Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

The Battle of Queenstown

William Banker, Jr.

WHEN brave Van Rensselaer cross’d the stream,

Just at the break of day,

Distressing thoughts, a restless dream,

Disturb’d me where I lay.

But all the terrors of the night

Did quickly flee away:

My opening eyes beheld the light,

And hail’d the new-born day.

Soon did the murdering cannon’s roar

Put blood in all my veins;

Columbia’s sons have trod the shore

Where the proud Briton reigns.

To expose their breast to cannon’s ball,

Their country’s rights to save,

O what a grief to see them fall!

True heroes bold and brave!

The musket’s flash, the cannon’s glow,

Thunder’d and lighten’d round,

Struck dread on all the tawny foe,

And swept them to the ground.

I thought what numbers must be slain,

What weeping widows left!

And aged parents full of pain,

Of every joy bereft.

The naked savage yelling round

Our heroes where they stood,

And every weapon to be found

Was bathed in human blood.

But bold Van Rensselear, full of wounds,

Was quickly carried back;

Brave Colonel Bloom did next command

The bloody fierce attack.

Where Brock, the proud insulter, rides

In pomp and splendour great:

Our valiant heroes he derides,

And dared the power of fate.

“Here is a mark for Yankee boys,

So shoot me if you can:”

A Yankee ball soon closed his eyes,

Death found him but a man.

They slaughter’d down the tawny foe,

And Britons that were near;

They dealt out death at every blow,

The battle was severe.

Five battles fought all in one day,

Through four victorious stood,

But ah! the fifth swept all away,

And spilt our heroes’ blood.

The tomahawk and scalping-knife

On them did try their skill;

Some wounded, struggling for their life,

Did black barbarians kill.

Brave Wadsworth boldly kept the field

Till their last bullets flew;

Then all were prisoners forced to yield,

What could the general do?

Militia men! O fie for shame!

Thus you your country flee.

’Tis you at last will bear the blame

For loss of victory.

When mild Van Rensselaer did command,

You would not him obey;

But stood spectators on the strand,

To see the bloody fray.

The number kill’d was seventy-four,

Prisoners, seven hundred sixty-nine;

Wounded, two hundred or more,

Who languish’d in great pain.

Some have already lost their lives,

And others like to go;

But few, I fear, will tell their wives

The doleful tale of wo.