The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-22


Where stood they on that morn
The men We're Berkshire yeomanry,
Brave men as c'er were born ......
Who in the reapers' merry row,
Or warrior rank could stand ... a....
RICH, worthy such gallant troop,
JOHN STARK led ON the band. g..
Wollamsac wanders by the spot
Where they that morning stood;
Then rolled the war-cloud DER the stream,
The waves were tinged with blood; 49,.
And the near hills that dark cloud girt,
And fires like lightning flashed;
And shrieks and groans, like bowling blasts,
Rose as the bayonets clashed. ~
The night before the Yankee host
Came gathering from afar,
And in each belted bosom glowed
The spirit of the war;
All full of fight, through rainy storm,
Night cloudy, starless dark,
They came, and gathered as they came
Around the valiant Stark.
There was Berkshire parson-he
And all his flock was there,
And like true churchmen militant
The arm Of flesh made bare. A..
,Out spake the Dominic and said
" For battle hare are come,
These MANY times and after this,
We mean to stay al home"
"T IRE arc come in rain said Stark,
What! will you go tonight ......a
To battle it with yonder troops
God send us morning light, "..
And we will give you work enough;
Let but the morni come, ...,
And il you hear no voice of war, ..
Go back and stay al home. .
The morning came-lhere stood the foe, -
Stark eyed them as they stood;
Few words he spake, twas not time
for moTaiizlng mood.
See there the euemy, my boys!
Now, strong in valor's might,
Beat them, or Molly Stark must sleep
In widowhood tonight. . ...
Each soldier there had left at home ST..
A sweetheart, wife or mother,
A blooming sister, or perchance .."
A fair-haired blue eyed brother. ..
Each from Preside came, and thoughts
Those simple words awoke;
That nerved up every heros arm
And guided every stroke.
OH fearful wantonness of war!
Ii mocks at widows tears,
Frowns on the orphaned infants wall
And mocks at mortal fears. ~
Ii is the tvrants minister
The robbers Of the world
The war-cloud thckest curled.
But, where the invaders tramp is heard
When rushing on the gale,
The slogan of defiance comes,
Shall freemen's spirits quail
No--rank TO rank, and hand to hand,
Quick let them meet the Toe,
And TO the God of battles trust
Their counry's veal and wo.
Thus did the Berkshire men that day;
Scarce had he spoke the words,
When burst the musket's rafting peal,
Out leaped the flashing swords;
And Wien brave Stark in after time,
Told the proud tale of wonder,
He said the baule-din was "one
Continual clap Of thundcr."r
Two hours they strove;-then victory crowne'
The gallant Yankee boys:
Nought but the memory Of the dead
Bedimmed their glorious joys.
Ave! F" there's the rub"-the hour of strife,
Though follow years Of fame,
Is still in mournful memory linked
With some death hallowed name.
The cypress with the laurel twines,
The pGan sounds knell,
The trophied column marks the spot
Where friends and brothers fell
flames mantle, a funeral pail,
Seems to the grief dmmed eye
For ever, where the bravest FELL
The best beloved die.
Volcanoes waves are bloodleSs now,
The hills no war cloud girdS,
No death shrek now the echo wakes,
But screams Of startled birds
Break on the sportsmans ear,-the slShtS,
The sounds are all of peace:
Soon NAV her gentle reign Ger earth
Extend and never cease. RAYMOND.
Providence, Jan. 10, 1888
have taken the words of the Parson, and tn
,rds of Stark in the other parts OF the story, wit
arcely any variation, from Sparks Biography.
NoTE-The "parson" alluded to, was the Re,
uoMAs ALLEN, of Pittsfeld, Massachusetts, who
er ministry Of forty-six years, died, literally
'tim to political persecution. On the morning
: battle he mounted stump, in front OF Stark
nks, and calling upon the enemy, (among whor
saw some of his Tory Pensioners, whose friend
erwards divided his church,) to surrender. II
rs answered with voley of muskcry, to whic
reoned forthwith, with The musket in his hands
nring the battle, he saw at distance scout oil tn
envy, and Immediately rode to Gen Stark on hi
lie black palirey with the captain of his compa
!, and requested permission TO them OIL. Starr
Ter an obstinate refusal, at length consented, an
G parson" whirled off with his poney so rudel
10 besplatter the General with mud, and leil hi
,ptain far in the rear He lead his company TOT
ard, and succeeded in cutting off the detachmen
d being asked by one of his own sons, some year
forwards, whether he had ever killed man, b