Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-10-16

Oh Freedom trembled on her throne
Upon that battle day;
When she Eeheld that line OF red,
That long and dense array,
She faiu would bid her champions dee,
Withhold the avenging blow,
And leave that field for Justice fought,
Just four-score years ago.
The sun now past the zenith point
Sinks slowly toward the West,
The air is warm, no breeze disturbs
The brown leaves death-lke rest,
Lord Howe rode forth, and drew his sword
The signal for that blow
Which many hero fell beneath
just four-score years ago.
Then hundred bugles blew their blast,
Loud rolled hundred drums,
And muskets nash'd, and cannons roar'd,
As thunder crashing comes.
Earths bosom shook, and mid thick clouds
OF smoke like whitest snow,
The death-wing'd metal onward sped,
Just four-score years ago.
Death strick'n soldiers leap'd the air
Then fell a shapeless mass;
And SHATTERED limbs lay scatter'd round
Upon the blood stained grass,
And dying groans rose on the air
And piercing cries Of woe,
A many Freemsn's spirit fed,
Just four-score years ago.
A moment passed, a dreadful pause,
Then shook the bills again,
And sheeted flame, and deaTnlng roars
Again burst DER the plain,
The cannon ball and musket lead
Plough'a deeply thro the foe,
And quickly fell the ghasty desd
OF four-score years ago.
Now thunders loud the battle din
Mid groans, and shrieks, aud cries.
Mid musket peal and rife crack,
And roars that shake the skies,
One dense thick cloud Of rolling smoke
Fill'd all the plain below,
And veil'd awhile that slaughter ssene
OF four-score years ago.
For England CHARGE the Briton cried,
charge for George, our King
Then Charge for Washington and Right
The answering echoes bring.
tHurrah for the Cross Of England, hurrah,'
Was shouted by the foe,
.Hurrah for the Banner Of Stars came back
Just four-score years ago.
Now meath the cloud Of lurid smoke
Columbia's Freemen come;
Rank after rank the British host
Advance with sounding drum,
Then came the shock Of battle strife
OF foeman meeting foe,
Like meeting clouds by thunder riv'n
lpsht PW1fGT6 u tliea Ssad
Now whistling lead flies thick and fast
On deadly errands sped.
And gllsteninS swords drank deep OF gore
Down crash'd the stunning blow
OF rifle clubb'd and musket stock,
Just fcur-score years ago.
Still onward pour'd the British host
Upon that hero band
AMI cut and hew'd and trampied down
Upon that CORY land,
That little band with hearts too big,
10 kiss tyrant's toe,
Fell bravely fighting tor the Right,
Just four-score years ago.
Oh! war grim yisag'd, CHASTITY war
Thou curse of human race,
Thou tool ofproud, ambitisus fools.
Who follies thus erase,
Thou brok st the peace OF happy homes,
brother turned a foe,
And mad'st dear friends spill dear frisnds
blood,
Just four-score years ago.
Now sinks the Starry Banner down
Amidst the smoke and noise,
Now quick again it floats on high
And speaks with cheering voice,
Then charged again the gallant few
Then struck another blow,
ANA madly plunged to glorious death
just four-score years ago.
linen swirl along the wayering lines
The gallant Sullivan
With waving sword and burning words
Cheer'd on each faltering man
But step by step they backward fell
Before tho empowering foe,
And stood upon that churchyard hill
Just four-score years ago.
Then up that hill the chargers came,
With swift and Gathering hoof,
Like winters hail, fast rattlinz down.
Upon some sounding roof.
Aud faster still the champing steeds
With modths Of frothy snow,
Spring up that quiet grave yard hill
Just four-score years ago.
Within that graveyard all was still
No bustling sound was heard,
No form appcar'd above the wall,
No voice the silerce stirrd,
Where Porter fields five hundred met
On Bonded knees bowed low,
Like tigers crouching for their prey
Just four score years ago.
The foaming chargers gain the wall,
When like some wizard scene,
Five hundred heads loom'd into view
Five hundred forms in green.
Then volley on volley the bullets sped
Amidst the astonished foe,
For every ball was wing'd with death
Just four.sccre years ago.
Full thirty horses droppd to earth
Their riders crush'd beneath,
And many steed all riderless
Dash d madly DER the heath,
But rallyiDg quick again they charged
And leap'd the wall so low
And whirld their glittering sabers high
Just four score years ago.
Now swiftly fall the muiderous blows
Now brightly dash the swords,
And groans and cheers commingiing make
Confusion strange Of words
And thickly lay upon the ground
The freemen aud their foe,
Their life blood mineling stains that sod
Or four-score years ago.
Now round the church the lines convsr,o
The battle at its lie light,
WEat miracles of courage there,
What scenes OF giant might,
Despairing hearts their unconquered strength
In one grand rally throw
10 win the battle Of Brandywime
just foar-score years ago.
Then like an Icy avalanche
Adown some Alpine noun,
Came thund'rng on the SLOW wLite hand
VI Poland's noble Count,
Deep In the ranks they madly pluno,d. ,,
Before them fell the foe,
Like chafi before the whirlwind's blast. |
Just four-score years ago.
The foe CLOSE up and hemm'd them round
Secure now OF their prey;
But quickly wheeling ;round aqaIp.
Pulaski ploughs his way,
His glitte1ing sabre wbirlinq fast
Dealt death at every blow,
10 triumph back he led his band
Just four-scors years ago