Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-09
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
NJ THOMAS K0DMkN.


Up through cloudy sky, the sun
Was bufetting his way,
On such morn Us ushcrs in .... .......
A sultry August day.
Hot was the air and hotter yet
Mems thoughts within them grew;
They Brtons, Hessans, Tories saw
They saw their homesteads too.
They tn ought Of all their country's wrongs,
They thought Of noble lives
Poured out in battle with her foes;
They thought upon their wives,
Their children, and their aged siros, .... ....
Their fresides, churches, God
And these deep thoughts made hallowsd ground
Each foot of soil they trod. .-U..,, f. o.
Their Leader was q brave old man,
man Of earnest will - alr.
His very presence was a host, ..,.
He'd fought at Bunker's Hill.
A living monument he stood
or stirring deeds Of fame;
OF decds that shed faleless light u..
Round his own deathless name.
or Charlestown's flames, Of Warren's blood,
His prcqence told the tale. t..
1t made each hero's heart beat high,
Though lip and cheek grew pale.
1t spake Of Princeton, Morristown,
Told Trentoa's thrilling story
1t lit futurity with hope,
And Oh the past shed glory.
Who were those men their leader who
Where stood they on that morn!
The men were Northern Yeomanry,
Brave men as e'sr were born
Who in the reapers' merry row,
Or warrior rank could stand
Right worthy such noble troop, ,..
John Stark led on the band.
Walloomsac wanders by the spot ...
Where they that morning stood;
Then rolled the war-cloud o'er the stream,
The waves were tinged with blood:
And the near hills, that dark cloud grt,
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, staress, dark,
They came and gathered as they came,
Ar,upl tI,a valiant Ctark
There was Berkshire PaSon he
And all his flock were there.
And like true Churchmen militant
The arm Of flesh made bare.
Outspake the Domino, and said,
" For battle have we come
These many times and after this
We mean to stay at home, ....
"If now we come in vain" Said Stark
what will you 60 tonight,
To battle 1t with yonder troops,
God send US morning light,
And we will give you work enough
Let but the morning shine, ..
And II ye hear no voice of war,
Go back, and stay at home"
The morning came-there stood the foe;
Stark eyed them as they stood
Few words he spake, twas not time
For morslzing mood.
"see there, the enemy, my boys,
Now strong in valor's might,
Beat them,- or Moly Stark will sleep
In widowbood to-niphtn
Each soldier there had lef. at home
A sweetheart, wife, or mother,
A blooming sister, or perchance,
A falr-haired, blue-eyed brother,
Each from a areside came and u eughts
These simple words awoke,
That nerved up every warriors arm,
And guided every stroke.
Piresde and women--mighty words -
How wontrous Is the spell
They work upon the manly heart
Who knoweth not full well
And then, the women Of this land.
That never land hath known
A truer, prouder-hearted race
Each Yankee boy must own.
Brief eloquenoe was starks--nor vainI
Scarce uttered he the words,
When burst the muskets rafting peal
Out leap'd the flashing swords.
And whsn brave stark in after times,
Told the proud tale Of wonder,
lie said the battle din 1was one
Copt;nuaI ri =, of thundar