William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Capture of Burgoyne
H
Of Burgoyne and his army great,
Who so proudly did display
The terrors of despotic sway.
His power and pride and many threats
Have been brought low by fortunate Gates,
To bend to the United States.
Foreigners—by Contra-vention,
Tories sent across the Lake,
Burgoyne and his suite, in state,
Sick and wounded, bruised and pounded,
Ne’er so much before confounded,
Prisoners of war before Convention,
Deserters come with kind intention,
They lost at Bennington’s great battle,
Where Starke’s glorious arms did rattle,
Kill’d in September and October,
Ta’en by brave Brown, some drunk, some sober,
Slain by high-famed Herkerman,
On both flanks, on rear and van,
Indians, settlers, butchers, drovers,
Enough to crowd large plains all over,
And those whom grim Death did prevent
From fighting against our continent;
And also those who stole away,
Lest they down their arms should lay,
Abhorring that obnoxious day;
The whole make fourteen thousand men,
Who may not with us fight again.
Of Burgoyne’s legions’ whole amount,
Who came across the Northern Lakes
To desolate our happy States.
Their brass cannons we have got all—
Fifty-six—both great and small;
And ten thousand stand of arms,
To prevent all future harms;
Stores and implements complete,
Of workmanship exceeding neat;
Covered wagons in great plenty,
And proper harness, no way scanty.
Among our prisoners there are
Six generals of fame most rare;
Six members of their Parliament—
Reluctantly they seem content;
Three British lords, and Lord Belcarras,
Who came, our country free to harass.
Two baronets of high extraction
Were sorely wounded in the action.