Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Perry’s Victory

WHEN late Columbia’s patriot brave

Sail’d forth on Erie’s tranquil wave,

No hero yet had found a grave

Within her watery cemetry.

But soon that wave was stain’d with gore,

And soon did every concave shore

Re-echo with the dreadful roar

Of thundering artillery.

Behold! two hostile fleets appear,

The eager shouts of battle hear,

No heart is there appall’d by fear,

All pant for glorious victory.

His torch the God of battles lights,

For naval glory Britain fights,

For “Freedom and the sailor’s rights”

Columbia combats gallantly.

The Lawrence’s decks are strew’d with dead,

And many a gallant spirit fled,

And many a hero’s nobly bled,

To win a wreath of victory.

Alas! and can no prowess save

Our ship, a wreck upon the wave,

And snatch the corses of the brave

From an impious conqueror?

Ah, yes! that youth with eagle eye,

Though heaps of slain around him lie,

Through death and carnage will descry

The path that leads to victory.

A soul like his no danger fears;

His pendant from the mast he tears,

And in his gallant bosom bears,

To grace the bold Niagara.

See! see he quits the Lawrence’s side,

And trusts him to the foaming tide,

Where thundering navies round him ride,

And flash their red artillery.

His oar each sturdy seaman plies;

He gains the deck! his pendant flies,

Triumphant shouts ascend the skies,

And rend the vaulted canopy.

“The combat deepens! on, ye brave,

Who rush to glory or the grave,”

Columbia’s rights upon the wave

Protect from proud Britannia.

Huzza! the tide of battle turns!

Lo! every hero’s bosom burns!—

’Tis done:—again Britannia learns

To strike to great Columbia.

Barclay, thy deeds of glory done,

Thy laurels at Trafalgar won,

Shall now adorn our gallant son,

And signalize the victory.

His country shall with glory crown

His deeds of empire and renown,

And history shall hand them down

To endless posterity.