Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-12-24

royalty corrupt to the very heart arisocracy rot
ten TO the core; crime and want linked hand in
hand, and tempting men to deeds of woe and death
these are part OF the doom and retrbuton that
shall come upon the English throne and people.
Soldiers look around among your familiar ia
ces with strange interest Tomorrow morning
we will go forth to battle-for need tell you, that
your unworthy minister will go with you, invoking
Gods aid in the fight? We will march forth to
battle. Need exort you to fight the good fight
to fight for your homesteads, and for your wives
and children?
My friends, might urge you to fight by the gal
ling memories of British wrong! Waton-I
might tell you of your father butchored in the 81
ence of midnight on the plains of Trenton; !
might picture his gray hairs, dabbed IN blood 1
might ring his death-shriek in your ears.
Shelmro might tell you of a mother butcher
ed, and sister outraged the lonely farm house,
the night assault, the roof in flames, the shouts Of
the troopers as they despatched thor Victims the
cries for mercy, the pleadings of innocence for
pity. might paint this all again. in the terrible
colors of vivid reality, if thought your courage
needed such wild excitement
But | know you are strong in the might of the
Lord. You will go forth to battle tomorrow with
light hearts and determined spirits, though the SOL
emn duty, the duty of avenging the dead, may rest
| heavy on your souls.
And in the hour of battle, when all around is
darkness, lit by the lurid cannon glare, and the
piercing musket-lash, when the wounded strew
the ground, and the dead litter your path, then
member, soldiers, that God is with you-he rides
on the battle cloud, he sweeps onward with the
march of the hurricane charge-the Awful and the
Infinite fights for you, and you will triumph.
"They that take the sword, shall perish by the
sword"
| You have taken the sword, but not in the spirit
of wrong and revenge. You have taken the sword
for your homes for your wives, for your little
You have taken the sword for TRUTH for justice and
right; and to you the promise is, be of good cheer,
for your foes have taken the sword in defiance of
all that man holds dear-in blasphemy Of God -
they shall perish by The sword.
And now, brethren and soldiers, | bid you all
farewell. Many of US may fall in the fight of to-
morrow-God rest the souls of the faller-many
Of US may live to tell the story of the fight of to-
morrow, and in the memory of all will ever rest
, and nger the quiet scene of this autumnal night.
Somen twilight advances over the valley; the
! woods on the opposite heights fling their long
shadows over the green of the meadow around us
are the tents Of the Continental host, the half-sup-
! pressed hustle of the camp, the hurried tramp OF
the soldiers to and fro the confusion, and now
the stiffness and silence which mark the eve OF bat
, tie.
When we meet again, may the long shadows of
&; twilight be flung ever peaceful land
God in Heaven grant it. Let us pray.
r PRAYER OF THE REVOLUTION.
2 Great Father, we bow before thee. We invoke
thy blessing-vwe deprecate thy wrath--we return
thee thanks for the passive ask thy aid for the
= future For we are in times of trouble, Oh, Lord
I, and are beset by foes merciless and unpityi..g
, the sword CLEANS over our land, and the dust OF
-; the soil is dampened by the blood of our neigh
: bors and friends.
+ Oh God of mercy, we pray thy blessing on the
J, American arms. Make the man of our hearts
J, strong in thy wisdom Bless, we beseech thee
with renewed life and strength, our hopes and Thy
instrument, even George Washington. Shower
Thy counsels on the Honorable the Continental
Congress; visit the tents of hosts comfort
the soldier in his wounds and Affections, hin
d for the fight, prepare him for the hour of death.
And in the hour of defeat oh, God of hosts! dc
thou be our stay; and in the hour of triumph be
3 thou our guide.
: Teach us to be mereiful. Though the memory
e OF CALLING wrongs be at hearts, knocking fol
il admttance, that they may fill us with desires Of
revenge, yet let us, oh Lord, spare the vanquished
It though they spared u.s. in the hour of butch
j cry and bloodshed. And, in the hour of DEATH dc
thou guide US into the abode prepared for the blest
so shall we return thanks unto thee, through Christ
i our Redeemer. God prosper the cause-Amen.