The Columbiad: A Poem Part 12

In this prime prelude of the toil that waits The nascent glories of his infant states, Columbus mourn'd the slain. A numerous crowd, Half of each host, had bought their fame with blood; From the whole hill he saw the lifestream pour, And sloping pathways trod with tracks of gore.

Here, glorious Warren, thy cold earth was seen, Here spring thy laurels in immortal green; Dearest of chiefs that ever prest the plain, In freedom's cause with early honors slain; Still dear in death, as when before our sight You graced the senate, or you led the fight.

The grateful Muse shall tell the world your fame, And unborn realms resound the deathless name.

Now from all plains, as settling smokes decay, The banded freemen rise in open day; Tall thro the lessening shadows, half conceal'd, They throng and gather in a central field; In unskill'd ranks but ardent soul they stand, Claim quick the foe, and eager strife demand.

In front firm Washington superior shone, His eye directed to the half-seen sun; As thro the cloud the bursting splendors glow, And light the pa.s.sage to the distant foe.

His waving steel returns the living day, And points, thro unfought fields, the warrior's way; His valorous deeds to be confined no more, Monongahela, to thy desert sh.o.r.e.

Matured with years, with n.o.bler glory warm, Fate in his eye and empire on his arm, He feels his sword the strength of nations wield, And moves before them with a broader shield.

Greene rose beside him emulous in arms, His genius brightening as the danger warms, In counsel great, in every science skill'd, Pride of the camp and terror of the field.

With eager look, conspicuous o'er the crowd, And port majestic, brave Montgomery strode, Bared his tried blade, with honor's call elate, Claim'd the first field and hasten'd to his fate.

Lincoln, with force unfolding as he rose, Scoped the whole war and measured well the foes; Calm, cautious, firm, for frugal counsels known, Frugal of other's blood but liberal of his own.

Heath for impending toil his falchion draws, And fearless Wooster aids the sacred cause, Mercer advanced an early death to prove, Sinclair and Mifflin swift to combat move; Here stood stern Putnam, scored with ancient scars.

The living records of his country's wars; Wayne, like a moving tower, a.s.sumes his post.

Fires the whole field, and is himself a host; Undaunted Stirling, prompt to meet his foes, And Gates and Sullivan for action rose; Macdougal, Clinton, guardians of the state, Stretch the nerved arm to pierce the depth of fate; Marion with rapture seized the sword of fame, Young Laurens graced a father's patriot name; Moultrie and Sumter lead their banded powers, Morgan in front of his bold riflers towers, His host of keen-eyed marksmen, skill'd to pour Their slugs unerring from the twisted bore.

No sword, no bayonet they learn to wield, They gall the flank, they skirt the battling field, Cull out the distant foe in full horse speed, Couch the long tube and eye the silver bead, Turn as he turns, dismiss the whizzing lead, And lodge the death-ball in his heedless head.

So toil'd the huntsman Tell. His quivering dart, Prest by the bended bowstring, fears to part, Dreads the tremendous task, to graze but shun The tender temples of his infant son; As the loved youth (the tyrant's victim led) Bears the poised apple tottering on his head.

The sullen father, with reverted eye, Now marks the satrap, now the bright-hair'd boy; His second shaft impatient lies, athirst To mend the expected error of the first, To pierce the monster, mid the insulted crowd, And steep the pangs of nature in his blood.

Deep doubling tow'rd his breast, well poised and slow.

Curve the strain'd horns of his indignant bow; His left arm straightens as the dexter bends, And his nerved knuckle with the gripe distends; Soft slides the reed back with the stiff drawn strand, Till the steel point has reacht his steady hand; Then to his keen fixt eye the shank he brings, Tw.a.n.gs the loud cord, the feather'd arrow sings.

Picks off the pippin from the smiling boy, And Uri's rocks resound with shouts of joy.

Soon by an equal dart the tyrant bleeds, The cantons league, the work of fate proceeds; Till Austria's t.i.tled hordes, with their own gore, Fat the fair fields they lorded long before; On Gothard's height while freedom first unfurl'd Her infant banner o'er the modern world.

Bland, Moylan, Sheldon the long lines enforce With light-arm'd scouts, with solid squares of horse; And Knox from his full park to battle brings His brazen tubes, the last resort of kings.

The long black rows in sullen silence wait, Their grim jaws gaping, soon to utter fate; When at his word the carbon clouds shall rise, And well aim'd thunders rock the sh.o.r.es and skies.

Two foreign Youths had caught the splendent flame, To Fame's hard school the warm disciples came; To learn sage Liberty's unlesson'd lore, To brave the tempest on her war-beat sh.o.r.e, Prometheus like, to s.n.a.t.c.h a beam of day, And homeward bear the unscintillating ray, To pour new life on Europe's languid horde, Where millions crouch beneath one stupid lord.

Tho Austria's keiser and the Russian czar To dungeons doom them, and with fetters mar, Fayette o'er Gaul's vast realm some light shall spread, Brave Kosciusko rear Sarmatia's head; From Garonne's bank to Duna's wintry skies, The morn shall move, and slumbering nations rise.

And tho their despots quake with wild alarms, And lash and agonize the world to arms, Whelm for a while the untutor'd race in blood, And turn against themselves the raging flood; Yet shall the undying dawn, with silent pace, Reach over earth and every land embrace; Till Europe's well taught sons the boon shall share, And bless the labors of the imprison'd Pair.

So Leda's Twins from Colchis raped the Fleece, And brought the treasure to their native Greece.

She hail'd her heroes from their finished wars, a.s.signed their place amid the cl.u.s.ter'd stars, Bade round the eternal sky their trophies flame, And charged the zodiac with their deathless fame.

--Here move the Strangers, here in freedom's cause His untried blade each stripling hero draws, On the great chief their eyes in transport roll, And war and Washington renerve the soul.

Steuben advanced, in veteran armor drest, For Prussian lore distinguish'd o'er the rest, The tactic lore; to this he bends his care, And here transplants the discipline of war.

Other brave chieftains of ill.u.s.trious name Rise into sight and equal honors claim; But who can tell the dew-drops of the morn, Or count the rays that in the diamond burn?

--Grieve not, my valiant friends; the faithful song Shall soon redress the momentary wrong; Your own bright swords have cleaved your course to fame, And all her hundred tongues recognize every claim.

Now the broad field as untaught warriors shade, The sun's glad beam their shining arms display'd; High waved great Washington his glittering steel, Bade the long train in circling order wheel; And, while the banner'd youths around him prest, With voice revered he thus the ranks addrest: Ye generous bands, behold the task to save, Or yield whole nations to an instant grave.

See hosted myriads crowding to your sh.o.r.e, Hear from all ports their vollied thunders roar; From Boston heights their b.l.o.o.d.y standards play, O'er long Champlain they lead their northern way, Virginian banks behold their streamers glide, And hostile navies load each southern tide.

Beneath their steps your towns in ashes lie, Your inland empires feast their greedy eye; Soon shall your fields to lordly parks be turn'd, Your children butcher'd and your villas burn'd; While following millions, thro the reign of time.

Who claim their birth in this indulgent clime, Bend the weak knee, to servile toils consigned, And sloth and slavery still degrade mankind.

Rise then to war, to timely vengeance rise, Ere the gray sire, the helpless infant dies; Look thro the world, see endless years descend, What realms, what ages on your arms depend!

Reverse the fate, avenge the insulted sky, Move to the work; we conquer or we die.

So spoke Columbia's chief; his guiding hand Points out their march to every ardent band, a.s.signs to each brave leader, as they claim, His test of valor and his task of fame.

With his young host Montgomery first moves forth, To crush the vast invasion of the north; O'er streams and lakes their flags far onward play, Navies and forts surrendering mark their way; Rocks, fens and deserts thwart the paths they go, And hills before them lose their crags in snow.

Loud Laurence, clogg'd with ice, indignant feels Their sleet-clad oars, choked helms and crusted keels; They buffet long his tides; when rise in sight Quebec's dread walls, and Wolfe's unclouded height Already there a few brave patriots stood, Worn down with toil, by famine half subdued; Untrench'd before the town, they dare oppose Their fielded cohorts to the forted foes.

Ah gallant troop! deprived of half the praise That deeds like yours in other times repays, Since your prime chief (the favorite erst of fame) Hath sunk so deep his hateful, hideous name, That every honest Muse with horror flings The name unsounded from her sacred strings; Else what high tones of rapture must have told The first great action of a chief so bold!

Twas his, twas yours, to brave unusual storms, To tame rude nature in her drearest forms; Foodless and guideless, thro that waste of earth, You march'd long months; and, sore reduced by dearth, Reach'd the proud capital, too feeble far To tempt unaided such a task of war; Till now Montgomery's host, with hopes elate, Joins your scant powers, to try the test of fate.

With skilful glance he views the fortress round.

Bristled with pikes, with dark artillery crown'd; Resolves with naked steel to scale the towers, And s.n.a.t.c.h a realm from Britain's hostile powers.

Now drear December's boreal blasts arise, A roaring hailstorm sweeps the shuddering skies, Night with condensing horror mantles all, And trembling watch-lights glimmer from the wall.

From bombs o'erarching, fusing, bursting high, The glare scarce wanders thro the loaded sky; And in the louder shock of meteors drown'd, The accustom'd ear in vain expects the sound.

He points the a.s.sault; and, thro the howling air, O'er rocky ramparts leads audacious war.

Swift rise the rapid files; the walls are red With flashing flames, that show the piles of dead; Till back recoiling from the ranks of slain, They leave their leader with a feeble train, Begirt with foes within the sounding wall, Who thick beneath his single falchion fall.

But short the conflict; others hemm'd him round, And brave Montgomery prest the gory ground.

A second Wolfe Columbus here beheld, In youthful charms, a soul undaunted yield; Forlorn, o'erpower'd, his hardy host remains, Stretch'd by his side, or led in captive chains.

Macpherson, Cheesman share their general's doom; Meigs, Morgan, Dearborn, planning deeds to come, Resign impatient prisoners; soon to wield Their happier swords in many a broader field.

Triumphant to Newyork's ill forted post Britannia turns her vast amphibious host, That seas and storms, obedient to her hand, Heave and discharge on every distant land; Fleets, floating batteries shake Manhattan's sh.o.r.e, And h.e.l.lgate rocks reverberate the roar.

Swift o'er the shuddering isles that line the bay The red flags wave, and battering engines play; Howe leads aland the interminable train, While his bold brother still bestorms the main, Great Albion's double pride; both famed afar On each vext element, each world of war; Where British rapine follows peaceful toil, And murders nations but to seize their spoil.

Wide sweep the veteran myriads o'er the strand, Outnumbering thrice the raw colonial band; Flatbush and Harlem sink beneath their fires, Brave Stirling yields, and Sullivan retires.

In vain sage Washington, from hill to hill, Plays round his foes with more than Fabian skill, Retreats, advances, lures them to his snare, To balance numbers by the shifts of war.

For not their swords alone, but fell disease Thins his chill camp and chokes the neighboring seas.

The baleful malady, from Syrius sent, floats in each breeze, impesting every tent, Strikes the young soldier with the morning ray, And lays him lifeless ere the close of day, Far from his father's house, his mother's care, And all the charities that nursed him there.

Damp'd is the native rage that first impell'd The insulted colons to the battling field; When first their high-soul'd sentiment of right And full-vein'd vigor nerved their arm to fight.

For stript of health, benumb'd thy vital flood, Thy muscles lax'd and decomposed thy blood, What is thy courage, man? a foodless flame, A light unseen, a soul without a frame.

Each day the decimated ranks forgo Their dying comrades to repulse the foe, And each damp night, along the slippery trench, Breathe at their post the suffocating stench; They sink by hundreds on the vapory soil, Till a new fight relieves their deadlier toil.

At last from fruitless combat, sore defeat, To Croton hills they lead a long retreat; Pale, curbed, exanimate, in dull despair, Train the scant relics of the twofold war: The sword, the pestilence press hard behind; The body both a.s.sail, and one beats down the mind.

Book VI.

Argument.

British cruelty to American prisoners. Prison Ship. Retreat of Washington with the relics of his army, pursued by Howe. Washington recrossing the Delaware in the night, to surprise the British van, is opposed by uncommon obstacles. His success in this audacious enterprise lays the foundation of the American empire. A monument to be ere on the bank of the Delaware. Approach of Burgoyne, sailing up the St.

Laurence with an army of Britons and various other nations. Indignant energy of the colonies, compared to that of Greece in opposing the invasion of Xerxes. Formation of an army of citizens, under the command of Gates. Review of the American and British armies, and of the savage tribes who join the British standard. Battle of Saratoga. Story of Lucinda. Second battle, and capture of Burgoyne and his army.

But of all tales that war's black annals hold, The darkest, foulest still remains untold; New modes of torture wait the shameful strife, And Britain wantons in the waste of life.

Cold-blooded Cruelty, first fiend of h.e.l.l, Ah think no more with savage hordes to dwell; Quit the Caribian tribes who eat their slain, Fly that grim gang, the Inquisitors of Spain, Boast not thy deeds in Moloch's shrines of old, Leave Barbary's pirates to their blood-bought gold, Let Holland steal her victims, force them o'er To toils and death on Java's morbid sh.o.r.e; Some cloak, some color all these crimes may plead; Tis avarice, pa.s.sion, blind religion's deed; But Britons here, in this fraternal broil, Grave, cool, deliberate in thy service toil.

Far from the nation's eye, whose n.o.bler soul Their wars would humanize, their pride control, They lose the lessons that her laws impart, And change the British for the brutal heart.

Fired by no pa.s.sion, madden'd by no zeal, No priest, no Plutus bids them not to feel; Unpaid, gratuitous, on torture bent, Their sport is death, their pastime to torment; All other G.o.ds they scorn, but bow the knee, And curb, well pleased, O Cruelty, to thee.

Come then, curst G.o.ddess, where thy votaries reign, Inhale their incense from the land and main; Come to Newyork, their conquering arms to greet, Brood o'er their camp and breathe along their fleet; The brother chiefs of Howe's ill.u.s.trious name Demand thy labors to complete their fame.

What shrieks of agony thy praises sound!