The enemy who dare attempt
To forage from below.
A refuge for the pioneer
Pursued by Red Men bold;
And all who sought protection here,
Secured a safe stronghold.
In Revolutionary days,
The Fort was garrisoned.
Parading there to martial lays,
On steeds caparisoned,
The gallant courtier and the knight
With warlike spirit filled,
To be prepared for instant fight,
There practiced, fenced, and drilled.
The Fort was garrisoned.
Parading there to martial lays,
On steeds caparisoned,
The gallant courtier and the knight
With warlike spirit filled,
To be prepared for instant fight,
There practiced, fenced, and drilled.
37
After the war of eighteen-twelve,
In eighteen and fifteen,
When 'twixt the nations all was well,
A change came o'er the scene:
A little band of fugitives
From bondage who had fled,
Sought here a refuge for their wives,
And for their children bread.
In eighteen and fifteen,
When 'twixt the nations all was well,
A change came o'er the scene:
A little band of fugitives
From bondage who had fled,
Sought here a refuge for their wives,
And for their children bread.
This band, full forty years before,
Had fled from slavery;
Hoping, that when the war was o'er,
To hold their liberty.
They wandered South and made a home,
Among the Cherokees,
And back and forth for years they roam
With Aborigines.
Had fled from slavery;
Hoping, that when the war was o'er,
To hold their liberty.
They wandered South and made a home,
Among the Cherokees,
And back and forth for years they roam
With Aborigines.
Thus, during nearly forty years
Their wanderings we trace.
Born where forest monarch rears
His head in stately grace;
Free as the bird on buoyant wings,
Gay, healthy, strong, and bold,
Resembling, in their wanderings,
The Israelites of old.
Their wanderings we trace.
Born where forest monarch rears
His head in stately grace;
Free as the bird on buoyant wings,
Gay, healthy, strong, and bold,
Resembling, in their wanderings,
The Israelites of old.
38
They find, what seems a place of rest,
In nature's vast retreat—
Like eagles on the mountain's crest—
Repose, serene and sweet,
Within the ramparts of Fort Blount,
Decide to make a home;
“Here in this fortress—Zion's Mount—
We'll dwell for years to come!”
In nature's vast retreat—
Like eagles on the mountain's crest—
Repose, serene and sweet,
Within the ramparts of Fort Blount,
Decide to make a home;
“Here in this fortress—Zion's Mount—
We'll dwell for years to come!”
Within this seeming safe retreat,
This band of fugitives
Enjoyed their labor, truly sweet,
Their simple, happy lives.
Flocks roaming in the wilderness,
Their gardens rich and green;
Each “minding his own business,”
A cheerful, restful scene.
This band of fugitives
Enjoyed their labor, truly sweet,
Their simple, happy lives.
Flocks roaming in the wilderness,
Their gardens rich and green;
Each “minding his own business,”
A cheerful, restful scene.
They wist not that the foe ev'n then
Was planning to enslave!
That this retreat would prove to them
No castle—but a grave!
The slaver sought the Government
To aid his black design,
And readily the President
Consented to the crime!
Was planning to enslave!
That this retreat would prove to them
No castle—but a grave!
The slaver sought the Government
To aid his black design,
And readily the President
Consented to the crime!
39
From Patterson, then in command
Of fleet on Mobile Bay:
“Reduce Fort Blount, is the demand!
Go forth without delay!
Loomis, on this grave enterprise,
Entrusted unto thee,
Thy future surely will depend,
Prove thy ability!”
Of fleet on Mobile Bay:
“Reduce Fort Blount, is the demand!
Go forth without delay!
Loomis, on this grave enterprise,
Entrusted unto thee,
Thy future surely will depend,
Prove thy ability!”
On Apalachicola's tide,
War ships of great prowess
Advance, in martial pomp and pride,
To war on helplessness.
They reach the Fort, and make demand:
“No longer here remain!
We come, the inmates to remand
To slavery again!”
War ships of great prowess
Advance, in martial pomp and pride,
To war on helplessness.
They reach the Fort, and make demand:
“No longer here remain!
We come, the inmates to remand
To slavery again!”
The messengers convey the word
To those within the hold!
While hearts with consternation stirred
Outspoke a Patriarch bold:
“No! no! their order we defy!”
Each with united breath
And patriotic spirit cry:
“Our liberty or death!”
To those within the hold!
While hearts with consternation stirred
Outspoke a Patriarch bold:
“No! no! their order we defy!”
Each with united breath
And patriotic spirit cry:
“Our liberty or death!”
40
The Fleet began the cannonade,
Great shot fell thick and fast;
But all in vain—no heed is paid;
And they resolve at last:
“Throw hot shot at the magazine!
That will break up the nest!”
It was a most infernal scheme!
How shall I tell the rest?
Great shot fell thick and fast;
But all in vain—no heed is paid;
And they resolve at last:
“Throw hot shot at the magazine!
That will break up the nest!”
It was a most infernal scheme!
How shall I tell the rest?
The hot shot reached the magazine!
Within no thought of fear!
Those sturdy heroes little dream
Eternity is near!
Hark! hear that sound! it rolls, and rolls!
Destruction's heated breath!
Alas! three hundred valiant souls
Find liberty in death!
Within no thought of fear!
Those sturdy heroes little dream
Eternity is near!
Hark! hear that sound! it rolls, and rolls!
Destruction's heated breath!
Alas! three hundred valiant souls
Find liberty in death!
[_]
Note.—
The number killed by this explosion, officially reported by the officer in command, Executive document of the 13th Congress, was 270. It must have reached at least 300, as there were 315 souls within the fort, and only 15 of that number were captured and returned to slavery. At the 3rd session of the 25th Congress of the United States, twenty-two years after this event, a bill was reported by a Representative from one of the free States, giving 5,000 from the Public Treasury, as a token of gratitude for the success of this enterprise, passed both Houses, was approved by the President, and became a law on the Statute Books.
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