The Irish standard., 1897-07-31
NEWS FROM IRELAND
Battle Of Vinegar Hill.

Proud marched the British army in
scarlet and in gold,
Their truml'es loudly sounding. the.r
banners all unrolled.
To meet the Wexford pikcmen these
gallant men and true.
Who fought TO raise our darling green
iboy" The English blue,
To Vinegar Han their NAY they took.
these English soldiers all.
Their l,sh, foot and their cavalry
their eFenadiers so tall.
Resolved 10 make these pikemcn bold.
their rashn"ss sorely rue.
Who dared to raise their darling green
against the English blue
AMI in The rear OF this great hos, f.
vas a sight To see
The long array of steeds that bore their
dead artillery;
Their captains and theg colonies With
drawn awords led he way,
And many a solemn oath they swore
OF vengeance on that day
For they thought of Tubbernecrins, C:
Ross. and Wexford town,
And in silence vowed they'd perish or
pluck the green flag down:
Then a young ensign boldly spoke this
srornful jest.
I'll laugh to sec the rebels run-thcir
chief before the rest,
We've but to wave our banners and
charge them CALAMITY
To see the peasant .foeman before our
onset flee;
'Twere shame, indeed, if untauglt
churls in coming days should boast
They dared in open battle to face a
royal host"
Then to him, said a captain. a gray
haired veteran he,
I've met these men in fight before--no
Drawer men there be,
were two to one,
And fought them all the summer day
till night was coming on.
mo quarter did they crave from us,
but fell even where they stood.
Brave men were they, and in their
veins run the fierce Norman's blood;
And thou mayest see, young ensign,
Ger closing of the day.
How we'll these gLllent Wexfordmen
can bear them in the fray"
! And soon the English army, full twenty
thousand strong,
Were marshaled round the hill re-
nowned in story and in song,
Whercon ten thousand pikemen, the
flower of Wexford land,
Had for homes and affairs gathered to
make their final stand.
And soon the battles thunder broke
DER the echoing plain,
And cannon balls fell thickly and mus
ket balls like rain
Upon the hillside where there stood
these peasant patriots true,
Who fought to raise the Irish green
above the English blue.
Soon many dauntless Shillmalier Law
weltering in his gore,
And many valiant patriot good had
fallen to rise no more:
For thicliy flew the cannon balls and
musket balls like hail,
Till at the slaughter on the hill the
stoutest heart might quail.
Then many a noble heart grew still
and many a brave man died,
While crimson streams of heroes blood
ran down the steep hillside.
Then said a trusted leader, Here, no
longer shall we bide.
And see our friends fall unavenge1
upon this bare hillside
But before this day is over another
blow well strike.
Then up. my gallant comrades, and
charge them with the pike;
Our gunsmen now can nought avail
since all their powders gone.
But, boys, we are not beaten yet
though they be two to one.
"And we'll our marksmen did their
work. for yonder on the plain
Our enemies are weary with the count
ing Of their slain;
Well charge once more my comrades
brave, these soldiers Of the crown.
And keep our green flag flying rs VIC
march to Wexford town"
Then to their feet the pikemen spraag
with fierce. loud battle cry.
Each firmly clutched his trlsty pike
and raised the point on high.
And sudden. on that hillside. a steel
tipped forest grew.
While borne aloft, before their ranks,
their green flag proudly flew.