The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys :: :: University of Virginia Library

From all her states Columbia's warriors come,
Some lightly arm'd—with deadly rifles some—
These from cerulean mountains hurried down,
In fringed vest succinct, tawney or brown:
Beneath their aim the hostile leaders fall,
For death rides swift th' unseen, unerring ball.
Militia bands, who fought to save their farms,
All multiformly march in garb and arms.

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The rest in azure robes, revers'd with red,
Equipp'd alike, to martial music tread.
Now rang'd, the host in grand divisions stands,
Brigades, battalions, squadrons, troops and bands:
On either wing the horse (new form'd) appear'd—
In front the Gen'rals ordering loud are heard,
(While chiefs of corps to pass the order press)—
“To right display the columns—march! halt! dress!”
From solid columns lengthening lines now wheel,
Front form'd to front, and steel oppos'd to steel.
The hosts stretch opposite in equal length,
The same their order and the same their strength.
Two lines had each and corps of strong reserve,
To stay the lines where'er the battle swerve;
To turn the hostile flank, the charge sustain,
To guard the baggage and the batt'ring train.
A cloud they move—a ridge of fire they stand—
And waving banners guide each silent band.
Here shine the silvery stars in mystic trains,
Fair as their sisters on th' ethereal plains;
Above our eagle's hoary head they shine,
And shed blest influence on each battling line.
There other ensigns point the British course.
With various emblems, but united force.
There frowns the lion's port, conspicuous far!
Here harps and thistles lead th' unnatural war:
O'er hireling troops the German eagles cow'r,
Intent to lure them to the feast of gore.
Britons with Germans form'd, apart, for fight,
The left wing rob'd in blue, in red the right;
On adverse lines their march tremendous bend,
Where young Columbia's sons their steel protend;
With seried files receive the rushing foe,
Deal wounds for wounds and parry blow with blow.
As ocean's billows beat a jutting rock,
Which unimpair'd receives, repels the shock:
So Britain's force on firm Columbia broke,
Which unimpair'd receiv'd, repell'd the stroke.

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Those, int'rests not their own, o'er ocean brought,
These IN and FOR their native country fought.

The companies of Riflemen from the western mountains were generally dressed in hunting-shirts and trowsers, of fawn colour or brown, adorned with fringe.

Foreigners may not, perhaps, know, without being here informed, that in the armorial bearings of the United States, under the emblematical stars, is the bald eagle—a bird peculiar to America.

The British regimental colours are ornamented with a lion, the Scotch with a thistle, and the Irish with a harp—the German auxiliary troops bore eagles in their banners.—Some of the standards of each of these nations were taken with the army of Lord Cornwallis, at York-Town.