To wield his thunders on Champlain, Macdonough leads his gallant train, And, his great object to sustain, Vermont unites
Her hardy youths and veterans bold From shelter'd vale and mountain cold, Who fought, to guard, in days of old Their country's rights.
That country's wrongs are all your own And to the world the word is gone-- Her independence must to none Be sign'd away.
Be to the nation's standard true, To Britain, and to Europe shew That you can fight and conquer too, And prostrate lay.
That bitter foe, whose thousands rise No more to fight us in disguise, But count our freedom for their prize, If valor fails:
Beneath your feet let fear be cast, Remember deeds of valor past, And nail your colors to the mast And spread your sails.
In all the pride and pomp of war Let thunders from the cannon roar, And lightnings flash from shore to shore, To wing the ball.
Let Huron from his slumbers wake, Bid Erie to his centre shake, Till, foundering in Ontario's lake, You swamp them all!
[206] This poem refers to the campaign during the late summer of 1814 against the English fleet on Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain.
Between the british squadron, of 93 guns and 1050 men, and the American fleet of 86 guns and 820 men. The Confiance, of 39 and the Saratoga, of 26 guns, were the flag ships of the two commanders, Downie and Macdonough.
Parading near saint Peter's flood Full fourteen thousand soldiers stood; Allied with natives of the wood, With frigates, sloops, and galleys near; Which southward, now, began to steer; Their object was, Ticonderogue.
Assembled at Missisqui bay A feast they held, to hail the day, When all should bend to british sway From Plattsburg to Ticonderogue.
And who could tell, if reaching there They might not other laurels share And England's flag in triumph bear To the capitol, at Albany!!!
Sir George advanced, with fire and sword, The frigates were with vengeance stored, The strength of Mars was felt on board,-- When Downie gave the dreadful word, Huzza! for death or victory!
Sir George beheld the prize at stake, And, with his veterans, made the attack, Macomb's brave legions drove him back; And England's fleet approach'd to meet A desperate combat, on the lake.
With sulphurous clouds the heavens were black; We saw advance the Confiance, Shall blood and carnage mark her track, To gain dominion on the lake.