University of Virginia Library

Whereas by Providence divine
Which on our arms has deigned to shine
On Thursday last we fought a battle
With lousy, vile, rebellious cattle,
And, to our everlasting glory
(Unaided by a single Tory)
The rebel forces did defeat
And gain a victory complete,
Whereby His Majesty's command
Is reestablished in the land,
And Loyalty uprears its head
While cursed Rebellion goes to bed;
I, therefore, willing to uphold
The weak and to reward the bold,
Do issue this my Proclamation
Without regard to sect or nation.
Requiring every loyal Tory
To come to me and share the glory
And toil of bringing back to reason
The wretches guilty of high treason.
Whereby the government benign
Of Britain's Majesty divine
With luster primitive may shine.
Moreover, since I understand
That divers persons in the land,
By vile seducers led astray
Have left the true and perfect way
Which loyal subjects should pursue
And joined with the rebellious crew,
Grown sorry for their former fault,
Are anxious now to make a halt,
And, cured of their rebellious pride
Would wish to turn to our side,
To such, I hereby notify
(As God will judge me when I die)
That (murderers alone excepted
For whom no grace can be expected),
If they will to my quarters run
With their accoutrements and gun,
In thirty days, next from this date
They shall eschew a rebel's fate,
And be permitted to go back
With a parole, like pill of quack,
To cure the numerous disorders
That rage upon our army's borders;
Or, like a talisman to charm
Our soldiery from doing harm,
Tho' truth obliges us to own
They will not cure a broken bone,
Nor 'gainst the rebels yield assistance
Or keep their army at a distance;
If such effects they could produce
We'd keep them for our army's use.
But this is only by the bye;
On their effects you may rely.

Let no ill-natured imputation
Be cast on this Proclamation,
Because from hence with God's permission
I mean to march with expedition,
Tho' I confess we do not mean
To go in quest of Mr. Greene,
Who two miles distant, it is said
Weeps o'er his wounds and broken head.
Humanity, the soldier's glory
Which dignifies each loyal Tory,
Which fills each generous Briton's heart
In all my actions stands confessed.
Her voice forbade me to pursue
The frightened, naked, rebel crew
Who filed an half a mile or more
Before their panic they got o'er,
Humanity alike commands
Of bloody deeds to wash our hands,
And should we follow Mr. Greene
Much blood might then be split I ween:
Humanity commands to yield
The wounded whom we won in field,
Nay more she bids us leave behind
The maimed, the halt, the sick, the blind
Among our soldiers who might prove
A hindrance as we backward move.
Her high behests we then obey;
Now strike our tents and march away.
March the eighteenth, eighty-one
At Guilford Courthouse this is done.