The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-30 00:00:00, page 1

To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Evening Post.
Sir,
, HE Ministry have boasted much of their regular,
their disciplined troops, which they fancied capable
| of beating all the irregulars in the world.
One would wonder how men of any attention to
what has passed, could deceive themselves into such an opi
nion, when so many facts, within the memory of men not
very old, evince the contrary.
The following Yanky song gives us a pretty little collection
of those fads. I wilh to fee it printed for the encouragement
of our militia. For though it is not fafe for men too much to
despise their enemies, it is of use that they should have a good
opinion (if it is a just opinion) of themselves, when compared
to those they are to fight with.
There are three other instances of regulars beaten by irre
gulars in our time; but these being of foreign troops, were
probably not thought fit for the song writer's present purpose.
It may not however be amiss to mention them here.
The firft was at Genoa, in the war before last. Twenty bat
talions of Imperialists were in possession of that place, and
exasperating the inhabitants by their insolence, particularly
by caning some who refufed to assist the soldiery in removing
the cannon ; a mob rose suddenly upon them, drove them
out of the gates, and defended the place against them with
such spirit, that they never were able to get in again.
The second was at Madrid about ten years since, when the
King of Spain offended the people by a too rigorous execution
of some trifling edicL^ciative to cloaks and hats. They de
manded the difmiffion of his Minister, Count de Squilache.
The King refufed, and assembled the guards with all the
regulars near the city, to defend the Count. The people rose,
attacked the troops, cut them to pieces, and drove the Minister
out ofthe kingdom.
The third happened this last summer, when a fine regular
army of Spaniards, we'l appointed, attempted to invade Af
rica. The militia of that country beat them out of it almost
as soon as they entered it, and with a prodigious daughter.
If we search for the cause of this superior bravery in the
people of a country, compared with what are called regular
troops, it may perhaps be found in these particulars ; that
the men who compose an European regular army, are gene
rally such as have neither property or families to fight for, and
who have no principle either of honor, religion, public spirit,
regard for liberty, or love of country, to animate them. They
are therefore only pressed on to fight by their officers, and had
rather be any where else than in a battle. Discipline only
gives the officers the power of actuating them ; and superior
discipline may make them superior to other troops of the fame
kind not so well disciplined. Thus discipline serves to supply
in some degree the defeat of principle. But men equally
armed, and animatea by principle, tho' without discipline, are
always superior to them when only equal in numbers; and
when principle and discipline are united on the fame fide, as
in our present militia, treble the number of 'mere unprinci
pled mercenaries, such as the regular armies commonly coufift
of, are in my opinion no match for such a militia.
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST-
Price only Two Coppers. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings.
Vol. lI.J
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1776.
161
Let us however not be prefumptwoufly careless in our military
operations, but mix caution with our courage, and take every
prudent measure to guard against the attempts of our enemies ;
it being as advantageous to defeat their designs as their forces.
The KIN Cs own R EGULAR S, and their TRIUMPH
over the IRREGULARS. A new SONG.
To the tune of ^n old Courtier of the Queen's, and the Queen's
old Courtier. Which is a kind of recitativo, like the chaunt
ing of the prose psalms in cathedrals.
Since you all will have singing, and won't be said nay,
I cannot refufe, when you so beg and pray;
So, I'll sing you a fong,—as a body may fay,
'Tis of the King's Regulars, who ne'er run away.
O the old Soldiers of the King, and the King's own Regulars.
At Preftonpans we met with some Rebels one day,
We marfhall'd our selves all in comely array ;
Our hearts were all stout, and bidour legs stay,
But our feet were wrong-headed, and took us away.
O the old Soldiers, &C.
At Falkirk we refolv'd to be braver,
And recover some credit by better behaviour:
We would not acknowledge feet had done us any favour,
So feet swore they would stand, but legs ran however.
O the old Soldiers, &c.
No troops perform better than we at reviews,
We march and we wheel, and whatever you chufe,
George would fee how we fight, and we never refufe,
There we all fight with courage—you may fee't in the news.
O the old Soldiers, &c.
To Mohongahela with fifes and with drums,
We march'd in fine order, with cannon and bombs,
That great expedition cost infinite sums;
But a few irregulars cut us all into crumbs.
O the old Soldiers, &c.
It was not fair to shoot at us from behind trees,
If they had flood open, as they ought, before our great guns,
we should have beat 'em with ease,
They may fight with one another that way if they please.
But it is not regular to stand, and fight with such rascals as
these.
O the old Soldiers, &c.
At Fort George and Ofwego, to our great reputation,
We fhew'd our vast skill in fortification;
The French fir'd three guns; of the fourth they had no oc
casion;
For we gave up those forts—not thro' fear, but—mere per
suasion.
O she old Soldiers, &c.
To Ticonderoga we went in a passion,
Swearing to be revenged on the whole French nation ;
But we soon turn'd tail, without hesitation,
Because they fought behind trees, —which is not the regufr
fashion. 0 the old Soldiers, &c.
[Num. 186.