 | The death of General Montgomery, in storming the city of Quebec |  |
An ODE, in Honeur of the Pennsylvania Militia, and the small Band of Regular Continental Troops, who, under General WASHINGTON, sustained the Campaign in the Depth of Winter, January, 1777, and repulsed the British Forces from the Banks of the Delaware.
Now the foe had pierced far;
Ireful in vindictive mood:
Where the mighty Delaware,
Pours his full resounding flood.
Ireful in vindictive mood:
Where the mighty Delaware,
Pours his full resounding flood.
All behind, a bleeding soil;
Every pleasant seat laid waste:
Where the soldier rov'd for spoil,
Or deflower'd the virgin chaste.
Every pleasant seat laid waste:
Where the soldier rov'd for spoil,
Or deflower'd the virgin chaste.
But, before, in prospect lies
Pennsylvania's happy State;
Where the blooming arts arise;
And the smiling Muses wait.
Pennsylvania's happy State;
Where the blooming arts arise;
And the smiling Muses wait.
Satan, when from hell he came,
Saw the new-created earth,
And with hate's eternal flame,
View'd its origin and birth.
Saw the new-created earth,
And with hate's eternal flame,
View'd its origin and birth.
51
Thus the British chiefs, that pain
Feel which stings with keenest smart,
When black malice swells the vein,
Or pale envy checks the heart.
Feel which stings with keenest smart,
When black malice swells the vein,
Or pale envy checks the heart.
Hah! say they, “you rebel race,
Must recede from hill and plain;
And the soil shall yet embrace,
Many a youthful warrior slain.
Must recede from hill and plain;
And the soil shall yet embrace,
Many a youthful warrior slain.
Many an aged, hoary head,
Bate to clouded winter's sky,
Under night shall make his bed,
And beneath the cold winds lie.
Bate to clouded winter's sky,
Under night shall make his bed,
And beneath the cold winds lie.
Maids shall mingle bursting tears,
With the matron's heavy moan,
Whilst her infant's life she fears,
On the stormy mountain thrown.”
With the matron's heavy moan,
Whilst her infant's life she fears,
On the stormy mountain thrown.”
Savage and contemptuous foe,
God shall disappoint your hope;
Neither tears nor blood shall flow,
On the grizly mountain top.
God shall disappoint your hope;
Neither tears nor blood shall flow,
On the grizly mountain top.
For our sons, in noble rage,
O'er their native Delaware,
Hasten swiftly to engage,
And turn back the infernal war.
O'er their native Delaware,
Hasten swiftly to engage,
And turn back the infernal war.
See, in noble strength of soul,
Philadelphia pours each band,
As the waves of ocean roll
In succession, to the land.
Philadelphia pours each band,
As the waves of ocean roll
In succession, to the land.
Sasquehanna's patriot-tide,
Sends her gallant marks-men forth;
Pouring from her rocky side,
Thousands of distinguish'd worth.
Sends her gallant marks-men forth;
Pouring from her rocky side,
Thousands of distinguish'd worth.
Fair Ohio, gladly stem'd
By the trading Indian swain;
Monongahela, ever fam'd
For the unhappy Braddock slain.
By the trading Indian swain;
52
For the unhappy Braddock slain.
In compassion to the stream,
Of their sister Delaware,
Send the bounding youths that gleam,
Each in armour, like a star.
Of their sister Delaware,
Send the bounding youths that gleam,
Each in armour, like a star.
Gallant youths when you return,
From the field of holiest pray,
Annually, a garland worn,
Shall give honour to the day.
From the field of holiest pray,
Annually, a garland worn,
Shall give honour to the day.
Wood land maids shall deck the scene
And your brows encircle still,
With a sprig of ever-green,
From your native laurel-hill.
And your brows encircle still,
With a sprig of ever-green,
From your native laurel-hill.
Say, shall storms, that rudely play
On the Allegany head,
Give these warrior bands delay,
To the great atchievment led?
On the Allegany head,
Give these warrior bands delay,
To the great atchievment led?
No, the Heaven-enkindled flame
Fires that in the bosom beat;
Thoughts of virtue, and of fame,
Lend the soul immortal heat,
Fires that in the bosom beat;
Thoughts of virtue, and of fame,
Lend the soul immortal heat,
All along the journey vast,
Bleak-wind hills oppose in vain;
For the bleak-wind hills are pass'd,
And the warriors rush amain.
Bleak-wind hills oppose in vain;
For the bleak-wind hills are pass'd,
And the warriors rush amain.
See from Tuscarora's height,
Bending to the eastward on,
Thousand bayonets gild the night,
Or reflect the rising sun.
Bending to the eastward on,
Thousand bayonets gild the night,
Or reflect the rising sun.
Now they meet the bounding flood;
Hear the British cannon roar:
View the Hessian marshal'd brood.
Trenton crowns the distant shore.
Hear the British cannon roar:
View the Hessian marshal'd brood.
Trenton crowns the distant shore.
53
You have seen a mountain brow,
And the streams that tumble thence,
Mingling thro' the plain below,
In a happy confluence.
And the streams that tumble thence,
Mingling thro' the plain below,
In a happy confluence.
So the different reg'ments join,
Of militia from the State;
With the veteran bands combine,
And for shout of battle wait.
Of militia from the State;
With the veteran bands combine,
And for shout of battle wait.
Hero's pierce the wint'ry wave;
Flush with valour every vein:
Give to Hessian chiefs a grave,
On fair Trenton's bow'ry plain.
Flush with valour every vein:
Give to Hessian chiefs a grave,
On fair Trenton's bow'ry plain.
Fifteen hundred of this race,
Slain in fight, or captive made,
Doth the warrior band embrace,
With encircling ambuscade.
Slain in fight, or captive made,
Doth the warrior band embrace,
With encircling ambuscade.
But the mighty Colonel Rohl,
Feels a rein-pervading wound;
And his sullen angry soul,
In departing bites the ground.
Feels a rein-pervading wound;
And his sullen angry soul,
In departing bites the ground.
When the news, in New-York town,
Sounded in the ears of Howe,
Wrath gave wrinkles to his frown,
And he made the infernal vow.
Sounded in the ears of Howe,
Wrath gave wrinkles to his frown,
And he made the infernal vow.
“Death shall mangle every joint—
Spoil the virgin—Stab the male—
Dart the bayonet's gleaming point—
Ruin, havock shall prevail.”
Spoil the virgin—Stab the male—
Dart the bayonet's gleaming point—
Ruin, havock shall prevail.”
See, from Brunswick, widely spread
Crimson standards flush the air.
Squadrons by Corn wallis led,
Swift to Delaware banks repair.
Crimson standards flush the air.
Squadrons by Corn wallis led,
Swift to Delaware banks repair.
“Full revenge is mine to day,
Then the bloody warrior said;
And our loss shall these repay:
Rouse the sleeping cannonade.
Then the bloody warrior said;
And our loss shall these repay:
Rouse the sleeping cannonade.
54
Grenadier-brigades of Hesse,
Scale the bridged flood between.
In the war's impetuous chase,
Let your troops be foremost seen.
Scale the bridged flood between.
In the war's impetuous chase,
Let your troops be foremost seen.
Wipe the foul disgrace away,
Of your brethren captive made—
Shew your German rage to day,
And o'er heaps of warriors tread.”
Of your brethren captive made—
Shew your German rage to day,
And o'er heaps of warriors tread.”
Not so swift, presuming chief;
'Ere thou leav'st that wood-crown'd plain,
Many a mother shall have grief,
Of her son in battle slain.
'Ere thou leav'st that wood-crown'd plain,
Many a mother shall have grief,
Of her son in battle slain.
“Come, brave souls, sustain the shock,
Musslin, gallant Misslin said;
Firm as is the sea-beat rock,
In the surging ocean's bed.
Musslin, gallant Misslin said;
Firm as is the sea-beat rock,
In the surging ocean's bed.
Rifle-men, attack that flank,—
Pour your bushy ambuscade—
See from many a shatter'd rank,
Britons on the field lie dead.”
Pour your bushy ambuscade—
See from many a shatter'd rank,
Britons on the field lie dead.”
For an equal war was wag'd,
To the smoak-stain'd setting sun;
And the strength of battle rag'd,
When the clouds of night came on.
To the smoak-stain'd setting sun;
And the strength of battle rag'd,
When the clouds of night came on.
Now avails the warriors skill;
Stratagems attend the night;
When pale darkness crowns the hill,
And but stars diffuse their light.
Stratagems attend the night;
When pale darkness crowns the hill,
And but stars diffuse their light.
What confusion wildly roll'd
In each eye? what looks were seen;
When the early morning told,
Of our troops on Princeton green?
In each eye? what looks were seen;
When the early morning told,
Of our troops on Princeton green?
Now they tremble for their stores,
And their veteran reg'ments there.
Disappointment, on them, pours
Her full urn of deep despair.
And their veteran reg'ments there.
Disappointment, on them, pours
55
Soon approacheth what they fear'd;
Now the contest is begun;
And the sound of battle heard,
Resalutes the rising sun.
Now the contest is begun;
And the sound of battle heard,
Resalutes the rising sun.
See the soil is drench'd in blood.
Many a hero gasping lies.
Shouts of men, artillery loud,
Rend the widely bending skies.
Many a hero gasping lies.
Shouts of men, artillery loud,
Rend the widely bending skies.
Drench'd in blood, is Princeton's plain,
Where the muse that breathes the lay,
Free from care and anxious pain,
Sported many a summer's day.
Where the muse that breathes the lay,
Free from care and anxious pain,
Sported many a summer's day.
Ah! how little thought she then,
That her lyre should yet be strung,
From the tale of love's soft pain,
To the deeds of warriors sung.
That her lyre should yet be strung,
From the tale of love's soft pain,
To the deeds of warriors sung.
Deeds of war, of which the green,
On whose shaven brow she stray'd,
Is itself the hapless scene,
And the gasping soldiers bed.
On whose shaven brow she stray'd,
Is itself the hapless scene,
And the gasping soldiers bed.
Bravely yet the day is fought.
Victory hangs in even scale.
Ah! sweet Heaven! Ah! why that shot,
By which noble Mercer fell?
Victory hangs in even scale.
Ah! sweet Heaven! Ah! why that shot,
By which noble Mercer fell?
Ah! ye Britons inhumane;
Why re-wound the bleeding chief?
Cruel actions fix a stain,
On what valour doth atchieve.
Why re-wound the bleeding chief?
Cruel actions fix a stain,
On what valour doth atchieve.
See the immortal Haselet borne
From the verge of burning war:
He hath left a spouse to mourn,
By the banks of Delaware.
From the verge of burning war:
He hath left a spouse to mourn,
By the banks of Delaware.
For a ball hath pierc'd his head;
And with him, brave Flemming dy'd,
Who a band of heroes led,
O'er Potomaque's distant tide.
And with him, brave Flemming dy'd,
56
O'er Potomaque's distant tide.
And, O savage, cruel hate,
Which fell Britons exercise!
Butchered by the bayonet,
Yeates, the brave Virginian, lies.
Which fell Britons exercise!
Butchered by the bayonet,
Yeates, the brave Virginian, lies.
But aloft, I see the scale
Of Britannia kick the beam;
And the shouts of joy prevail,
Where the patriot bayonets gleam.
Of Britannia kick the beam;
And the shouts of joy prevail,
Where the patriot bayonets gleam.
In the gallant strife of death,
See in stable Column move;
Fair New-England's sons that breath
Noble fire and patriot love.
See in stable Column move;
Fair New-England's sons that breath
Noble fire and patriot love.
To the right, these ranks unfold,
And firm proof of valour shew,
While the Philadelphians bold,
Pierce the center of the foe.
And firm proof of valour shew,
While the Philadelphians bold,
Pierce the center of the foe.
Sons of valour, sons of ease,
Who on pleasure's lap were laid;
Skill'd in arts that gently please;
Soft and elegantly bred.
Who on pleasure's lap were laid;
Skill'd in arts that gently please;
Soft and elegantly bred.
Yet no depth of winter's snows,
Could the march of these repress,
Braving every storm that blows,
With a veteran hardiness.
Could the march of these repress,
Braving every storm that blows,
With a veteran hardiness.
Such the power of virtuous thought,
Kindling fame through every age;
See them pour their steady shot,
With a more than lyon rage.
Kindling fame through every age;
See them pour their steady shot,
With a more than lyon rage.
See the British troops give way;
To superior worth they yield;
While the spirit of dismay,
Drives in carnage o'er the field.
To superior worth they yield;
While the spirit of dismay,
Drives in carnage o'er the field.
Now we tread the hostile soil,
Whence their cannot briskly play'd;
As we pass, survey the spoil
Which our surer thunder made.
57
As we pass, survey the spoil
Which our surer thunder made.
Here the bold Hibernian dies;
Many an English youth is seen;
And the Caledonian lies,
On the blood-empurpled green.
Many an English youth is seen;
And the Caledonian lies,
On the blood-empurpled green.
Leslie, gallant Leslie lies,
On the sad and mortal plain,
And our thoughts in sorrow rise,
For so brave a warrior flash.
On the sad and mortal plain,
And our thoughts in sorrow rise,
For so brave a warrior flash.
Though an enemy, yet woe
For his virtues bids each eye,
In soft screams of sorrow flow;
Pity is philanthropy.
For his virtues bids each eye,
In soft screams of sorrow flow;
Pity is philanthropy.
Likewise here Macpherson lies;
Of his wound forgets the pain;
All his gushing griefs arise,
For the much-lov'd Leslie slain.
Of his wound forgets the pain;
All his gushing griefs arise,
For the much-lov'd Leslie slain.
Campbell wounded bleeds with him,
Yet not tastes mortality.
Though the shades of midnight dim,
Seem to hover o'er his eye.
Yet not tastes mortality.
Though the shades of midnight dim,
Seem to hover o'er his eye.
For the swift pursuit is o'er
And soft mercy heals the wound
Of the fainting, that implore
Mercy, on the ensanguin'd ground.
And soft mercy heals the wound
Of the fainting, that implore
Mercy, on the ensanguin'd ground.
See the victor warriors drawn,
In array of arms that blaze;
While the south-west bending laws,
All along reflects the rays.
In array of arms that blaze;
While the south-west bending laws,
All along reflects the rays.
Who is he that guides their might,
Gives to each brigade its place;
And, amidst battalions bright,
Steps with majesty and grace?
Gives to each brigade its place;
And, amidst battalions bright,
Steps with majesty and grace?
58
Mild his eye—his look serene—
Placid as the ev'ning sun;
Stately in his shape and mien—
'Tis the noble Washington.
Placid as the ev'ning sun;
Stately in his shape and mien—
'Tis the noble Washington.
Hail renown'd immortal chief!
“Conquest on thy banners wait.”
Bid the brooding shades of grief,
Fly from every happy state.
“Conquest on thy banners wait.”
Bid the brooding shades of grief,
Fly from every happy state.
Fabius like, thy skill shall dwell
Glorious, in immortal fame;
And thy praise run parallel
Ever, with great Scipio's name.
Glorious, in immortal fame;
And thy praise run parallel
Ever, with great Scipio's name.
Whom resembling, may thy age
See the pride of battle cease,
When the wars that fiercely rage.
Leave thy country bless'd with peace.
See the pride of battle cease,
When the wars that fiercely rage.
Leave thy country bless'd with peace.
| The death of General Montgomery, in storming the city of Quebec | |