 | The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq |  |
169
The BATTLE OF THE KEGS.
Gallants attend and hear a friend,
Trill forth harmonious ditty,
Strange things I'll tell which late befel
In Philadelphia city.
Trill forth harmonious ditty,
Strange things I'll tell which late befel
In Philadelphia city.
'Twas early day, as poets say,
Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood on a log of wood,
And saw a thing surprising.
Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood on a log of wood,
And saw a thing surprising.
As in amaze he stood to gaze,
The truth can't be denied, sir,
He spied a score of kegs or more
Come floating down the tide, sir.
The truth can't be denied, sir,
He spied a score of kegs or more
Come floating down the tide, sir.
A sailor too in jerkin blue,
This strange appearance viewing,
First damn'd his eyes, in great surprise,
Then said some mischief's brewing.
This strange appearance viewing,
First damn'd his eyes, in great surprise,
Then said some mischief's brewing.
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These kegs, I'm told, the rebels bold,
Pack'd up like pickling herring;
And they're come down t' attack the town,
In this new way of ferrying.
Pack'd up like pickling herring;
And they're come down t' attack the town,
In this new way of ferrying.
The soldier flew, the sailor too,
And scar'd almost to death, sir,
Wore out their shoes, to spread the news,
And ran till out of breath, sir.
And scar'd almost to death, sir,
Wore out their shoes, to spread the news,
And ran till out of breath, sir.
Now up and down throughout the town,
Most frantic scenes were acted;
And some ran here, and others there,
Like men almost distracted.
Most frantic scenes were acted;
And some ran here, and others there,
Like men almost distracted.
Some fire cry'd, which some denied,
But said the earth had quaked;
And girls and boys, with hideous noise,
Ran thro' the streets half naked.
But said the earth had quaked;
And girls and boys, with hideous noise,
Ran thro' the streets half naked.
Sir William he, snug as a flea,
Lay all this time a snoring,
Nor dream'd of harm as he lay warm,
In bed with Mrs. L---g.
Lay all this time a snoring,
Nor dream'd of harm as he lay warm,
In bed with Mrs. L---g.
Now in a fright, he starts upright,
Awak'd by such a clatter;
He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries,
For God's sake, what's the matter?
Awak'd by such a clatter;
He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries,
For God's sake, what's the matter?
171
At his bed-side he then espy'd,
Sir Erskine at command, sir,
Upon one foot, he had one boot,
And th' other in his hand, sir.
Sir Erskine at command, sir,
Upon one foot, he had one boot,
And th' other in his hand, sir.
“Arise, arise, sir Erskine cries,
“The rebels—more's the pity,
“Without a boat are all afloat,
“And rang'd before the city.
“The rebels—more's the pity,
“Without a boat are all afloat,
“And rang'd before the city.
“The motly crew, in vessels new,
“With Satan for their guide, sir.
“Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs,
“Come driving down the tide, sir.
“With Satan for their guide, sir.
“Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs,
“Come driving down the tide, sir.
“Therefore prepare for bloody war,
“These kegs must all be routed,
“Or surely we despised shall be,
“And British courage doubted.
“These kegs must all be routed,
“Or surely we despised shall be,
“And British courage doubted.
The royal band, now ready stand
All rang'd in dread array, sir,
With stomach stout to see it out,
And make a bloody day, sir.
All rang'd in dread array, sir,
With stomach stout to see it out,
And make a bloody day, sir.
The cannons roar from shore to shore,
The small arms make a rattle;
Since wars began I'm sure no man
E'er saw so strange a battle.
The small arms make a rattle;
Since wars began I'm sure no man
E'er saw so strange a battle.
172
The rebel dales, the rebel vales,
With rebel trees surrounded;
The distant wood, the hills and floods,
With rebel echos sounded.
With rebel trees surrounded;
The distant wood, the hills and floods,
With rebel echos sounded.
The fish below swam to and fro,
Attack'd from ev'ry quarter;
Why sure, thought they, the devil's to pay,
'Mongst folks above the water.
Attack'd from ev'ry quarter;
Why sure, thought they, the devil's to pay,
'Mongst folks above the water.
The kegs, 'tis said, tho' strongly made,
Of rebel slaves and hoops, sir,
Could not oppose their powerful foes,
The conqu'ring British troops, sir.
Of rebel slaves and hoops, sir,
Could not oppose their powerful foes,
The conqu'ring British troops, sir.
From morn to night these men of might
Display'd amazing courage;
And when the sun was fairly down,
Retir'd to sup[illeg.]r porrage.
Display'd amazing courage;
And when the sun was fairly down,
Retir'd to sup[illeg.]r porrage.
An hundred men with each a pen,
Or more upon my word, sir.
It is most true would be too few,
Their valour to record, sir.
Or more upon my word, sir.
It is most true would be too few,
Their valour to record, sir.
Such feats did they perform that day,
Against these wick'd kegs, sir,
That years to come, if they get home,
They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.
Against these wick'd kegs, sir,
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They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.
N. B. This ballad was occasioned by a real incident. Certain machines, in the form of kegs, charg'd with gun powder, were sent down the river to annoy the British shipping then at Philadelphia. The danger of these machines being discovered, the British manned the wharfs and shipping, and discharged their small arms and cannons at every thing they saw floating in the river during the ebb tide.
| The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq | |