5. USA History Festival

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YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND	1778		× YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE YANKEE DOODLE'S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND [August, 1778] [1] From Lewis, Monsieur Gérard came, To Congress in this town, sir, They bow'd to him, and he to them, And then they all sat down, sir. [2] Begar, said Monsieur, one grand coup You shall bientôt behold, sir; This was believ'd as gospel true, And Jonathan felt bold, sir. [3] So Yankee Doodle did forget The sound of British drum, sir, How oft it made him quake and sweat, In spite of Yankee rum, sir. [4] He took his wallet on his back, His rifle on his shoulder, And veow'd Rhode Island to attack Before he was much older. [5] In dread array their tatter'd crew Advanc'd with colors spread, sir, Their fifes played Yankee doodle, doo, King Hancock at their head, sir. 6 What numbers bravely cross'd the seas, I cannot well determine, A swarm of rebels and of fleas, And every other vermin. 7 Their mighty hearts might shrink they tho't, For all flesh only grass is, A plenteous store they therefore bought Of whiskey and molasses. 8 They swore they'd make bold Pigot squeak, So did their good ally, sir, And take him pris'ner in a week, But that was all my eye, sir. 9 As Jonathan so much desir'd To shine in martial story, D'Estaing with politesse retir'd, To leave him all the glory. 10 He left him what was better yet, At least it was more use, sir, He left him for a quick retreat A very good excuse, sir. 11 To stay, unless he rul'd the sea, He thought would not be right, sir, And Continental troops, said he, On islands should not fight, sir. 12 Another cause with these combin'd To throw him in the dumps, sir, For Clinton's name alarmed his mind, And made him stir his stumps, sir. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON	1780		× A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON [surrended to the British] [May 12, 1780] 1 King Hancock sat in regal state, And big with pride and vainly great, Address'd his rebel crew: "These haughty Britons soon shall yield The boasted honors of the field, While our brave sons pursue. 2 "Six thousand fighting men or more, Protect the Carolina shore, And Freedom will defend; And stubborn Britons soon shall feel, 'Gainst Charleston, and hearts of steel, How vainly they contend." 3 But ere he spake, in dread array, To rebel foes, ill-fated day, The British boys appear; Their mien with martial ardor fired, And by their country's wrongs inspired, Shook Lincoln's heart with fear. 4 See Clinton brave, serene, and great, For mighty deeds rever'd by fate, Direct the thund'ring fight, While Mars, propitious god of war, Looks down from his triumphal car With wonder and delight. 5 "Clinton," he cries, "the palm is thine, 'Midst heroes thou wert born to shine A great immortal name, And Cornwallis' mighty deeds appear Conspicuous each revolving year, The pledge of future fame." 6 Our tars, their share of glories won, For they among the bravest shone, Undaunted, firm, and bold; Whene'er engag'd, their ardor show'd Hearts which with native valor glow'd, Hearts of true British mould. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
ACROSS THE DELAWARE	1776		× ACROSS THE DELAWARE - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE ACROSS THE DELAWARE (1776) 1 The winter night is cold and drear, Along the river's sullen flow; The cruel frost is camping here— The air has living blades of snow. Look! pushing from the icy strand, With ensigns freezing in the air, There sails a small but mighty band, Across the dang'rous Delaware. 2 Oh, wherefore, soldiers, would you fight The bayonets of a winter storm? In truth it were a better night For blazing fire and blankets warm! We seek to trap a foreign foe, Who fill themselves with stolen fare; We carry freedom as we go Across the storm-swept Delaware! 3 The night is full of lusty cheer Within the Hessians' merry camp; And faint and fainter on the ear Doth fall the heedless sentry's tramp. O hirelings, this new nation's rage Is something 'tis not well to dare; You are not fitted to engage These men from o'er the Delaware! 4 A rush—a shout—a clarion call, Salute the early morning's gray: Now, roused invaders, yield or fall: The refuge-land has won the day! Soon shall the glorious news be hurled Wherever men have wrongs to bear; For freedom's torch illumes the world, And God has crossed the Delaware! *Will Carleton. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
ADAMS AND LIBERTY	1798		× ADAMS AND LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE ADAMS AND LIBERTY [1798] [1] Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought For those rights which unstained from your sires have descended, May you long taste the blessings your valor has bought, And your sons reap the soil which their fathers defended. 'Mid the reign of mild peace, May your nation increase, With the glory of Rome and the wisdom of Greece; [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [2] In a clime, whose rich vales feed the marts of the world, Whose shores are unshaken by Europe's commotion, The trident of commerce should never be hurl'd, To incense the legitimate powers of the ocean. But should pirates invade, Though in thunder array'd, Let your cannon declare the free charter of trade. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [3] The fame of our arms, of our laws the mild sway, Had justly ennobled our nation in story, Till the dark clouds of faction obscured our young day, And enveloped the sun of American glory. But let traitors be told, Who their country have sold, And barter'd their God for his image in gold, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [4] While France her huge limbs bathes recumbent in blood, And society's base threats with wide dissolution; May peace, like the dove who return'd from the flood, Find an ark of abode in our mild constitution. But, though peace is our aim, Yet the boon we disclaim, If bought by our sovereignty, justice, or fame; [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [5] 'Tis the fire of the flint, each American warms: Let Rome's haughty victors beware of collision, Let them bring all the vassals of Europe in arms, We're a world by ourselves, and disdain a division. While, with patriot pride, To our laws we're allied, No foe can subdue us, no faction divide, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [6] Our mountains are crown'd with imperial oak; Whose roots, like our liberties, ages have nourish'd; But long ere our nation submits to the yoke, Not a tree shall be left on the field where it flourish'd. Should invasion impend, Every grove would descend, From the hill-tops, they shaded, our shores to defend. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [7] Let our patriots destroy Anarch's pestilent worm; Lest our liberty's growth should be check'd by corrosion; Then let clouds thicken round us; we heed not the storm; Our realm fears no shock, but the earth's own explosion. Foes assail us in vain, Though their fleets bridge the main, For our altars and laws with our lives we'll maintain. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [8] Should the tempest of war overshadow our land, Its bolts could ne'er rend Freedom's temple asunder; For, unmov'd, at its portal, would Washington stand, And repulse, with his breast, the assaults of the thunder! His sword from the sleep Of its scabbard would leap, And conduct, with its point, every flash to the deep! [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [9] Let fame to the world sound America's voice; No intrigues can her sons from their government sever; Her pride is her Adams; her laws are his choice, And shall flourish, till Liberty slumbers forever. Then unite heart and hand, Like Leonidas' band, And swear to the God of the ocean and land, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. *Robert Treat Paine. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
ALASKA	1867		× ALASKA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE ALASKA [purchase of Alaska] 1 Ice built, ice bound, and ice bounded, Such cold seas of silence! such room! Such snow-light, such sea-light, confounded With thunders that smite like a doom! Such grandeur! such glory! such gloom! Hear that boom! Hear that deep distant boom Of an avalanche hurled Down this unfinished world! 2 Ice seas! and ice summits! ice spaces In splendor of white, as God's throne! Ice worlds to the pole! and ice places Untracked, and unnamed, and unknown! Hear that boom! Hear the grinding, the groan Of the ice-gods in pain! Hear the moan Of yon ice mountain hurled Down this unfinished world. *Joaquin Miller 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE	1776		× AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE (July 2, 1776) 1 Make room, all ye kingdoms, in history renown'd, Whose arms have in battle with victory been crown'd, Make room for America, another great nation; She rises to claim in your councils a station. 2 Her sons fought for freedom, and by their own bravery Have rescued themselves from the shackles of slavery; America is free; and Britain's abhorr'd; And America's fame is forever restored. 3 Fair Freedom in Britain her throne had erected; Her sons they grew venal, and she disrespected. The goddess, offended, forsook that base nation, And fix'd on our mountains: a more honor'd station. 4 With glory immortal she here sits enthroned, Nor fears the vain vengeance of Britain disown'd, Great Washington guards her, with heroes surrounded; Her foes he, with shameful defeat, has confounded. 5 To arms! we to arms flew! 'twas Freedom invited us, The trumpet, shrill sounding, to battle excited us; The banners of virtue, unfurl'd, did wave o'er us, Our hero led on, and the foe flew before us. 6 In Heaven and Washington we placed reliance, We met the proud Britons, and bid them defiance; The cause we supported was just, and was glorious; When men fight for freedom, they must be victorious. *Francis Hopkinson. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL	1862		× ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA [April 16, 1862] 1 When first I saw our banner wave Above the nation's council-hall I heard beneath its marble wall The clanking fetters of the slave! 2 In the foul market-place I stood, And saw the Christian mother sold, And childhood with its locks of gold, Blue-eyed and fair with Saxon blood. 3 I shut my eyes, I held my breath, And, smothering down the wrath and shame That set my Northern blood aflame, Stood silent,—where to speak was death. 4 Beside me gloomed the prison-cell Where wasted one in slow decline For uttering simple words of mine, And loving freedom all too well. 5 The flag that floated from the dome Flapped menace in the morning air; I stood a perilled stranger where The human broker made his home. 6 For crime was virtue: Gown and Sword And Law their threefold sanction gave, And to the quarry of the slave Went hawking with our symbol-bird. 7 On the oppressor's side was power; And yet I knew that every wrong, However old, however strong, But waited God's avenging hour. 8 I knew that truth would crush the lie,— Somehow, sometime, the end would be; Yet scarcely dared I hope to see The triumph with my mortal eye. 9 But now I see it! In the sun A free flag floats from yonder dome, And at the nation's hearth and home The justice long delayed is done. 10 Not as we hoped, in calm of prayer, The message of deliverance comes, But heralded by roll of drums On waves of battle-troubled air! 11 Midst sounds that madden and appall, The song that Bethlehem's shepherds knew! The harp of David melting through The demon-agonies of Saul! 12 Not as we hoped; but what are we? Above our broken dreams and plans God lays, with wiser hand than man's, The corner-stones of liberty. 13 I cavil not with Him: the voice That freedom's blessed gospel tells Is sweet to me as silver bells, Rejoicing! yea, I will rejoice! 14 Dear friends still toiling in the sun; Ye dearer ones who, gone before, Are watching from the eternal shore The slow work by your hands begun, 15 Rejoice with me! The chastening rod Blossoms with love; the furnace heat Grows cool beneath His blessed feet Whose form is as the Son of God! 16 Rejoice! Our Marah's bitter springs Are sweetened; on our ground of grief Rise day by day in strong relief The prophecies of better things. 17 Rejoice in hope! The day and night Are one with God, and one with them Who see by faith the cloudy hem Of Judgment fringed with Mercy's light! *John Greenleaf Whittier 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
BEFORE VICKSBURG	1863		× BEFORE VICKSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE BEFORE VICKSBURG [May 18-July 4, 1863] 1 While Sherman stood beneath the hottest fire, That from the lines of Vicksburg gleamed, And bomb-shells tumbled in their smoky gyre, And grape-shot hissed, and case-shot screamed; Back from the front there came, Weeping and sorely lame, The merest child, the youngest face Man ever saw in such a fearful place. 2 Stifling his tears, he limped his chief to meet; But when he paused, and tottering stood, Around the circle of his little feet There spread a pool of bright, young blood. Shocked at his doleful case, Sherman cried, "Halt! front face! Who are you? Speak, my gallant boy!""A drummer, sir: Fifty-fifth Illinois." 3 "Are you not hit?" "That's nothing. Only send Some cartridges: our men are out; And the foe press us." "But, my little friend—" "Don't mind me! Did you hear that shout? What if our men be driven? Oh, for the love of Heaven, Send to my Colonel, General dear!" "But you?" "Oh, I shall easily find the rear." 4 "I'll see to that," cried Sherman; and a drop, Angels might envy, dimmed his eye, As the boy, toiling towards the hill's hard top, Turned round, and with his shrill child's cry Shouted, "Oh, don't forget! We'll win the battle yet! But let our soldiers have some more, More cartridges, sir,—calibre fifty-four!" *George Henry Boker 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
BOSTON FIRE	1872		× BOSTON FIRE - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE BOSTON [Fire] [November 9, 1872] 1 O broad-breasted Queen among Nations! O Mother, so strong in thy youth! Has the Lord looked upon thee in ire, And willed thou be chastened by fire, Without any ruth? 2 Has the Merciful tired of His mercy, And turned from thy sinning in wrath, That the world with raised hand sees and pities Thy desolate daughters, thy cities, Despoiled on their path? 3 One year since thy youngest was stricken: Thy eldest lies stricken to-day. Ah! God, was Thy wrath without pity, To tear the strong heart from our city, And cast it away? 4 O Father! forgive us our doubting; The stain from our weak souls efface; Thou rebukest, we know, but to chasten, Thy hand has but fallen to hasten Return to Thy grace. 5 Let us rise purified from our ashes As sinners have risen who grieved; Let us show that twice-sent desolation On every true heart in the nation Has conquest achieved. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
BOSTON HYMN	1863	$An artist`s rendering of Boston Music Hall, where Emerson first read \\\\\\\"Boston Hymn\\\\\\\"$	× BOSTON HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE BOSTON HYMN [Slave freed] [January 1, 1863] 1 The word of the Lord by night To the watching Pilgrims came, As they sat by the seaside, And filled their hearts with flame. 2 God said, I am tired of kings, I suffer them no more; Up to my ear the morning brings The outrage of the poor. 3 Think ye I made this ball A field of havoc and war, Where tyrants great and tyrants small Might harry the weak and poor? 4 My angel—his name is Freedom— Choose him to be your king; He shall cut pathways east and west, And fend you with his wing. 5 Lo! I uncover the land, Which I hid of old time in the West, As the sculptor uncovers the statue When he has wrought his best; 6 I show Columbia, of the rocks Which dip their foot in the seas, And soar to the air-borne flocks Of clouds and the boreal fleece. 7 I will divide my goods; Call in the wretch and slave; None shall rule but the humble, And none but Toil shall have. 8 I will have never a noble, No lineage counted great; Fishers and choppers and ploughmen Shall constitute a state. 9 Go, cut down trees in the forest And trim the straightest boughs; Cut down trees in the forest And build me a wooden house. 10 Call the people together, The young men and the sires, The digger in the harvest-field, Hireling and him that hires; 11 And here in a pine state-house They shall choose men to rule In every needful faculty, In church and state and school. 12 Lo, now! if these poor men Can govern the land and sea ,And make just laws below the sun, As planets faithful be. 13 And ye shall succor men ;'Tis nobleness to serve; Help them who cannot help again: Beware from right to swerve. 14 I break your bonds and masterships, And I unchain the slave: Free be his heart and hand henceforth As wind and wandering wave. 15 I cause from every creature His proper good to flow; As much as he is and doeth, So much he shall bestow. 16 But, laying hands on another, To coin his labor and sweat, He goes in pawn to his victim For eternal years in debt. 17 To-day unbind the captive, So only are ye unbound; Lift up a people from the dust, Trump of their rescue, sound! 18 Pay ransom to the owner And fill the bag to the brim. Who is the owner? The slave is owner And ever was. Pay him. 19 O North! give him beauty for rags, And honor, O South! for his shame; Nevada! coin thy golden crags With Freedom's image and name. 20 Up! and the dusky race That sat in darkness long,— Be swift their feet as antelopes, And as behemoth strong. 21 Come, East and West and North, By races, as snowflakes, And carry my purpose forth, Which neither halts nor shakes. 22 My will fulfilled shall be, For, in daylight or in dark, My thunderbolt has eyes to see His way home to the mark. *Ralph Waldo Emerson. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CALIFORNIA	1850		× CALIFORNIA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CALIFORNIA [the thirty-first state] [September 9, 1850] 1 Land of gold!—thy sisters greet thee, O'er the mountain and the main; See,—they stretch the hand to meet thee, Youngest of our household train. 2 Many a form their love hath fostered Lingers 'neath thy sunny sky, And their spirit-tokens brighten Every link of sympathy. 3 We 'mid storms of war were cradled, 'Mid the shock of angry foes; Thou, with sudden, dreamlike splendor, Pallas-born,—in vigor rose. 4 Children of one common country, Strong in friendship let us stand, With united ardor earning Glory for our Mother Land. 5 They of gold and they of iron, They who reap the bearded wheat, They who rear the snowy cotton, Pour their treasures at her feet; 6 While with smiling exultation, She, who marks their filial part, Like the mother of the Gracchi, Folds her jewels to her heart. *Lydia Huntley Sigourney. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CAROLINA	1865	$“Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, to whom \"Marching Through Georgia \"is dedicated” (Wikipedia)$	× CAROLINA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CAROLINA [January, 1865] [1] The despot treads thy sacred sands, Thy pines give shelter to his bands, Thy sons stand by with idle hands, Carolina! [2] He breathes at ease thy airs of balm, He scorns the lances of thy palm; Oh! who shall break thy craven calm, Carolina! [3] Thy ancient fame is growing dim, A spot is on thy garment's rim; Give to the winds thy battle-hymn, Carolina! [4] Call on thy children of the hill, Wake swamp and river, coast and rill, Rouse all thy strength and all thy skill, Carolina! [5] Cite wealth and science, trade and art, Touch with thy fire the cautious mart, And pour thee through the people's heart, Carolina! [6] Till even the coward spurns his fears, And all thy fields, and fens, and meres Shall bristle like thy palm with spears, Carolina! [7] I hear a murmur as of waves That grope their way through sunless caves, Like bodies struggling in their graves, Carolina! [8] And now it deepens; slow and grand It swells, as, rolling to the land, An ocean broke upon thy strand, Carolina!Shout! [9] Let it reach the startled Huns! And roar with all thy festal guns !It is the answer of thy sons, Carolina! 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy)	1863	$First Battle of Charleston Harbor. \"Panoramic View of Charleston Harbor. -- Advance of Ironclads to the Attack, April 7th, 1863\"$	× CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy) - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CHARLESTON [front of the Confederacy] [April, 1863] 1 Calm as that second summer which precedes The first fall of the snow, In the broad sunlight of heroic deeds, The city bides the foe. 2 As yet, behind their ramparts, stern and proud, Her bolted thunders sleep,— Dark Sumter, like a battlemented cloud, Looms o'er the solemn deep. 3 No Calpe frowns from lofty cliff or scaur To guard the holy strand; But Moultrie holds in leash her dogs of war Above the level sand. 4 And down the dunes a thousand guns lie couched, Unseen, beside the flood,— Like tigers in some Orient jungle crouched, That wait and watch for blood. 5 Meanwhile, through streets still echoing with trade, Walk grave and thoughtful men, Whose hands may one day wield the patriot's blade As lightly as the pen. 6 And maidens, with such eyes as would grow dim Over a bleeding hound, Seem each one to have caught the strength of him Whose sword she sadly bound. 7 Thus girt without and garrisoned at home, Day patient following day, Old Charleston looks from roof and spire and dome, Across her tranquil bay. 8 Ships, through a hundred foes, from Saxon lands And spicy Indian ports, Bring Saxon steel and iron to her hands, And summer to her courts. 9 But still, along yon dim Atlantic line, The only hostile smoke Creeps like a harmless mist above the brine, From some frail floating oak. 10 Shall the spring dawn, and she, still clad in smiles, And with an unscathed brow, Rest in the strong arms of her palm-crowned isles, As fair and free as now? 11 We know not; in the temple of the Fates God has inscribed her doom: And, all untroubled in her faith, she waits The triumph or the tomb. *Henry Timrod. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance)	1865		× CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance) - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CHARLESTON [ineffective resistance] [February, 1865] 1 Calmly beside her tropic strand, An empress, brave and loyal, I see the watchful city stand, With aspect sternly royal; 2 She knows her mortal foe draws near, Armored by subtlest science, Yet deep, majestical, and clear, Rings out her grand defiance. 3 Oh, glorious is thy noble face, Lit up by proud emotion, And unsurpassed thy stately grace, Our warrior Queen of Ocean! 4 First from thy lips the summons came, Which roused our South to action, And, with the quenchless force of flame Consumed the demon Faction; 5 First, like a rush of sovereign wind, That rends dull waves asunder, Thy prescient warning struck the blind, And woke the deaf with thunder; 6 They saw, with swiftly kindling eyes, The shameful doom before them, And heard, borne wild from northern skies, The death-gale hurtling o'er them: 7 Wilt thou, whose virgin banner rose, A morning star of splendor, Quail when the war-tornado blows, And crouch in base surrender? 8 Wilt thou, upon whose loving breast Our noblest chiefs are sleeping, Yield thy dead patriots' place of rest To scornful alien keeping? 9 No! while a life-pulse throbs for fame, Thy sons will gather round thee, Welcome the shot, the steel, the flame, If honor's hand hath crowned thee. 10 Then fold about thy beauteous form The imperial robe thou wearest, And front with regal port the storm Thy foe would dream thou fearest; 11 If strength, and will, and courage fail To cope with ruthless numbers, And thou must bend, despairing, pale, Where thy last hero slumbers, 12 Lift the red torch, and light the fire Amid those corpses gory, And on thy self-made funeral pyre, Pass from the world to glory. *Paul Hamilton Hayne. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CHICAGO	1871		× CHICAGO - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CHICAGO [destroyed by fire.] [October 8-10, 1871] 1 Men said at vespers: "All is well!" In one wild night the city fell; Fell shrines of prayer and marts of gain Before the fiery hurricane. 2 On threescore spires had sunset shone, Where ghastly sunrise looked on none. Men clasped each other's hands, and said: "The City of the West is dead!" 3 Brave hearts who fought, in slow retreat, The fiends of fire from street to street, Turned, powerless, to the blinding glare, The dumb defiance of despair. 4 A sudden impulse thrilled each wire That signalled round that sea of fire; Swift words of cheer, warm heart-throbs came; In tears of pity died the flame! 5 From East, from West, from South and North, The messages of hope shot forth, And, underneath the severing wave, The world, full-handed, reached to save. 6 Fair seemed the old; but fairer still The new, the dreary void shall fill With dearer homes than those o'erthrown, For love shall lay each corner-stone. 7 Rise, stricken city! from thee throw The ashen sackcloth of thy woe; And build, as to Amphion's strain, To songs of cheer thy walls again! 8 How shrivelled in thy hot distress The primal sin of selfishness! How instant rose, to take thy part, The angel in the human heart! 9 Ah! not in vain the flames that tossed Above thy dreadful holocaust; The Christ again has preached through thee The Gospel of Humanity! 10 Then lift once more thy towers on high, And fret with spires the western sky, To tell that God is yet with us, And love is still miraculous! *John Greenleaf Whittier. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER	1620		× COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 O little fleet! that on thy quest divine Sailedst from Palos one bright autumn morn, Say, has old Ocean's bosom ever borne A freight of faith and hope to match with thine? Say, too, has Heaven's high favor given again Such consummation of desire as shone About Columbus when he rested on The new-found world and married it to Spain? 2 Answer,—thou refuge of the freeman's need,— Thou for whose destinies no kings looked out, Nor sages to resolve some mighty doubt,— Thou simple Mayflower of the salt-sea mead! When thou wert wafted to that distant shore, Gay flowers, bright birds, rich odors met thee not, Stern Nature hailed thee to a sterner lot,— God gave free earth and air, and gave no more. 4 Thus to men cast in that heroic mould Came empire such as Spaniard never knew, Such empire as beseems the just and true; And at the last, almost unsought, came gold. But He who rules both calm and stormy days, Can guard that people's heart, that nation's health, Safe on the perilous heights of power and wealth, As in the straitness of the ancient ways. Lord Houghton. THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 Down in the bleak December bay The ghostly vessel stands away; Her spars and halyards white with ice, Under the dark December skies. A hundred souls, in company, Have left the vessel pensively,— Have reached the frosty desert there, And touched it with the knees of prayer. And now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 2 Neither the desert nor the sea Imposes rites: their prayers are free; Danger and toil the wild imposes, And thorns must grow before the roses. And who are these?—and what distress The savage-acred wilderness On mother, maid, and child may bring, Beseems them for a fearful thing; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 3 But Carver leads (in heart and health A hero of the commonwealth) The axes that the camp requires, To build the lodge and heap the fires, And Standish from his warlike store Arrays his men along the shore, Distributes weapons resonant, And dons his harness militant; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower; 4 And Rose, his wife, unlocks a chest— She sees a Book, in vellum drest, She drops a tear and kisses the tome, Thinking of England and of home: Might they—the Pilgrims, there and then Ordained to do the work of men— Have seen, in visions of the air, While pillowed on the breast of prayer (When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower), 5 The Canaan of their wilderness A boundless empire of success; And seen the years of future nights Jewelled with myriad household lights; And seen the honey fill the hive; And seen a thousand ships arrive; And heard the wheels of travel go; It would have cheered a thought of woe, When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. Erastus Wolcott Ellsworth. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
COLUMBUS DYING	1506		× COLUMBUS DYING - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE COLUMBUS DYING [May 20, 1506] 1 Hark! do I hear again the roar Of the tides by the Indies sweeping down? Or is it the surge from the viewless shore That swells to bear me to my crown? Life is hollow and cold and drear With smiles that darken and hopes that flee; And, far from its winds that faint and veer, I am ready to sail the vaster sea! 2 Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee best; And that scorning peril and toil and pain I held my way to the mystic West, Glory for Thee and Thy Church to gain. And Thou didst lead me, only Thou, Cheering my heart in cloud and calm, Till the dawn my glad, victorious prow Greeted Thine isles of bloom and balm. 3 And then, O gracious, glorious Lord,I saw Thy face, and all heaven came nigh And my soul was lost in that rich reward, And ravished with hope of the bliss on high, So, I can meet the sovereign's frown— My dear Queen gone—with a large disdain; For the time will come when his chief renown Will be that I sailed from his realm of Spain. 4 I have found new Lands—a World, maybe, Whose splendor will yet the Old outshine; And life and death are alike to me, For earth will honor, and heaven is mine Is mine!— What songs of sweet accord! What billows that nearer, gentler roll! Is mine!—Into Thy hands, O Lord, Into Thy hands I give my soul! *Edna Dean Proctor. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER	1781		× CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE CORNWALLIS'S SURRENDER [October 19, 1781] [1] When British troops first landed here, With Howe commander o'er them, They thought they'd make us quake for fear, And carry all before them; With thirty thousand men or more, And she without assistance, America must needs give o'er, And make no more resistance. [2] But Washington, her glorious son, Of British hosts the terror, Soon, by repeated overthrows, Convinc'd them of their error; Let Princeton, and let Trenton tell, What gallant deeds he's done, sir, And Monmouth's plains where hundreds fell, And thousands more have run, sir. [3] Cornwallis, too, when he approach'd Virginia's old dominion, Thought he would soon her conqu'ror be; And so was North's opinion. From State to State with rapid stride, His troops had march'd before, sir, Till quite elate with martial pride, He thought all dangers o'er, sir. But our allies, to his surprise, [4] The Chesapeake had enter'd; And now too late, he curs'd his fate, And wish'd he ne'er had ventur'd, For Washington no sooner knew The visit he had paid her, Than to his parent State he flew, To crush the bold invader. When he sat down before the town, [5] His Lordship soon surrender'd; His martial pride he laid aside, And cas'd the British standard; Gods! how this stroke will North provoke, And all his thoughts confuse, sir! And how the Peers will hang their ears, When first they hear the news, sir. Be peace, the glorious end of war, [6] By this event effected; And be the name of Washington To latest times respected; Then let us toast America, And France in union with her; And may Great Britain rue the day Her hostile bands came hither. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY	1769		× DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY [October 31, 1769] 1 Good Junipero, the Padre, Slowly read the King's commands, In relation to the missions To be built in heathen lands. And he said: "The good Saint Francis Surely has some little claim, Yet I find that here no mission Is assigned unto his name." 2 Then the Visitador answered: "If the holy Francis care For a mission to his honor, Surely he will lead you there; And it may be by the harbor That the Indian legends say Lies by greenest hills surrounded To the north of Monterey." 3 Spoke Junipero the Padre: "It is not for me to tell Of the truth of Indian legends, Yet of this I know full well— If there be such hidden harbor, And our hope and trust we place In the care of good Saint Francis, He will guide us to the place." 3 Soon, the Governor Portolá Started northward, on his way Overland, to rediscover The lost port of Monterey. Since the time within its waters Vizcaino anchor cast, It remained unknown to Spaniards, Though a century had passed. 4 On his journey went Portolá With his band of pioneers, Padres, Indian guides, and soldiers, And a train of muleteers; And said Serra, as he blessed them, As he wished them all Godspeed: "Trust Saint Francis—he will guide you In your direst hour of need." 5 On his journey went Portolá Till he reached the crescent bay; But he dreamed not he was gazing On the wished-for Monterey. So a cross on shore he planted, And the ground about he blessed, And then he and his companions Northward went upon their quest. 6 On his journey went Portolá, And his army northward on, And methinks I see them marching, Or in camp when day was done; Or at night when stars were twinkling, As that travel-weary band By the log-fire's light would gather, Telling of their far-off land. 7 And they told weird Indian legends, Tales of Cortés, too, they told, And of peaceful reign of Incas, And of Montezuma's gold; And they sang, as weary exiles Sing of home and vanished years, Sweet, heart-treasured songs that always Bring the dumb applause of tears. 8 When the day was sunk in ocean, And the land around was dim, On the tranquil air of midnight Rose the sweet Franciscan hymn; And when bugle told the dawning, And the matin prayers were done, On his journey went Portolá, And his army northward on. 9 Far away they saw sierras, Clothed with an eternal spring, While at times the mighty ocean In their path her spray would fling; On amid such scenes they journeyed, Through the dreary wastes of sand, Through ravines dark, deep, and narrow, And through cañons wild and grand. 10 And with what a thrill of pleasure, All their toils and dangers through, Gazed they on this scene of beauty When it burst upon their view, As Portolá and his army, Standing where I stand to-day, Saw before them spread in beauty Green-clad hills and noble bay. 11 Then the Governor Portolá Broke the spell of silence thus: "To this place, through Padre Serra, Hath Saint Francis guided us; So the bay and all around it For the Spanish King I claim, And forever, in the future, Let it bear Saint Francis' name." 12 Thus he spoke, and I am standing On the self-same spot to-day, And my eyes rest on the landscape, And the green hills, and the bay, And upon Saint Francis' city, As, with youth and hope elate, She is gazing toward the ocean, Sitting by the Golden Gate. 13 Needless were such gifts as heaven Gave to holy seers of yore, To foretell the meed of glory, Fairest town, for thee in store! To foretell the seat of empire Here will be, nor for a day, Where Balboa's sea doth mingle With the waters of thy bay! *Richard Edward White. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH	1783		× EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH [November 25, 1783] 1 They come!—they come!—the heroes come With sounding fife, with thundering drum; Their ranks advance in bright array,— The heroes of America! 2 He comes!—'tis mighty Washington (Words fail to tell all he has done), Our hero, guardian, father, friend! His fame can never, never end. 3 He comes!—he comes!—our Clinton comes! Justice her ancient seat resumes: From shore to shore let shouts resound, For Justice comes, with Freedom crown'd. 4 She comes!—the angelic virgin—Peace, And bids stern War his horrors cease; Oh! blooming virgin, with us stay, And bless, oh! bless America. 5 Since Freedom has our efforts crown'd, Let flowing bumpers pass around: The toast is, "Freedom's favorite son, Health, peace, and joy to Washington!" 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
FREE AMERICA	1774		× FREE AMERICA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE FREE AMERICA [1774] 1 That seat of Science, Athens, And earth's proud mistress, Rome; Where now are all their glories? We scarce can find a tomb. Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway; Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose, For North America. 2 We led fair Freedom hither, And lo, the desert smiled! A paradise of pleasure Was opened in the wild! Your harvest, bold Americans, No power shall snatch away! Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 3 Torn from a world of tyrants, Beneath this western sky, We formed a new dominion, A land of liberty: The world shall own we're masters here; Then hasten on the day: Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 4 Proud Albion bowed to Cæsar, And numerous lords before; To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, And many masters more: But we can boast, Americans, We've never fallen a prey; Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 5 God bless this maiden climate, And through its vast domain May hosts of heroes cluster, Who scorn to wear a chain: And blast the venal sycophant That dares our rights betray; Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 6 Lift up your hands, ye heroes, And swear with proud disdain, The wretch that would ensnare you, Shall lay his snares in vain: Should Europe empty all her force, We'll meet her in array, And fight and shout, and shout and fight For North America. 7 Some future day shall crown us, The masters of the main, Our fleets shall speak in thunder To England, France, and Spain; And the nations over the ocean spread Shall tremble and obey The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons Of brave America. *Joseph Warren. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
GEORGE WASHINGTON	1792	$“The original work of Jean-Antoine Houdon`s statue \\\"George Washington \\\"housed inside the Virginia State Capitol” (Wikipedia)$	× GEORGE WASHINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE GEORGE WASHINGTON 1 This was the man God gave us when the hour Proclaimed the dawn of Liberty begun; Who dared a deed and died when it was done Patient in triumph, temperate in power,— Not striving like the Corsican to tower To heaven, nor like great Philip's greater son To win the world and weep for worlds unwon, Or lose the star to revel in the flower. 2 The lives that serve the eternal verities Alone do mould mankind. Pleasure and pride Sparkle awhile and perish, as the spray Smoking across the crests of cavernous seas Is impotent to hasten or delay The everlasting surges of the tide. Where may the wearied eye repose When gazing on the Great; 3 Where neither guilty glory glows, Nor despicable state? Yes—one—the first—the last—the best— The Cincinnatus of the West, Whom envy dared not hate, Bequeath the name of Washington, To make men blush there was but one! John Hall Ingham & *Lord Byron. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
GETTYSBURG	1863		× GETTYSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE GETTYSBURG [July 1, 2, 3, 1863] 1 There was no union in the land, Though wise men labored long With links of clay and ropes of sand To bind the right and wrong. 2 There was no temper in the blade That once could cleave a chain; Its edge was dull with touch of trade And clogged with rust of gain. 3 The sand and clay must shrink away Before the lava tide: By blows and blood and fire assay The metal must be tried. 4 Here sledge and anvil met, and when The furnace fiercest roared, God's undiscerning workingmen Reforged His people's sword. 5 Enough for them to ask and know The moment's duty clear— The bayonets flashed it there below, The guns proclaimed it here: 6 To do and dare, and die at need, But while life lasts, to fight— For right or wrong a simple creed, But simplest for the right. 7 They faltered not who stood that day And held this post of dread; Nor cowards they who wore the gray Until the gray was red. 8 For every wreath the victor wearsT he vanquished half may claim; And every monument declares A common pride and fame. 9 We raise no altar stones to Hate, Who never bowed to Fear: No province crouches at our gate, To shame our triumph here. 10 Here standing by a dead wrong's grave The blindest now may see, The blow that liberates the slave But sets the master free! 11 When ills beset the nation's life Too dangerous to bear, The sword must be the surgeon's knife, Too merciful to spare. 12 O Soldier of our common land,' Tis thine to bear that blade Loose in the sheath, or firm in hand, But ever unafraid. 13 When foreign foes assail our right, One nation trusts to thee— To wield it well in worthy fight— The sword of Meade and Lee! *James Jeffrey Roche. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
HAARLEM HEIGHTS	1776		× HAARLEM HEIGHTS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE HAARLEM 1776. [1] They've turned at last! Good-by, King George, Despite your hireling band! The farmer boys have borne a brunt, The 'prentice lads will stand! [2] Though Peace may lag and Fortune flag, Our fight's as good as won; We've made them yield in open field! We've made the Redcoats run! [3] Our Rangers sallied forth at dawn With Knowlton at their head To rout the British pickets out And spend a little lead. [4] We gave them eight brisk rounds a-piece, And hurried, fighting, back; For, eighteen score, the Light Armed Corps Were keen upon our track. [5] Along the vale of Bloomingdale They pressed our scant array; They swarmed the crag and jeered our flag Across the Hollow Way. [6] Their skirmishers bawled "Hark, away!" Their buglers, from the wall, In braggart vaunt and bitter taunt Brayed out the hunting call! [7] Oh, sound of shame! It woke a flame In every sunburned face, And every soul was hot as coal To cleanse the foul disgrace. [8] And some that blenched on Brooklyn Heights And fled at Turtle Bay Fair wept for wrath, and thronged my path And clamored for the fray. [9] Our General came spurring!— There rolled a signal drum.— His eye was bright; he rose his height; He knew the time had come. [10] He gave the word to Knowlton To lead us on once more— The pick of old Connecticut,— And Leitch with Weedon's corps [11] Of proud Virginia Riflemen, Tall hunters of the deer,— To round the boastful Briton's flank And take him in the rear. [12] We left the dell, we scaled the fell, And up the crest we sprang, When swift and sharp along the scarp A deadly volley rang; [13] And down went Leitch of Weedon's corps! Deep hurt, but gallant still; And down went Knowlton!—he that bore The sword of Bunker Hill. [14] I raised his head. But this he said, Death-wounded as he lay:" Lead on the fight! I hold it light If we but get the day!" [15] In open rank we struck their flank, And oh! the fight was hot! Up came the Hessian Yagers! Up came the kilted Scot! [16] Up came the men of Linsingen, Von Donop's Grenadiers! But soon we sped the vengeful lead A-whistling 'bout their ears! [17] They buckled front to Varnum's brunt; We crumpled up their right, And hurling back the crimson wrack We swept along the height. [18] The helmets of the Hessians Are tumbled in the wheat; The tartan of the Highlander Shall be his winding-sheet! [19] A mingled rout, we drove them out From orchard, field, and glen; In goodly case it seemed to chase Our hunters home again! [20] We flaunted in their faces The flag they thought to scorn, And left them with a loud "Hurrah!" To choke their bugle-horn! [21] Upon a ledge embattled Above the Hudson's shore We dug the grave for Knowlton And Leitch of Weedon's corps. [22] And though in plight of War's despite We yield this island throne, Upon that ledge we left a pledge That we shall claim our own! *Arthur Guiterman. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS	1862		× HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS [March 10, 1862] 1 Heard ye how the bold McClellan, He, the wether with the bell on; He, the head of all the asses— Heard ye how he took Manassas? 2 When the Anaconda plucky Flopped its tail in old Kentucky; When up stream the gunboats paddled, And the thieving Floyd skedaddled, Then the chief of all the asses Heard the word: Go, take Manassas! 3 Forty brigades wait around him, Forty blatant trumpets sound him, As the pink of all the heroes Since the time of fiddling Neros. "Now's the time," cry out the masses, "Show your pluck and take Manassas!" 4 Contrabands come flocking to him: "Lo! the enemy flies—pursue him!" "No," says George, "don't start a trigger On the word of any nigger; Let no more of the rascals pass us, I know all about Manassas." 5 When at last a prowling Yankee— No doubt long, and lean, and lanky— Looking out for new devices, Took the wooden guns as prizes, Says he: "I sweow, ere daylight passes I'll take a peep at famed Manassas." 6 Then up to the trenches boldly Marched he—they received him coldly; Nary reb was there to stop him. Gathering courage, in he passes: "Jerusalem! I've took Manassas." 7 Bold McClellan heard the story: "Onward, men, to fields of glory; Let us show the rebel foemen, When we're READY we're not slow, men; Wait no more for springing grasses— Onward! onward! to Manassas!" 8 Baggage trains were left behind him, In his eagerness to find them; Upward the balloons ascended, To see which way the rebels trended; Thirty miles away his glasses Swept the horizon round Manassas. 9 Out of sight, the foe, retreating, Answered back no hostile greeting; None could tell, as off he paddled, Whitherward he had skedaddled. Then the chief of all the asses Cried: "Hurrah! I've got Manassas." 10 Future days will tell the wonder, How the mighty Anaconda Lay supine along the border, With the mighty Mac to lord her: Tell on shaft and storied brasses How he took the famed Manassas. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA	1864		× KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA [June 19, 1864] 1 It was early Sunday morning, in the year of sixty-four, The Alabama she steam'd out along the Frenchman's shore. Long time she cruised about, Long time she held her sway, But now beneath the Frenchman's shore she lies off Cherbourg Bay. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave Over the Union, the home of the brave. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave, God bless America, the home of the brave! 2 The Yankee cruiser hove in view, the Kearsarge was her name, It ought to be engraved in full upon the scroll of fame; Her timbers made of Yankee oak, And her crew of Yankee tars. And o'er her mizzen peak she floats the glorious stripes and stars. 3 A challenge unto Captain Semmes, bold Winslow he did send! "Bring on your Alabama, and to her we will attend, For we think your boasting privateerIs not so hard to whip; And we'll show you that the Kearsarge is not a merchant ship." 4 It was early Sunday morning, in the year of sixty-four, The Alabama she stood out and cannons loud did roar; The Kearsarge stood undaunted, and quickly she replied And let a Yankee 'leven-inch shell go tearing through her side. The Kearsarge then she wore around and broadside on did bear, With shot and shell and right good-will, her timbers she did tear; 5.When they found that they were sinking, down came the stars and bars, For the rebel gunners could not stand the glorious stripes and stars. The Alabama she is gone, she'll cruise the seas no more, She met the fate she well deserved along the Frenchman's shore; 6 Then here is luck to the Kearsarge, we know what she can do, Likewise to Captain Winslow and his brave and gallant crew. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave Over the Union, the home of the brave! Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave, God bless America, the home of the brave! 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
LEXINGTON	1775		× LEXINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE LEXINGTON [April 19, 1775] 1 Slowly the mist o'er the meadow was creeping, Bright on the dewy buds glistened the sun, When from his couch, while his children were sleeping, Rose the bold rebel and shouldered his gun. Waving her golden veil Over the silent dale, Blithe looked the morning on cottage and spire; Hushed was his parting sigh, While from his noble eye Flashed the last sparkle of liberty's fire. 2 On the smooth green where the fresh leaf is springing Calmly the first-born of glory have met; Hark! the death-volley around them is ringing! Look! with their life-blood the young grass is wet! Faint is the feeble breath, Murmuring low in death, "Tell to our sons how their fathers have died; "Nerveless the iron hand, Raised for its native land, Lies by the weapon that gleams at its side. 3 Over the hillsides the wild knell is tolling, From their far hamlets the yeomanry come; As through the storm-clouds the thunder-burst rolling, Circles the beat of the mustering drum. Fast on the soldier's path Darken the waves of wrath,— Long have they gathered and loud shall they fall; Red glares the musket's flash, Sharp rings the rifle's crash, Blazing and clanging from thicket and wall. 4 Gayly the plume of the horseman was dancing, Never to shadow his cold brow again; Proudly at morning the war-steed was prancing, Reeking and panting he droops on the rein; Pale is the lip of scorn, Voiceless the trumpet horn, Torn is the silken-fringed red cross on high; Many a belted breast Low on the turf shall rest Ere the dark hunters the herd have passed by. 5 Snow-girdled crags where the hoarse wind is raving, Rocks where the weary floods murmur and wail, Wilds where the fern by the furrow is waving, Reeled with the echoes that rode on the gale; Far as the tempest thrills Over the darkened hills, Far as the sunshine streams over the plain, Roused by the tyrant band, Woke all the mighty land, Girdled for battle, from mountain to main. 6 Green be the graves where her martyrs are lying! Shroudless and tombless they sunk to their rest, While o'er their ashes the starry fold flying Wraps the proud eagle they roused from his nest. Borne on her Northern pine, Long o'er the foaming brine Spread her broad banner to storm and to sun; Heaven keep her ever free, Wide as o'er land and sea Floats the fair emblem her heroes have won! *Oliver Wendell Holmes. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA	1864	$Henry Clay Work, who wrote \"Marching Through Georgia\\\\\\\" and other patriotic wartime songs$	× MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA (1864) 1 Bring the good old bugle, boys, we'll sing another song— Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along— Sing it as we used to sing it fifty thousand strong, While we were marching through Georgia. 2 Chorus—"Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the jubilee!Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!" So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea, While we were marching through Georgia. 3 How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound! How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found! How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground, While we were marching through Georgia. 4 Yes, and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears, When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years; Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers, While we were marching through Georgia. 5 "Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never reach the coast!" So the saucy rebels said—and 'twas a handsome boast, Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon on a host, While we were marching through Georgia. 6 So we made a thoroughfare for Freedom and her train, Sixty miles in latitude—three hundred to the main; Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain, While we were marching through Georgia. *Henry Clay Work. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
MARYLAND RESOLVES	1774		× MARYLAND RESOLVES - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE MARYLAND RESOLVES [December, 1774] 1 On Calvert's plains new faction reigns, Great Britain we defy, sir, True Liberty lies gagg'd in chains, Though freedom is the cry, sir. 2 The Congress, and their factious tools, Most wantonly oppress us, Hypocrisy triumphant rules, And sorely does distress us. 3 The British bands with glory crown'd, No longer shall withstand us; Our martial deeds loud fame shall sound Since mad Lee now commands us. 4 Triumphant soon a blow he'll strike, That all the world shall awe, sir, And General Gage, Sir Perseus like, Behind his wheels he'll draw, sir. 5 When Gallic hosts, ungrateful men, Our race meant to extermine, Pray did committees save us then, Or Hancock, or such vermin? 6 Then faction spurn! think for yourselves! Your parent state, believe me, From real griefs, from factious elves, Will speedily relieve ye. *Rivington's Gazetteer. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY	1774		× MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY (ca.1774) 1 Come swallow your bumpers, ye Tories, and roar That the Sons of fair Freedom are hamper'd once more; But know that no Cut-throats our spirits can tame, Nor a host of Oppressors shall smother the flame. CHORUS 2 In Freedom we're born, and, like Sons of the brave, Will never surrender, But swear to defend her, And scorn to survive, if unable to save. 3 Our grandsires, bless'd heroes, we'll give them a tear, Nor sully their honors by stooping to fear; Through deaths and through dangers their Trophies they won, We dare be their Rivals, nor will be outdone. 4 Let tyrants and minions presume to despise, Encroach on our Rights, and make Freedom their prize; The fruits of their rapine they never shall keep, Though Vengeance may nod, yet how short is her sleep. 5 The tree which proud Haman for Mordecai rear'd Stands recorded, that virtue endanger'd is spared; That rogues, whom no bounds and no laws can restrain, Must be stripp'd of their honors and humbled again. 6 Our wives and our babes, still protected, shall know Those who dare to be free shall forever be so; On these arms and these hearts they may safely rely For in freedom we'll live, or like Heroes we'll die. 7 Ye insolent Tyrants! who wish to enthrall; Ye Minions, ye Placemen, Pimps, Pensioners, all; How short is your triumph, how feeble your trust, Your honor must wither and nod to the dust. 8 When oppress'd and approach'd, our King we implore, Still firmly persuaded our Rights he'll restore; When our hearts beat to arms to defend a just right, Our monarch rules there, and forbids us to fight. 9 Not the glitter of arms nor the dread of a fray Could make us submit to their chains for a day; Withheld by affection, on Britons we call, Prevent the fierce conflict which threatens your fall. [To Chorus] 10 All ages should speak with amaze and applause Of the prudence we show in support of our cause: Assured of our safety, a Brunswick still reigns, Whose free loyal subjects are strangers to chains. 11 Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all, To be free is to live, to be slaves is to fall; Has the land such a dastard as scorns not a Lord, Who dreads not a fetter much more than a sword? . *Attributed to Mrs. Mercy Warren. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
McKINLEY [killing]	1901		× McKINLEY [killing] - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE McKINLEY [killing] [September 6, 1901] 1 'Tis not the President alone Who, stricken by that bullet, fell; The assassin's shot that laid him prone Pierced a great nation's heart as well; 2 And when the baleful tidings sped From lip to lip throughout the crowd, Then, as they deemed their ruler dead, 'Twas Liberty that cried aloud. 3 Ay, Liberty! for where the foam Of oceans twain marks out the coast 'Tis there, in Freedom's very home, That anarchy has maimed its host; 4 There 'tis that it has turned to bite The hand that fed it; there repaid A country's welcome with black spite; There, Judas-like, that land betrayed. 5 For 'tis no despot that's laid low, But a free nation's chosen chief; A free man, stricken by a blow Base, dastardly, past all belief. 6 And Tyranny exulting hears The tidings flashed across the sea; While stern Repression hugs her fears, And mouths them in a harsh decree. 7 Meanwhile the cloud, though black as death, Is lined with hopes, hopes light as life, And Liberty that, scant of breath, Had watched the issue of the strife, 8 Fills the glad air with grateful cries To find the sun no more obscured, And with new yearnings in her eyes Climbs to her watch-tower—reassured. *London Truth. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
MOSBY AT HAMILTON	1863		× MOSBY AT HAMILTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE MOSBY AT HAMILTON [March 16, 1863] 1 Down Loudon Lanes, with swinging reins And clash of spur and sabre, And bugling of the battle horn, Six score and eight we rode at morn, Six score and eight of Southern born, All tried in love and labor. 2 Full in the sun at Hamilton, We met the South's invaders; Who, over fifteen hundred strong, 'Mid blazing homes had marched along All night, with Northern shout and song To crush the rebel raiders. 3 Down Loudon Lanes, with streaming manes, We spurred in wild March weather; And all along our war-scarred way The graves of Southern heroes lay, Our guide-posts to revenge that day, As we rode grim together. 4 Old tales still tell some miracle Of saints in holy writing— But who shall say while hundreds fled Before the few that Mosby led, Unless the noblest of our dead Charged with us then when fighting? 5 While Yankee cheers still stunned our ears, Of troops at Harper's Ferry, While Sheridan led on his Huns, And Richmond rocked to roaring guns, We felt the South still had some sons She would not scorn to bury. *Madison Cawein. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH	1631		× NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE NEW ENGLAND'S GROWTH (ca.1631) 1 Famine once we had, But other things God gave us in full store, As fish and ground-nuts to supply our strait, That we might learn on Providence to wait; And know, by bread man lives not in his need. But by each word that doth from God proceed. 2 But a while after plenty did come in, From His hand only who doth pardon sin, And all did flourish like the pleasant green, Which in the joyful spring is to be seen. 3 Almost ten years we lived here alone, In other places there were few or none; For Salem was the next of any fame, That began to augment New England's name; 4 But after multitudes began to flow, More than well knew themselves where to bestow; Boston then began her roots to spread, And quickly soon she grew to be the head, 5 Not only of the Massachusetts Bay, But all trade and commerce fell in her way. And truly it was admirable to know, How greatly all things here began to grow. 6 New plantations were in each place begun, And with inhabitants were filled soon. All sorts of grain which our own land doth yield, Was hither brought and sown in every field: 7 As wheat and rye, barley, oats, beans and pease, Here all thrive, and they profit from them raise. All sorts of roots and herbs in gardens grow, Parsnips, carrots, turnips, or what you'll sow. 8 Onions, melons, cucumbers, radishes, Skirets, beets, coleworts, and fair cabbages. Here grow fine flowers many, amongst those, The fair white lily and sweet fragrant rose. 9 Many good wholesome berries here you'll find, Fit for man's use, almost of every kind, Pears, apples, cherries, plumbs, quinces, and peach, Are now no dainties; you may have of each. Nuts and grapes of several sorts are here, If you will take the pains them to seek. *William Bradford (From a fragmentary poem on "New England") 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
NEWS FROM YORKTOWN	1781		× NEWS FROM YORKTOWN - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE NEWS FROM YORKTOWN OCTOBER, 1781 1 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How the voice rolled down the street Till the silence rang and echoed With the stir of hurrying feet! In the hush of the Quaker city, As the night drew on to morn, How it startled the troubled sleepers, Like the cry for a man-child born! 2 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How they gathered, man and maid, Here the child with a heart for the flint-lock, There the trembling grandsire staid! From the stateliest homes of the city, From hovels that love might scorn, How they followed that ringing summons, Like the cry for a king's heir born! 3 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "I can see the quick lights flare, See the glad, wild face at the window, Half dumb in a breathless stare. In the pause of an hour portentous, In the gloom of a hope forlorn, How it throbbed to the star-deep heavens, Like the cry for a nation born! 4 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How the message is sped and gone To the farm and the town and the forest Till the world was one vast dawn! To distant and slave-sunk races, Bowed down in their chains that morn, How it swept on the winds of heaven, Like a cry for God's justice born! *Lewis Worthington Smith. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN	1790		× ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN [April 17, 1790] 1 Thus, some tall tree that long hath stood The glory of its native wood, By storms destroyed, or length of years, Demands the tribute of our tears. 2 The pile, that took long time to raise, To dust returns by slow decays; But, when its destined years are o'er, We must regret the loss the more. 3 So long accustomed to your aid, The world laments your exit made; So long befriended by your art, Philosopher, 'tis hard to part!— 4 When monarchs tumble to the ground Successors easily are found; But, matchless Franklin! what a few Can hope to rival such as you, Who seized from kings their sceptred pride, And turned the lightning's darts aside! *Philip Freneau. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
PENNSYLVANIA SONG	1775		× PENNSYLVANIA SONG - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE PENNSYLVANIA SONG (ca. 1775) 1 We are the troop that ne'er will stoop To wretched slavery, Nor shall our seed, by our base deed, Despisèd vassals be; Freedom we will bequeath to them, Or we will bravely die; Our greatest foe, ere long shall know, How much did Sandwich lie. [CHORUS] And all the world shall know, Americans are free; Nor slaves nor cowards we will prove, Great Britain soon shall see. 2 We'll not give up our birthright, Our foes shall find us men; As good as they, in any shape, The British troops shall ken. Huzza! brave boys, we'll beat them On any hostile plain; For Freedom, wives, and children dear, The battle we'll maintain. [To CHORUS] And all the world, etc. 3 What! can those British tyrants think, Our fathers cross'd the main, And savage foes, and dangers met, To be enslav'd by them? If so, they are mistaken, For we will rather die; And since they have become our foes, Their forces we defy. [To CHORUS] And all the world, etc. *Dunlap's Packet, 1775. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
SAN FRANCISCO	1906		× SAN FRANCISCO - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE SAN FRANCISCO [April 18, 1906] 1 Such darkness as when Jesus died! Then sudden dawn drave all before. Two wee brown tomtits, terrified, Flashed through my open cottage door; Then instant out and off again And left a stillness like to pain— Such stillness, darkness, sudden dawn I never knew or looked upon! 2 This ardent, Occidental dawn Dashed San Francisco's streets with gold, Just gold and gold to walk upon, As he of Patmos sang of old. And still, so still, her streets, her steeps, As when some great soul silent weeps; And oh, that gold, that gold that lay Beyond, above the tarn, brown bay! 3 And then a bolt, a jolt, a chill, And Mother Earth seemed as afraid; Then instant all again was still, Save that my cattle from the shade Where they had sought firm, rooted clay, Came forth loud lowing, glad and gay, Knee-deep in grasses to rejoice That all was well, with trumpet voice. 4 Not so yon city—darkness, dust, Then martial men in swift array, Then smoke, then flames, then great guns thrust To heaven, as if pots of clay— Cathedral, temple, palace, tower— An hundred wars in one wild hour! And still the smoke, the flame, the guns The piteous wail of little ones! 5 The mad flame climbed the costly steep, But man, defiant, climbed the flame. What battles where the torn clouds keep! What deeds of glory in God's name! What sons of giants—giants, yea— Or beardless lad or veteran gray. Not Marathon nor Waterloo Knew men so daring, dauntless, true. 6 Three days, three nights, three fearful days Of death, of flame, of dynamite, 7 Of God's house thrown a thousand ways; Blown east by day, blown west by night— By night? There was no night. Nay, nay, The ghoulish flame lit nights that lay Crouched down between this first, last day. I say those nights were burned away! 8 And jealousies were burned away, And burned were city rivalries, Till all, white crescenting the bay, Were one harmonious hive of bees. Behold the bravest battle won! The City Beautiful begun: One solid San Francisco, one, The fairest sight beneath the sun. *Joaquin Miller. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
SAVANNAH	1864	$Battle of Honey Hill: The third battle of Sherman`s March to the Sea was a failed Union Army expedition under Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch that attempted to cut off the Charleston and Savannah Railroad in support of Sherman\\\\\\\'s projected arrival in Savannah.$	× SAVANNAH - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE SAVANNAH [December 23, 1864] 1 Thou hast not drooped thy stately head, Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed! Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Thou comest to thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! 2 Thine arm of flesh is girded strong; The blue veins swell beneath thy wrong; To thee the triple cords belong Of woe and death and shameless wrong, And spirit vaunted long, too long! Savannah! O Savannah! 3 No blood-stains spot thy forehead fair; Only the martyrs' blood is there; It gleams upon thy bosom bare, It moves thy deep, deep soul to prayer, And tunes a dirge for thy sad ear, Savannah! O Savannah! 4 Thy clean white hand is opened wide For weal or woe, thou Freedom Bride; The sword-sheath sparkles at thy side, Thy plighted troth, whate'er betide, Thou hast but Freedom for thy guide, Savannah! O Savannah! 5 What though the heavy storm-cloud lowers, Still at thy feet the old oak towers; Still fragrant are thy jessamine bowers, And things of beauty, love, and flowers Are smiling o'er this land of ours, My sunny home, Savannah! 6 There is no film before thy sight,— Thou seest woe and death and night, And blood upon thy banner bright; But in thy full wrath's kindled might What carest thou for woe or night? My rebel home, Savannah! 7 Come—for the crown is on thy head! Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed; Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Oh! come unto thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! *Alethea S. Burroughs. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
SHERMAN`S IN SAVANNAH	1864		× SHERMAN`S IN SAVANNAH - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE SHERMAN'S IN SAVANNAH [a Christmas gift] [December 22, 1864] 1 Like the tribes of Israel, Fed on quails and manna, Sherman and his glorious band Journeyed through the rebel land, Fed from Heaven's all-bounteous hand, Marching on Savannah! 2 As the moving pillar shone, Streamed the starry banner All day long in rosy light, Flaming splendor all the night, Till it swooped in eagle flight Down on doomed Savannah! 3 Glory be to God on high! Shout the loud Hosanna! Treason's wilderness is past, Canaan's shore is won at last, Peal a nation's trumpet-blast,— Sherman's in Savannah! 4 Soon shall Richmond's tough old hide Find a tough old tanner! Soon from every rebel wall Shall the rag of treason fall, Till our banner flaps o'er all As it crowns Savannah! *Oliver Wendell Holmes. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
SONG OF TEXAS	1836		× SONG OF TEXAS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE SONG OF TEXAS (1836) 1 Make room on our banner bright That flaps in the lifting gale, For the orb that lit the fight In Jacinto's storied vale. Through clouds, all dark of hue, It arose with radiant face; Oh, grant to a sister true, Ye stars, in your train a place! 2 The blood of the Saxon flows In the veins of the men who cry, "Give ear, give ear unto those Who pine for their native sky! We call on our Motherland For a home in Freedom's hall, While stretching forth the hand, Oh, build no dividing wall! 3 "The Mexican vaunteth no more; In strife we have tamed his pride; The coward raps not at your door, Speak out! shall it open wide? Oh, the wish of our hearts is strong, That the star of Jacinto's fight Have place in the flashing throng That spangle your banner bright." *William Henry Cuyler Hosmer. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE)	1896		× TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) [June 1, 1896] 1 She is touching the cycle,—her tender tread Is soft on the hearts of her hallowed dead, And she proudly stands where her sons have bled For God and Tennessee; 2 Where the love of her women set the seal Of the warrior's faith for the country's weal, With hand on the rifle and hand on the wheel, By the altars of Tennessee. 3 They have builded well for the niche of fame, Through the sleet of want and the heat of blame, But the courage of heroes tried the flame, As they builded Tennessee. 4 'Twas up to the port-holes and down in the dust, Not the weight of might, but the force of must, With faith and rifle-bore free from rust, They were building Tennessee. 5'Twas up in the saddle and off to the fight, Where arrow and tomahawk shrieked in the light; But the sinews of pioneers won for the right, The bulwarks of Tennessee. 6 She was true when they pressed like a shadowy fate, Her royal foes at her unbarred gate, And as true when were menaced her Rights of State, The mother,—Tennessee. 7 And she gave of her life for the stars and bars, As she gave of her sons for the earlier wars, And the breast of her motherhood wears the scars, For the manhood of Tennessee. 8 But she wrought again, in the strength of might, In the face of defeat and a yielded right, The Cloth of Gold from the loom of night, The mantle of Tennessee. 9 She has given all that she held most dear, With a Spartan hope and a Spartan fear, Crowned in her statehood "Volunteer," Glorious Tennessee! 10 She has rounded the cycle,—the tale is told; The circlet is iron, the clasp is gold; And the leaves of a wonderful past unfold The garland of Tennessee. 11 And her garments gleam in the sunlit years, And the songs of her children fill her ears; And the listening heart of the great world hears The pæans of Tennessee! *Virginia Fraser Boyle. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THANKSGIVING HYMN	1783		× THANKSGIVING HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THANKSGIVING HYMN (1783) 1 The Lord above, in tender love, Hath sav'd us from our foes; Through Washington the thing is done, The war is at a close. 2 America has won the day, Through Washington, our chief; Come let's rejoice with heart and voice, And bid adieu to grief. 3 Now we have peace, and may increase In number, wealth, and arts, If every one, like Washington, Will strive to do their parts. 4 Then let's agree, since we are free, All needless things to shun; And lay aside all pomp and pride, Like our great Washington. 5 Use industry, and frugal be, Like Washington the brave; So shall we see, 'twill easy be, Our country for to save, 6 From present wars and future foes, And all that we may fear; While Washington, the great brave one, Shall as our chief appear. 7 Industry and frugality Will all our taxes pay; In virtuous ways, we'll spend our days, And for our rulers pray. 8 The Thirteen States, united sets, In Congress simply grand; The Lord himself preserve their health, That they may rule the land. 9 Whilst every State, without its mate, Doth rule itself by laws, Will sovereign be, and always free; To grieve there is no cause. 10 But all should try, both low and high, Our freedom to maintain; Pray God to bless our grand Congress, And cease from every sin. 11 Then sure am I, true liberty Of every sort will thrive; With one accord we'll praise the Lord, All glory to Him give. 12 To whom all praise is due always, For He is all in all; George Washington, that noble one, On His great name doth call. 13 Our Congress too, before they do, Acknowledge Him supreme; Come let us all before Him fall, And glorify His name. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE AMERICAN FLAG	1777		× THE AMERICAN FLAG - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE AMERICAN FLAG (1777) I When Freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there; She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies, And striped its pure, celestial white With streakings of the morning light; Then from his mansion in the sun She called her eagle bearer down, And gave into his mighty hand The symbol of her chosen land. II Majestic monarch of the cloud! Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, To hear the tempest-trumpings loud, And see the lightning lances driven, When strive the warriors of the storm, And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven— Child of the sun! to thee 'tis given To guard the banner of the free, To hover in the sulphur smoke, To ward away the battle-stroke, And bid its blendings shine afar, Like rainbows on the cloud of war, The harbingers of victory! Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, The sign of hope and triumph high, When speaks the signal trumpet tone, And the long line comes gleaming on; Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet, Has dimmed the glistening bayonet, Each soldier eye shall brightly turn To where thy sky-born glories burn, And, as his springing steps advance, Catch war and vengeance from the glance And when the cannon-mouthings loud Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud And gory sabres rise and fall, Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall; Then shall thy meteor-glances glow, And cowering foes shall sink beneath Each gallant arm that strikes below That lovely messenger of death. IV Flag of the seas! on ocean wave Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave; When death, careering on the gale, Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail, And frighted waves rush wildly back Before the broadside's reeling rack, Each dying wanderer of the sea Shall look at once to heaven and thee, And smile to see thy splendors fly In triumph o'er his closing eye. V Flag of the free heart's hope and home, By angel hands to valor given, The stars have lit the welkin dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet! Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us? *Joseph Rodman Drake. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER	1776		× THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE AMERICAN PATRIOT'S PRAYER [1776] 1 Parent of all, omnipotent In heav'n, and earth below, Thro' all creation's bounds unspent, Whose streams of goodness flow. 2 Teach me to know from whence I rose, And unto what design'd; No private aims let me propose, Since link'd with human kind. 3 But chief to hear my country's voice, May all my thoughts incline,' Tis reason's law, 'tis virtue's choice, 'Tis nature's call and thine. 4 Me from fair freedom's sacred cause Let nothing e'er divide; Grandeur, nor gold, nor vain applause, Nor friendship false misguide. 5 Let me not faction's partial hate Pursue to this land's woe; Nor grasp the thunder of the state To wound a private foe. 6 If, for the right, to wish the wrong My country shall combine, Single to serve th' erron'ous throng, Spite of themselves, be mine. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE	1814		× THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE [September 12, 1814] 1 Old Ross, Cockburn, and Cochrane too, And many a bloody villain more, Swore with their bloody savage crew, That they would plunder Baltimore. But General Winder being afraid That his militia would not stand, He sent away to crave the aid Of a few true Virginians. Then up we rose with hearts elate, To help our suffering sister state. 2 When first our orders we received, For to prepare without delay, Our wives and sweethearts for to leave, And to the army march away, Although it grieved our hearts full sore, To leave our sweet Virginia shore, We kiss'd our sweethearts o'er and o'er, And march'd like true Virginians. Adieu awhile, sweet girls, adieu, With honor we'll return to you. 3 With rapid marches on we went, To leave our sweet Virginia shore, No halt was made, no time was spent, Till we arrived at Baltimore. The Baltimoreans did us greet, The ladies clapt their lily-white hands, Exclaiming as we passed the street," Welcome, ye brave Virginians. May Heaven all your foes confound, And send you home with laurels crown'd." 4 We had not been in quarters long, Before we heard the dread alarms, The cannon roar'd, the bells did ring, The drum did beat to arms, to arms. Then up we rose to face our foes, Determined to meet them on the strand, And drive them back from fair Freedom's shore, Or die like brave Virginians .In Heaven above we placed our trust, Well knowing that our cause is just. 5 Then Ross he landed at North Point, With seven thousand men or more, And swore by that time next night, That he would be in Baltimore. But Striker met him on the strand, Attended by a chosen band, Where he received a fatal shot From a brave Pennsylvanian— Whom Heaven directed to the field, To make this haughty Briton yield. (…) * Unknown 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE BATTLE OF TRENTON	1776		× THE BATTLE OF TRENTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE (1776) 1 On Christmas-day in seventy-six, Our ragged troops, with bayonets fixed, For Trenton marched away. The Delaware see! the boats below! The light obscured by hail and snow! But no signs of dismay. 2 Our object was the Hessian band, That dared invade fair freedom's land, And quarter in that place. Great Washington he led us on, Whose streaming flag, in storm or sun, Had never known disgrace. 3 In silent march we passed the night, Each soldier panting for the fight, Though quite benumbed with frost. Greene on the left at six began, The right was led by Sullivan Who ne'er a moment lost. 4 Their pickets stormed, the alarm was spread, That rebels risen from the dead Were marching into town. Some scampered here, some scampered there, And some for action did prepare; But soon their arms laid down. 5 Twelve hundred servile miscreants, With all their colors, guns, and tents, Were trophies of the day. The frolic o'er, the bright canteen, In centre, front, and rear was seen Driving fatigue away. 6 Now, brothers of the patriot bands, Let's sing deliverance from the hands Of arbitrary sway. And as our life is but a span, Let's touch the tankard while we can, In memory of that day. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL	1775		× THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL [October 7, 1775] 1 In seventeen hundred and seventy-five, Our Bristol town was much surprised By a pack of thievish villains, That will not work to earn their livings. 2 October 'twas the seventh day, As I have heard the people say, Wallace, his name be ever curst, Came on our harbor just at dusk. 3 And there his ship did safely moor, And quickly sent his barge on shore, With orders that should not be broke, Or they might expect a smoke. 4 Demanding that the magistrates Should quickly come on board his ship, And let him have some sheep and cattle, Or they might expect a battle. 5 At eight o'clock, by signal given, Our peaceful atmosphere was riven By British balls, both grape and round, As plenty afterwards were found. 6 But oh! to hear the doleful cries Of people running for their lives! Women, with children in their arms, Running away to the farms! 7 With all their firing and their skill They did not any person kill; Neither was any person hurt But the Reverend Parson Burt. 8 And he was not killed by a ball, As judged by jurors one and all; But being in a sickly state, He, frightened, fell, which proved his fate. 9 Another truth to you I'll tell, That you may see they levelled well; For aiming for to kill the people, They fired their shot into a steeple. 10 They fired low, they fired high, The women scream, the children cry; And all their firing and their racket Shot off the topmast of a packet. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE FALL OF RICHMOND	1865	$Patrick Henry delivered his \"Give me liberty or give me death! \"speech at St. John`s Church in Richmond, helping to ignite the American Revolution.$	× THE FALL OF RICHMOND - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE (APRIL, 1865) 1 What mean these peals from every tower, And crowds like seas that sway? The cannon reply; they speak the heart Of the People impassioned, and say— A city in flags for a city in flames, Richmond goes Babylon's way— Sing and pray. 2 O weary years and woeful wars, And armies in the grave; But hearts unquelled at last deter The helmed dilated Lucifer— Honor to Grant the brave, Whose three stars now like Orion's rise When wreck is on the wave— Bless his glaive. 3 Well that the faith we firmly kept, And never our aim forswore For the Terrors that trooped from each recess When fainting we fought in the Wilderness, And Hell made loud hurrah; But God is in Heaven, and Grant in the Town, And Right through Might is Law— God's way adore. *Herman Melville. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO	1794		× THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO (1794) 1 The footsteps of a hundred years Have echoed, since o'er Braddock's Road Bold Putnam and the Pioneers Led History the way they strode. 2 On wild Monongahela stream They launched the Mayflower of the West, A perfect State their civic dream, A new New World their pilgrim quest. 3 When April robed the Buckeye trees Muskingum's bosky shore they trod; They pitched their tents, and to the breeze Flung freedom's star-flag, thanking God. 4 As glides the Oyo's solemn flood, So fleeted their eventful years; Resurgent in their children's blood, They still live on—the Pioneers. 5 Their fame shrinks not to names and dates On votive stone, the prey of time;— Behold where monumental States Immortalize their lives sublime! *William Henry Venable. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE FOURTH OF JULY	1776		× THE FOURTH OF JULY - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE FOURTH OF JULY (July 4, 1776) 1 Day of glory! Welcome day! Freedom's banners greet thy ray; See! how cheerfully they play With thy morning breeze, On the rocks where pilgrims kneeled, On the heights where squadrons wheeled, When a tyrant's thunder pealed O'er the trembling seas. 2 God of armies! did thy stars On their courses smite his cars; Blast his arm, and wrest his bars From the heaving tide? On our standard, lo! they burn, And, when days like this return, Sparkle o'er the soldier's urn Who for freedom died. 3 God of peace! whose spirit fills All the echoes of our hills, All the murmur of our rills, Now the storm is o'er, O let freemen be our sons, And let future Washingtons Rise, to lead their valiant ones Till there's war no more! *John Pierpont. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS	1775		× THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS [May 9, 1775] 1 Here halt we our march, and pitch our tent On the rugged forest-ground, And light our fire with the branches rent By winds from the beeches round. Wild storms have torn this ancient wood, But a wilder is at hand, With hail of iron and rain of blood, To sweep and waste the land. 2 How the dark wood rings with our voices shrill, That startle the sleeping bird! To-morrow eve must the voice be still, And the step must fall unheard. The Briton lies by the blue Champlain, In Ticonderoga's towers, And ere the sun rise twice again, Must they and the lake be ours. 3 Fill up the bowl from the brook that glides Where the fire-flies light the brake; A ruddier juice the Briton hides In his fortress by the lake. Build high the fire, till the panther leap From his lofty perch in flight, And we'll strengthen our weary arms with sleep For the deeds of to-morrow night. *William Cullen Bryant. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY	1815		× THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY (1815) 1 Ye gentlemen and ladies fair, Who grace this famous city, Just listen, if you've time to spare, While I rehearse a ditty; And for the opportunity Conceive yourselves quite lucky, For 'tis but seldom that you see A hunter from Kentucky. Oh! Kentucky, The hunters of Kentucky. 2 We are a hardy free-born race, Each man to fear a stranger; Whate'er the game, we join in chase, Despising toil and danger: And if a daring foe annoys, Whate'er his strength or force is, We'll show him that Kentucky boys Are Alligator-horses. 3 I s'pose you've read it in the prints, How Pakenham attempted To make old Hickory Jackson wince, But soon his schemes repented; For we, with rifles ready cock'd, Thought such occasion lucky, And soon around the general flock'd The hunters of Kentucky. 4 I s'pose you've heard how New Orleans Is famed for wealth and beauty; They've gals of every hue, it seems, From snowy white to sooty: So Pakenham he made his brags If he in fight was lucky, He'd have their gals and cotton bags, In spite of Old Kentucky. 5 But Jackson he was wide awake, And wasn't scared at trifles, For well he knew what aim we take With our Kentucky rifles; So he led us down to Cypress Swamp, The ground was low and mucky; There stood John Bull in martial pomp— But here was Old Kentucky. 6 We raised a bank to hide our breasts, Not that we thought of dying, But then we always like to rest, Unless the game is flying: Behind it stood our little force— None wish'd it to be greater, For every man was half a horse And half an alligator. 7 They didn't let our patience tire Before they show'd their faces; We didn't choose to waste our fire, But snugly kept our places; And when so near we saw them wink, We thought it time to stop 'em, It would have done you good, I think, To see Kentuckians drop 'em. 8 They found, at length, 'twas vain to fight, When lead was all their booty, And so they wisely took to flight, And left us all the beauty. And now, if danger e'er annoys, Remember what our trade is; Just send for us Kentucky boys, And we'll protect you, ladies: Oh! Kentucky, The hunters of Kentucky. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK`S MEN	1777		× THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK`S MEN - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK'S MEN [August 15, 1777] 1 March! March! March! from sunrise till it's dark, And let no man straggle on the way! March! March! March! as we follow old John Stark, For the old man needs us all to-day. 2 Load! Load! Load! Three buckshot and a ball, With a hymn-tune for a wad to make them stay! But let no man dare to fire till he gives the word to all, Let no man let the buckshot go astray. 3 Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire all along the line, When we meet those bloody Hessians in array! They shall have every grain from this powder-horn of mine, Unless the cowards turn and run away. 4 Home! Home! Home! When the fight is fought and won, To the home where the women watch and pray! To tell them how John Stark finished what he had begun, And to hear them thank our God for the day. Edward Everett Hale. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE MAYFLOWER	1620		× THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 Down in the bleak December bay The ghostly vessel stands away; Her spars and halyards white with ice, Under the dark December skies. A hundred souls, in company, Have left the vessel pensively,— Have reached the frosty desert there, And touched it with the knees of prayer. And now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 2 Neither the desert nor the sea Imposes rites: their prayers are free; Danger and toil the wild imposes, And thorns must grow before the roses. And who are these?—and what distress The savage-acred wilderness On mother, maid, and child may bring, Beseems them for a fearful thing; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 3 But Carver leads (in heart and health A hero of the commonwealth) The axes that the camp requires, To build the lodge and heap the fires, And Standish from his warlike store Arrays his men along the shore, Distributes weapons resonant, And dons his harness militant; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower; 4 And Rose, his wife, unlocks a chest— She sees a Book, in vellum drest, She drops a tear and kisses the tome, Thinking of England and of home: Might they—the Pilgrims, there and then Ordained to do the work of men— Have seen, in visions of the air, While pillowed on the breast of prayer (When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower), 5 The Canaan of their wilderness A boundless empire of success; And seen the years of future nights Jewelled with myriad household lights; And seen the honey fill the hive; And seen a thousand ships arrive; And heard the wheels of travel go; It would have cheered a thought of woe, When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. *Erastus Wolcott Ellsworth. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION	1775		× THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION [May 20, 1775] 1 Oppressed and few, but freemen yet, The men of Mecklenburg had met Determined to be free, And crook no coward knee, Though Might in front and Treason at the back Brought death and ruin in their joint attack. 2 The tyrant's heel was on the land When Polk convoked his gallant band, And told in words full strong The bitter tale of wrong, Then came a whisper, like the storm's first waves: "We must be independent, or be slaves!" 3 But, hark! What hurried rider, this, With jaded horse and garb amiss, Whose look some woe proclaims, Ere he his mission names? He rides amain from far-off Lexington, And tells the blood-red news of war begun! 4 Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke The wise bold words that aye invoke Men to defend the right And scorn the despot's might; Until from all there rose the answering cry: "We will be independent, or we die." 5 When Alexander called the vote, No dastard "nay's" discordant note Broke on that holy air— For dastard none was there! But in prompt answer to their country's call, They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor—all! 6 In solemn hush the people heard; With shout and cheer they caught the word: Independence! In that sign We grasp our right divine; For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate Must yield to men who fight for God and State! 7 The hero shout flew on the breeze; Rushed from the mountains to the seas; Till all the land uprose, Their faces to their foes, Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne, And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn! 8 And well those men maintained the right; They kept the faith, and fought the fight; Till Might and Treason both Fled fast before the oath Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down To place on patriot brows the victor's crown! *William C. Elam. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL	1848		× THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL (From 1848 forward) 1 It wound through strange scarred hills, down cañons lone Where wild things screamed, with winds for company; Its mile-stones were the bones of pioneers. Bronzed, haggard men, often with thirst a-moan, Lashed on their beasts of burden toward the sea: An epic quest it was of elder years, For fabled gardens or for good, red gold, The trail men strove in iron days of old. 2 To-day the steam-god thunders through the vast, While dominant Saxons from the hurtling trains Smile at the aliens, Mexic, Indian, Who offer wares, keen-colored, like their past; Dread dramas of immitigable plains Rebuke the softness of the modern man; No menace, now, the desert's mood of sand; Still westward lies a green and golden land. 3 For, at the magic touch of water, blooms The wilderness, and where of yore the yoke Tortured the toilers into dateless tombs, Lo! brightsome fruits to feed a mighty folk. *Richard Burton. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON	1777		× THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE RIFLEMAN'S SONG AT BENNINGTON 1 Why come ye hither, stranger? Your mind what madness fills? In our valleys there is danger, And danger on our hills! Hear ye not the singing Of the bugle, wild and free? Full soon ye'll know the ringing Of the rifle from the tree! The rifle, the sharp rifle! In our hands it is no trifle! 2 Ye ride a goodly steed; He may know another master: Ye forward come with speed, But ye'll learn to back much faster, When ye meet our mountain boys And their leader, Johnny Stark! Lads who make but little noise, But who always hit the mark With the rifle, the true rifle! In their hands will prove no trifle! 3 Had ye no graves at home Across the briny water, That hither ye must come, Like bullocks to the slaughter? If we the work must do, Why, the sooner 'tis begun, If flint and trigger hold but true, The quicker 'twill be done By the rifle, the good rifle! In our hands it is no trifle! 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
THROUGH BALTIMORE	1861		× THROUGH BALTIMORE - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THROUGH BALTIMORE [April 19, 1861] 1 'Twas Friday morn: the train drew near The city and the shore. Far through the sunshine, soft and clear, We saw the dear old flag appear, And in our hearts arose a cheer For Baltimore. 2 Across the broad Patapsco's wave, Old Fort McHenry bore The starry banner of the brave, As when our fathers went to save, Or in the trenches find a grave At Baltimore. 3 Before us, pillared in the sky, We saw the statue soar Of Washington, serene and high:— Could traitors view that form, nor fly? Could patriots see, nor gladly die For Baltimore? 4 "O city of our country's song! By that swift aid we bore When sorely pressed, receive the throng Who go to shield our flag from wrong, And give us welcome, warm and strong, In Baltimore!" 5 We had no arms; as friends we came, As brothers evermore, To rally round one sacred name— The charter of our power and fame: We never dreamed of guilt and shame In Baltimore. 6 The coward mob upon us fell: McHenry's flag they tore: Surprised, borne backward by the swell, Beat down with mad, inhuman yell, Before us yawned a traitorous hell In Baltimore! 7 The streets our soldier-fathers trod Blushed with their children's gore; We saw the craven rulers nod, And dip in blood the civic rod— Shall such things be, O righteous God, In Baltimore? 8 No, never! By that outrage black, A solemn oath we swore, To bring the Keystone's thousands back, Strike down the dastards who attack, And leave a red and fiery track Through Baltimore! 9 Bow down, in haste, thy guilty head! God's wrath is swift and sore: The sky with gathering bolts is red,— Cleanse from thy skirts the slaughter shed, Or make thyself an ashen bed, O Baltimore! Bayard Taylor. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS	1815		× TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS (1815) 1 Hail sons of generous valor, Who now embattled stand, To wield the brand of strife and blood, For Freedom and the land. And hail to him your laurelled chief, Around whose trophied name A nation's gratitude has twined The wreath of deathless fame. 2 Now round that gallant leader Your iron phalanx form, And throw, like Ocean's barrier rocks, Your bosoms to the storm. Though wild as Ocean's wave it rolls, Its fury shall be low, For justice guides the warrior's steel, And vengeance strikes the blow. 3 High o'er the gleaming columns, The bannered star appears, And proud amid its martial band, His crest the eagle rears. And long as patriot valor's arm Shall win the battle's prize, That star shall beam triumphantly, That eagle seek the skies. 4 Then on, ye daring spirits, To danger's tumults now, The bowl is filled and wreathed the crown, To grace the victor's brow; And they who for their country die, Shall fill an honored grave; For glory lights the soldier's tomb, And beauty weeps the brave. *Joseph Rodman Drake. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
TRENTON AND PRINCETON	1776		× TRENTON AND PRINCETON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE TRENTON AND PRINCETON [December 26, 1776—January 3, 1777] 1 On December, the sixth And the twentieth day, Our troops attacked the Hessians, And show'd them gallant play. 2 Our roaring cannon taught them Our valor for to know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. 3 The chiefs were kill'd or taken, The rest were put to flight, And some arrived at Princeton, Half-fainting with affright. 4 The third of January, The morning being clear, Our troops attack'd the regulars, At Princeton, we do hear. 5 About a mile from Princeton, The battle is begun, And many a haughty Briton fell Before the fight was done. 6 And what our gallant troops have done We'll let the British know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. 7 The British, struck with terror, And frighted, ran away: They ran across the country Like men in deep dismay, 8 Crying to every one they met, "Oh! hide us! hide us! do! The rebels will devour us, So hotly they pursue." 9 Oh, base, ungenerous Britons! To call us by that name; We're fighting for our liberty, Our just and lawful claim. 10 We trust in Heaven's protection, Nor fear to win the day; When time shall come we'll crown our deeds With many a loud huzza! 11 Our foes are fled to Brunswick, Where they are close confined; Our men they are unanimous, In Freedom's cause combined. 12 Success to General Washington, And Gates and Putnam, too, Both officers and privates, Who liberty pursue. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
UNHAPPY BOSTON	1770		× UNHAPPY BOSTON - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE UNHAPPY BOSTON [March 8, 1770] 1 Unhappy Boston! see thy sons deplore Thy hallowed walks besmear'd with guiltless gore. While faithless Preston and his savage bands, With murderous rancor stretch their bloody hands; Like fierce barbarians grinning o'er their prey, Approve the carnage and enjoy the day. 2 If scalding drops, from rage, from anguish wrung, If speechless sorrows lab'ring for a tongue, Or if a weeping world can aught appease The plaintive ghosts of victims such as these; The patriot's copious tears for each are shed, A glorious tribute which embalms the dead. 3 But know, Fate summons to that awful goal, Where justice strips the murderer of his soul: Should venal Cts, the scandal of the land, Snatch the relentless villain from her hand, Keen execrations on this plate inscrib'd Shall reach a judge who never can be bribed. *Paul Revere. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
VIRGINIA CAPTA	1865		× VIRGINIA CAPTA - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE VIRGINIA CAPTA APRIL, 1865 1 Unconquer'd captive!—close thine eye, And draw the ashen sackcloth o'er, And in thy speechless woe deplore The fate that would not let thee die! 2 The arm that wore the shield, strip bare; The hand that held the martial rein, And hurled the spear on many a plain,— Stretch—till they clasp the shackles there! 3 The foot that once could crush the crown, Must drag the fetters, till it bleed Beneath their weight:—thou dost not need It now, to tread the tyrant down. 4 Thou thought'st him vanquished—boastful trust!— His lance, in twain—his sword, a wreck,— But with his heel upon thy neck, He holds thee prostrate in the dust! 5 Bend though thou must, beneath his will, Let not one abject moan have place; But with majestic, silent grace, Maintain thy regal bearing still. 6 Look back through all thy storied past, And sit erect in conscious pride: No grander heroes ever died— No sterner, battled to the last! 7 Weep, if thou wilt, with proud, sad mien, Thy blasted hopes—thy peace undone,— Yet brave, live on,—nor seek to shun Thy fate, like Egypt's conquer'd Queen. 8 Though forced a captive's place to fill In the triumphal train,—yet there, Superbly, like Zenobia, wear Thy chains,—Virginia Victrix still! *Margaret Junkin Preston. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT	1814		× WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE WASHINGTON'S MONUMENT (1799) 1 For him who sought his country's good In plains of war, mid scenes of blood; Who, in the dubious battle's fray, Spent the warm noon of life's bright day, That to a world he might secure Rights that forever shall endure, Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name 2 For him, who, when the war was done, And victory sure, and freedom won, Left glory's theatre, the field, The olive branch of peace to wield; And proved, when at the helm of state, Though great in war, in peace as great; Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name! 3 For him, whose worth, though unexpress'd, Lives cherish'd in each freeman's breast, Whose name, to patriot souls so dear, Time's latest children shall revere, Whose brave achievements praised shall be, While beats one breast for liberty; Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name! 4 But why for him vain marbles raise? Can the cold sculpture speak his praise? Illustrious shade! we can proclaim Our gratitude, but not thy fame. Long as Columbia shall be free, She lives a monument of thee; And may she ever rise in fame, To honor thy immortal name! 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x
WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS	1775		× WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS - Festival on Poems of American History YOUR LOGO HERE THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION [May 20, 1775] 1 Oppressed and few, but freemen yet, The men of Mecklenburg had met Determined to be free, And crook no coward knee, Though Might in front and Treason at the back Brought death and ruin in their joint attack. 2 The tyrant's heel was on the land When Polk convoked his gallant band, And told in words full strong The bitter tale of wrong, Then came a whisper, like the storm's first waves: "We must be independent, or be slaves!" 3 But, hark! What hurried rider, this, With jaded horse and garb amiss, Whose look some woe proclaims, Ere he his mission names? He rides amain from far-off Lexington, And tells the blood-red news of war begun! 4 Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke The wise bold words that aye invoke Men to defend the right And scorn the despot's might; Until from all there rose the answering cry: "We will be independent, or we die." 5 When Alexander called the vote, No dastard "nay's" discordant note Broke on that holy air— For dastard none was there! But in prompt answer to their country's call, They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor—all! 6 In solemn hush the people heard; With shout and cheer they caught the word: Independence! In that sign We grasp our right divine; For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate Must yield to men who fight for God and State! 7 The hero shout flew on the breeze; Rushed from the mountains to the seas; Till all the land uprose, Their faces to their foes, Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne, And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn! 8 And well those men maintained the right; They kept the faith, and fought the fight; Till Might and Treason both Fled fast before the oath Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down To place on patriot brows the victor's crown! *William C. Elam. 🎤 Loading... 0:00 0:00 1.0x

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🎤 YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND 📌 1778

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YANKEE DOODLE'S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND [August, 1778] [1] From Lewis, Monsieur Gérard came, To Congress in this town, sir, They bow'd to him, and he to them, And then they all sat down, sir. [2] Begar, said Monsieur, one grand coup You shall bientôt behold, sir; This was believ'd as gospel true, And Jonathan felt bold, sir. [3] So Yankee Doodle did forget The sound of British drum, sir, How oft it made him quake and sweat, In spite of Yankee rum, sir. [4] He took his wallet on his back, His rifle on his shoulder, And veow'd Rhode Island to attack Before he was much older. [5] In dread array their tatter'd crew Advanc'd with colors spread, sir, Their fifes played Yankee doodle, doo, King Hancock at their head, sir. 6 What numbers bravely cross'd the seas, I cannot well determine, A swarm of rebels and of fleas, And every other vermin. 7 Their mighty hearts might shrink they tho't, For all flesh only grass is, A plenteous store they therefore bought Of whiskey and molasses. 8 They swore they'd make bold Pigot squeak, So did their good ally, sir, And take him pris'ner in a week, But that was all my eye, sir. 9 As Jonathan so much desir'd To shine in martial story, D'Estaing with politesse retir'd, To leave him all the glory. 10 He left him what was better yet, At least it was more use, sir, He left him for a quick retreat A very good excuse, sir. 11 To stay, unless he rul'd the sea, He thought would not be right, sir, And Continental troops, said he, On islands should not fight, sir. 12 Another cause with these combin'd To throw him in the dumps, sir, For Clinton's name alarmed his mind, And made him stir his stumps, sir.

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🎤 A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON 📌 1780

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A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON [surrended to the British] [May 12, 1780] 1 King Hancock sat in regal state, And big with pride and vainly great, Address'd his rebel crew: "These haughty Britons soon shall yield The boasted honors of the field, While our brave sons pursue. 2 "Six thousand fighting men or more, Protect the Carolina shore, And Freedom will defend; And stubborn Britons soon shall feel, 'Gainst Charleston, and hearts of steel, How vainly they contend." 3 But ere he spake, in dread array, To rebel foes, ill-fated day, The British boys appear; Their mien with martial ardor fired, And by their country's wrongs inspired, Shook Lincoln's heart with fear. 4 See Clinton brave, serene, and great, For mighty deeds rever'd by fate, Direct the thund'ring fight, While Mars, propitious god of war, Looks down from his triumphal car With wonder and delight. 5 "Clinton," he cries, "the palm is thine, 'Midst heroes thou wert born to shine A great immortal name, And Cornwallis' mighty deeds appear Conspicuous each revolving year, The pledge of future fame." 6 Our tars, their share of glories won, For they among the bravest shone, Undaunted, firm, and bold; Whene'er engag'd, their ardor show'd Hearts which with native valor glow'd, Hearts of true British mould.

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🎤 ACROSS THE DELAWARE 📌 1776

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ACROSS THE DELAWARE - Festival on Poems of American History

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ACROSS THE DELAWARE (1776) 1 The winter night is cold and drear, Along the river's sullen flow; The cruel frost is camping here— The air has living blades of snow. Look! pushing from the icy strand, With ensigns freezing in the air, There sails a small but mighty band, Across the dang'rous Delaware. 2 Oh, wherefore, soldiers, would you fight The bayonets of a winter storm? In truth it were a better night For blazing fire and blankets warm! We seek to trap a foreign foe, Who fill themselves with stolen fare; We carry freedom as we go Across the storm-swept Delaware! 3 The night is full of lusty cheer Within the Hessians' merry camp; And faint and fainter on the ear Doth fall the heedless sentry's tramp. O hirelings, this new nation's rage Is something 'tis not well to dare; You are not fitted to engage These men from o'er the Delaware! 4 A rush—a shout—a clarion call, Salute the early morning's gray: Now, roused invaders, yield or fall: The refuge-land has won the day! Soon shall the glorious news be hurled Wherever men have wrongs to bear; For freedom's torch illumes the world, And God has crossed the Delaware! *Will Carleton.

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🎤 ADAMS AND LIBERTY 📌 1798

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ADAMS AND LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History

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ADAMS AND LIBERTY [1798] [1] Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought For those rights which unstained from your sires have descended, May you long taste the blessings your valor has bought, And your sons reap the soil which their fathers defended. 'Mid the reign of mild peace, May your nation increase, With the glory of Rome and the wisdom of Greece; [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [2] In a clime, whose rich vales feed the marts of the world, Whose shores are unshaken by Europe's commotion, The trident of commerce should never be hurl'd, To incense the legitimate powers of the ocean. But should pirates invade, Though in thunder array'd, Let your cannon declare the free charter of trade. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [3] The fame of our arms, of our laws the mild sway, Had justly ennobled our nation in story, Till the dark clouds of faction obscured our young day, And enveloped the sun of American glory. But let traitors be told, Who their country have sold, And barter'd their God for his image in gold, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [4] While France her huge limbs bathes recumbent in blood, And society's base threats with wide dissolution; May peace, like the dove who return'd from the flood, Find an ark of abode in our mild constitution. But, though peace is our aim, Yet the boon we disclaim, If bought by our sovereignty, justice, or fame; [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [5] 'Tis the fire of the flint, each American warms: Let Rome's haughty victors beware of collision, Let them bring all the vassals of Europe in arms, We're a world by ourselves, and disdain a division. While, with patriot pride, To our laws we're allied, No foe can subdue us, no faction divide, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [6] Our mountains are crown'd with imperial oak; Whose roots, like our liberties, ages have nourish'd; But long ere our nation submits to the yoke, Not a tree shall be left on the field where it flourish'd. Should invasion impend, Every grove would descend, From the hill-tops, they shaded, our shores to defend. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [7] Let our patriots destroy Anarch's pestilent worm; Lest our liberty's growth should be check'd by corrosion; Then let clouds thicken round us; we heed not the storm; Our realm fears no shock, but the earth's own explosion. Foes assail us in vain, Though their fleets bridge the main, For our altars and laws with our lives we'll maintain. [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [8] Should the tempest of war overshadow our land, Its bolts could ne'er rend Freedom's temple asunder; For, unmov'd, at its portal, would Washington stand, And repulse, with his breast, the assaults of the thunder! His sword from the sleep Of its scabbard would leap, And conduct, with its point, every flash to the deep! [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. [9] Let fame to the world sound America's voice; No intrigues can her sons from their government sever; Her pride is her Adams; her laws are his choice, And shall flourish, till Liberty slumbers forever. Then unite heart and hand, Like Leonidas' band, And swear to the God of the ocean and land, [Chorus] And never shall the sons of Columbia be slaves, While the earth bears a plant, or the sea rolls its waves. *Robert Treat Paine.

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🎤 ALASKA 📌 1867

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ALASKA - Festival on Poems of American History

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ALASKA [purchase of Alaska] 1 Ice built, ice bound, and ice bounded, Such cold seas of silence! such room! Such snow-light, such sea-light, confounded With thunders that smite like a doom! Such grandeur! such glory! such gloom! Hear that boom! Hear that deep distant boom Of an avalanche hurled Down this unfinished world! 2 Ice seas! and ice summits! ice spaces In splendor of white, as God's throne! Ice worlds to the pole! and ice places Untracked, and unnamed, and unknown! Hear that boom! Hear the grinding, the groan Of the ice-gods in pain! Hear the moan Of yon ice mountain hurled Down this unfinished world. *Joaquin Miller

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🎤 AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 📌 1776

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE - Festival on Poems of American History

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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE (July 2, 1776) 1 Make room, all ye kingdoms, in history renown'd, Whose arms have in battle with victory been crown'd, Make room for America, another great nation; She rises to claim in your councils a station. 2 Her sons fought for freedom, and by their own bravery Have rescued themselves from the shackles of slavery; America is free; and Britain's abhorr'd; And America's fame is forever restored. 3 Fair Freedom in Britain her throne had erected; Her sons they grew venal, and she disrespected. The goddess, offended, forsook that base nation, And fix'd on our mountains: a more honor'd station. 4 With glory immortal she here sits enthroned, Nor fears the vain vengeance of Britain disown'd, Great Washington guards her, with heroes surrounded; Her foes he, with shameful defeat, has confounded. 5 To arms! we to arms flew! 'twas Freedom invited us, The trumpet, shrill sounding, to battle excited us; The banners of virtue, unfurl'd, did wave o'er us, Our hero led on, and the foe flew before us. 6 In Heaven and Washington we placed reliance, We met the proud Britons, and bid them defiance; The cause we supported was just, and was glorious; When men fight for freedom, they must be victorious. *Francis Hopkinson.

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🎤 ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL 📌 1862

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ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL - Festival on Poems of American History

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ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA [April 16, 1862] 1 When first I saw our banner wave Above the nation's council-hall I heard beneath its marble wall The clanking fetters of the slave! 2 In the foul market-place I stood, And saw the Christian mother sold, And childhood with its locks of gold, Blue-eyed and fair with Saxon blood. 3 I shut my eyes, I held my breath, And, smothering down the wrath and shame That set my Northern blood aflame, Stood silent,—where to speak was death. 4 Beside me gloomed the prison-cell Where wasted one in slow decline For uttering simple words of mine, And loving freedom all too well. 5 The flag that floated from the dome Flapped menace in the morning air; I stood a perilled stranger where The human broker made his home. 6 For crime was virtue: Gown and Sword And Law their threefold sanction gave, And to the quarry of the slave Went hawking with our symbol-bird. 7 On the oppressor's side was power; And yet I knew that every wrong, However old, however strong, But waited God's avenging hour. 8 I knew that truth would crush the lie,— Somehow, sometime, the end would be; Yet scarcely dared I hope to see The triumph with my mortal eye. 9 But now I see it! In the sun A free flag floats from yonder dome, And at the nation's hearth and home The justice long delayed is done. 10 Not as we hoped, in calm of prayer, The message of deliverance comes, But heralded by roll of drums On waves of battle-troubled air! 11 Midst sounds that madden and appall, The song that Bethlehem's shepherds knew! The harp of David melting through The demon-agonies of Saul! 12 Not as we hoped; but what are we? Above our broken dreams and plans God lays, with wiser hand than man's, The corner-stones of liberty. 13 I cavil not with Him: the voice That freedom's blessed gospel tells Is sweet to me as silver bells, Rejoicing! yea, I will rejoice! 14 Dear friends still toiling in the sun; Ye dearer ones who, gone before, Are watching from the eternal shore The slow work by your hands begun, 15 Rejoice with me! The chastening rod Blossoms with love; the furnace heat Grows cool beneath His blessed feet Whose form is as the Son of God! 16 Rejoice! Our Marah's bitter springs Are sweetened; on our ground of grief Rise day by day in strong relief The prophecies of better things. 17 Rejoice in hope! The day and night Are one with God, and one with them Who see by faith the cloudy hem Of Judgment fringed with Mercy's light! *John Greenleaf Whittier

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🎤 BEFORE VICKSBURG 📌 1863

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BEFORE VICKSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History

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BEFORE VICKSBURG [May 18-July 4, 1863] 1 While Sherman stood beneath the hottest fire, That from the lines of Vicksburg gleamed, And bomb-shells tumbled in their smoky gyre, And grape-shot hissed, and case-shot screamed; Back from the front there came, Weeping and sorely lame, The merest child, the youngest face Man ever saw in such a fearful place. 2 Stifling his tears, he limped his chief to meet; But when he paused, and tottering stood, Around the circle of his little feet There spread a pool of bright, young blood. Shocked at his doleful case, Sherman cried, "Halt! front face! Who are you? Speak, my gallant boy!""A drummer, sir: Fifty-fifth Illinois." 3 "Are you not hit?" "That's nothing. Only send Some cartridges: our men are out; And the foe press us." "But, my little friend—" "Don't mind me! Did you hear that shout? What if our men be driven? Oh, for the love of Heaven, Send to my Colonel, General dear!" "But you?" "Oh, I shall easily find the rear." 4 "I'll see to that," cried Sherman; and a drop, Angels might envy, dimmed his eye, As the boy, toiling towards the hill's hard top, Turned round, and with his shrill child's cry Shouted, "Oh, don't forget! We'll win the battle yet! But let our soldiers have some more, More cartridges, sir,—calibre fifty-four!" *George Henry Boker

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🎤 BOSTON FIRE 📌 1872

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BOSTON FIRE - Festival on Poems of American History

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BOSTON [Fire] [November 9, 1872] 1 O broad-breasted Queen among Nations! O Mother, so strong in thy youth! Has the Lord looked upon thee in ire, And willed thou be chastened by fire, Without any ruth? 2 Has the Merciful tired of His mercy, And turned from thy sinning in wrath, That the world with raised hand sees and pities Thy desolate daughters, thy cities, Despoiled on their path? 3 One year since thy youngest was stricken: Thy eldest lies stricken to-day. Ah! God, was Thy wrath without pity, To tear the strong heart from our city, And cast it away? 4 O Father! forgive us our doubting; The stain from our weak souls efface; Thou rebukest, we know, but to chasten, Thy hand has but fallen to hasten Return to Thy grace. 5 Let us rise purified from our ashes As sinners have risen who grieved; Let us show that twice-sent desolation On every true heart in the nation Has conquest achieved.

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🎤 BOSTON HYMN 📌 1863

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BOSTON HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History

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BOSTON HYMN [Slave freed] [January 1, 1863] 1 The word of the Lord by night To the watching Pilgrims came, As they sat by the seaside, And filled their hearts with flame. 2 God said, I am tired of kings, I suffer them no more; Up to my ear the morning brings The outrage of the poor. 3 Think ye I made this ball A field of havoc and war, Where tyrants great and tyrants small Might harry the weak and poor? 4 My angel—his name is Freedom— Choose him to be your king; He shall cut pathways east and west, And fend you with his wing. 5 Lo! I uncover the land, Which I hid of old time in the West, As the sculptor uncovers the statue When he has wrought his best; 6 I show Columbia, of the rocks Which dip their foot in the seas, And soar to the air-borne flocks Of clouds and the boreal fleece. 7 I will divide my goods; Call in the wretch and slave; None shall rule but the humble, And none but Toil shall have. 8 I will have never a noble, No lineage counted great; Fishers and choppers and ploughmen Shall constitute a state. 9 Go, cut down trees in the forest And trim the straightest boughs; Cut down trees in the forest And build me a wooden house. 10 Call the people together, The young men and the sires, The digger in the harvest-field, Hireling and him that hires; 11 And here in a pine state-house They shall choose men to rule In every needful faculty, In church and state and school. 12 Lo, now! if these poor men Can govern the land and sea ,And make just laws below the sun, As planets faithful be. 13 And ye shall succor men ;'Tis nobleness to serve; Help them who cannot help again: Beware from right to swerve. 14 I break your bonds and masterships, And I unchain the slave: Free be his heart and hand henceforth As wind and wandering wave. 15 I cause from every creature His proper good to flow; As much as he is and doeth, So much he shall bestow. 16 But, laying hands on another, To coin his labor and sweat, He goes in pawn to his victim For eternal years in debt. 17 To-day unbind the captive, So only are ye unbound; Lift up a people from the dust, Trump of their rescue, sound! 18 Pay ransom to the owner And fill the bag to the brim. Who is the owner? The slave is owner And ever was. Pay him. 19 O North! give him beauty for rags, And honor, O South! for his shame; Nevada! coin thy golden crags With Freedom's image and name. 20 Up! and the dusky race That sat in darkness long,— Be swift their feet as antelopes, And as behemoth strong. 21 Come, East and West and North, By races, as snowflakes, And carry my purpose forth, Which neither halts nor shakes. 22 My will fulfilled shall be, For, in daylight or in dark, My thunderbolt has eyes to see His way home to the mark. *Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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🎤 CALIFORNIA 📌 1850

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CALIFORNIA - Festival on Poems of American History

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CALIFORNIA [the thirty-first state] [September 9, 1850] 1 Land of gold!—thy sisters greet thee, O'er the mountain and the main; See,—they stretch the hand to meet thee, Youngest of our household train. 2 Many a form their love hath fostered Lingers 'neath thy sunny sky, And their spirit-tokens brighten Every link of sympathy. 3 We 'mid storms of war were cradled, 'Mid the shock of angry foes; Thou, with sudden, dreamlike splendor, Pallas-born,—in vigor rose. 4 Children of one common country, Strong in friendship let us stand, With united ardor earning Glory for our Mother Land. 5 They of gold and they of iron, They who reap the bearded wheat, They who rear the snowy cotton, Pour their treasures at her feet; 6 While with smiling exultation, She, who marks their filial part, Like the mother of the Gracchi, Folds her jewels to her heart. *Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

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🎤 CAROLINA 📌 1865

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CAROLINA - Festival on Poems of American History

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CAROLINA [January, 1865] [1] The despot treads thy sacred sands, Thy pines give shelter to his bands, Thy sons stand by with idle hands, Carolina! [2] He breathes at ease thy airs of balm, He scorns the lances of thy palm; Oh! who shall break thy craven calm, Carolina! [3] Thy ancient fame is growing dim, A spot is on thy garment's rim; Give to the winds thy battle-hymn, Carolina! [4] Call on thy children of the hill, Wake swamp and river, coast and rill, Rouse all thy strength and all thy skill, Carolina! [5] Cite wealth and science, trade and art, Touch with thy fire the cautious mart, And pour thee through the people's heart, Carolina! [6] Till even the coward spurns his fears, And all thy fields, and fens, and meres Shall bristle like thy palm with spears, Carolina! [7] I hear a murmur as of waves That grope their way through sunless caves, Like bodies struggling in their graves, Carolina! [8] And now it deepens; slow and grand It swells, as, rolling to the land, An ocean broke upon thy strand, Carolina!Shout! [9] Let it reach the startled Huns! And roar with all thy festal guns !It is the answer of thy sons, Carolina!

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🎤 CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy) 📌 1863

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CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy) - Festival on Poems of American History

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CHARLESTON [front of the Confederacy] [April, 1863] 1 Calm as that second summer which precedes The first fall of the snow, In the broad sunlight of heroic deeds, The city bides the foe. 2 As yet, behind their ramparts, stern and proud, Her bolted thunders sleep,— Dark Sumter, like a battlemented cloud, Looms o'er the solemn deep. 3 No Calpe frowns from lofty cliff or scaur To guard the holy strand; But Moultrie holds in leash her dogs of war Above the level sand. 4 And down the dunes a thousand guns lie couched, Unseen, beside the flood,— Like tigers in some Orient jungle crouched, That wait and watch for blood. 5 Meanwhile, through streets still echoing with trade, Walk grave and thoughtful men, Whose hands may one day wield the patriot's blade As lightly as the pen. 6 And maidens, with such eyes as would grow dim Over a bleeding hound, Seem each one to have caught the strength of him Whose sword she sadly bound. 7 Thus girt without and garrisoned at home, Day patient following day, Old Charleston looks from roof and spire and dome, Across her tranquil bay. 8 Ships, through a hundred foes, from Saxon lands And spicy Indian ports, Bring Saxon steel and iron to her hands, And summer to her courts. 9 But still, along yon dim Atlantic line, The only hostile smoke Creeps like a harmless mist above the brine, From some frail floating oak. 10 Shall the spring dawn, and she, still clad in smiles, And with an unscathed brow, Rest in the strong arms of her palm-crowned isles, As fair and free as now? 11 We know not; in the temple of the Fates God has inscribed her doom: And, all untroubled in her faith, she waits The triumph or the tomb. *Henry Timrod.

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🎤 CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance) 📌 1865

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CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance) - Festival on Poems of American History

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CHARLESTON [ineffective resistance] [February, 1865] 1 Calmly beside her tropic strand, An empress, brave and loyal, I see the watchful city stand, With aspect sternly royal; 2 She knows her mortal foe draws near, Armored by subtlest science, Yet deep, majestical, and clear, Rings out her grand defiance. 3 Oh, glorious is thy noble face, Lit up by proud emotion, And unsurpassed thy stately grace, Our warrior Queen of Ocean! 4 First from thy lips the summons came, Which roused our South to action, And, with the quenchless force of flame Consumed the demon Faction; 5 First, like a rush of sovereign wind, That rends dull waves asunder, Thy prescient warning struck the blind, And woke the deaf with thunder; 6 They saw, with swiftly kindling eyes, The shameful doom before them, And heard, borne wild from northern skies, The death-gale hurtling o'er them: 7 Wilt thou, whose virgin banner rose, A morning star of splendor, Quail when the war-tornado blows, And crouch in base surrender? 8 Wilt thou, upon whose loving breast Our noblest chiefs are sleeping, Yield thy dead patriots' place of rest To scornful alien keeping? 9 No! while a life-pulse throbs for fame, Thy sons will gather round thee, Welcome the shot, the steel, the flame, If honor's hand hath crowned thee. 10 Then fold about thy beauteous form The imperial robe thou wearest, And front with regal port the storm Thy foe would dream thou fearest; 11 If strength, and will, and courage fail To cope with ruthless numbers, And thou must bend, despairing, pale, Where thy last hero slumbers, 12 Lift the red torch, and light the fire Amid those corpses gory, And on thy self-made funeral pyre, Pass from the world to glory. *Paul Hamilton Hayne.

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🎤 CHICAGO 📌 1871

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CHICAGO - Festival on Poems of American History

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CHICAGO [destroyed by fire.] [October 8-10, 1871] 1 Men said at vespers: "All is well!" In one wild night the city fell; Fell shrines of prayer and marts of gain Before the fiery hurricane. 2 On threescore spires had sunset shone, Where ghastly sunrise looked on none. Men clasped each other's hands, and said: "The City of the West is dead!" 3 Brave hearts who fought, in slow retreat, The fiends of fire from street to street, Turned, powerless, to the blinding glare, The dumb defiance of despair. 4 A sudden impulse thrilled each wire That signalled round that sea of fire; Swift words of cheer, warm heart-throbs came; In tears of pity died the flame! 5 From East, from West, from South and North, The messages of hope shot forth, And, underneath the severing wave, The world, full-handed, reached to save. 6 Fair seemed the old; but fairer still The new, the dreary void shall fill With dearer homes than those o'erthrown, For love shall lay each corner-stone. 7 Rise, stricken city! from thee throw The ashen sackcloth of thy woe; And build, as to Amphion's strain, To songs of cheer thy walls again! 8 How shrivelled in thy hot distress The primal sin of selfishness! How instant rose, to take thy part, The angel in the human heart! 9 Ah! not in vain the flames that tossed Above thy dreadful holocaust; The Christ again has preached through thee The Gospel of Humanity! 10 Then lift once more thy towers on high, And fret with spires the western sky, To tell that God is yet with us, And love is still miraculous! *John Greenleaf Whittier.

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🎤 COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER 📌 1620

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COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History

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COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 O little fleet! that on thy quest divine Sailedst from Palos one bright autumn morn, Say, has old Ocean's bosom ever borne A freight of faith and hope to match with thine? Say, too, has Heaven's high favor given again Such consummation of desire as shone About Columbus when he rested on The new-found world and married it to Spain? 2 Answer,—thou refuge of the freeman's need,— Thou for whose destinies no kings looked out, Nor sages to resolve some mighty doubt,— Thou simple Mayflower of the salt-sea mead! When thou wert wafted to that distant shore, Gay flowers, bright birds, rich odors met thee not, Stern Nature hailed thee to a sterner lot,— God gave free earth and air, and gave no more. 4 Thus to men cast in that heroic mould Came empire such as Spaniard never knew, Such empire as beseems the just and true; And at the last, almost unsought, came gold. But He who rules both calm and stormy days, Can guard that people's heart, that nation's health, Safe on the perilous heights of power and wealth, As in the straitness of the ancient ways. *Lord Houghton. THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 Down in the bleak December bay The ghostly vessel stands away; Her spars and halyards white with ice, Under the dark December skies. A hundred souls, in company, Have left the vessel pensively,— Have reached the frosty desert there, And touched it with the knees of prayer. And now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 2 Neither the desert nor the sea Imposes rites: their prayers are free; Danger and toil the wild imposes, And thorns must grow before the roses. And who are these?—and what distress The savage-acred wilderness On mother, maid, and child may bring, Beseems them for a fearful thing; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 3 But Carver leads (in heart and health A hero of the commonwealth) The axes that the camp requires, To build the lodge and heap the fires, And Standish from his warlike store Arrays his men along the shore, Distributes weapons resonant, And dons his harness militant; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower; 4 And Rose, his wife, unlocks a chest— She sees a Book, in vellum drest, She drops a tear and kisses the tome, Thinking of England and of home: Might they—the Pilgrims, there and then Ordained to do the work of men— Have seen, in visions of the air, While pillowed on the breast of prayer (When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower), 5 The Canaan of their wilderness A boundless empire of success; And seen the years of future nights Jewelled with myriad household lights; And seen the honey fill the hive; And seen a thousand ships arrive; And heard the wheels of travel go; It would have cheered a thought of woe, When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. *Erastus Wolcott Ellsworth.

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🎤 COLUMBUS DYING 📌 1506

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COLUMBUS DYING - Festival on Poems of American History

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COLUMBUS DYING [May 20, 1506] 1 Hark! do I hear again the roar Of the tides by the Indies sweeping down? Or is it the surge from the viewless shore That swells to bear me to my crown? Life is hollow and cold and drear With smiles that darken and hopes that flee; And, far from its winds that faint and veer, I am ready to sail the vaster sea! 2 Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee best; And that scorning peril and toil and pain I held my way to the mystic West, Glory for Thee and Thy Church to gain. And Thou didst lead me, only Thou, Cheering my heart in cloud and calm, Till the dawn my glad, victorious prow Greeted Thine isles of bloom and balm. 3 And then, O gracious, glorious Lord,I saw Thy face, and all heaven came nigh And my soul was lost in that rich reward, And ravished with hope of the bliss on high, So, I can meet the sovereign's frown— My dear Queen gone—with a large disdain; For the time will come when his chief renown Will be that I sailed from his realm of Spain. 4 I have found new Lands—a World, maybe, Whose splendor will yet the Old outshine; And life and death are alike to me, For earth will honor, and heaven is mine Is mine!— What songs of sweet accord! What billows that nearer, gentler roll! Is mine!—Into Thy hands, O Lord, Into Thy hands I give my soul! *Edna Dean Proctor.

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🎤 CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER 📌 1781

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CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER - Festival on Poems of American History

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CORNWALLIS'S SURRENDER [October 19, 1781] [1] When British troops first landed here, With Howe commander o'er them, They thought they'd make us quake for fear, And carry all before them; With thirty thousand men or more, And she without assistance, America must needs give o'er, And make no more resistance. [2] But Washington, her glorious son, Of British hosts the terror, Soon, by repeated overthrows, Convinc'd them of their error; Let Princeton, and let Trenton tell, What gallant deeds he's done, sir, And Monmouth's plains where hundreds fell, And thousands more have run, sir. [3] Cornwallis, too, when he approach'd Virginia's old dominion, Thought he would soon her conqu'ror be; And so was North's opinion. From State to State with rapid stride, His troops had march'd before, sir, Till quite elate with martial pride, He thought all dangers o'er, sir. But our allies, to his surprise, [4] The Chesapeake had enter'd; And now too late, he curs'd his fate, And wish'd he ne'er had ventur'd, For Washington no sooner knew The visit he had paid her, Than to his parent State he flew, To crush the bold invader. When he sat down before the town, [5] His Lordship soon surrender'd; His martial pride he laid aside, And cas'd the British standard; Gods! how this stroke will North provoke, And all his thoughts confuse, sir! And how the Peers will hang their ears, When first they hear the news, sir. Be peace, the glorious end of war, [6] By this event effected; And be the name of Washington To latest times respected; Then let us toast America, And France in union with her; And may Great Britain rue the day Her hostile bands came hither.

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🎤 DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY 📌 1769

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DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY - Festival on Poems of American History

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DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY [October 31, 1769] 1 Good Junipero, the Padre, Slowly read the King's commands, In relation to the missions To be built in heathen lands. And he said: "The good Saint Francis Surely has some little claim, Yet I find that here no mission Is assigned unto his name." 2 Then the Visitador answered: "If the holy Francis care For a mission to his honor, Surely he will lead you there; And it may be by the harbor That the Indian legends say Lies by greenest hills surrounded To the north of Monterey." 3 Spoke Junipero the Padre: "It is not for me to tell Of the truth of Indian legends, Yet of this I know full well— If there be such hidden harbor, And our hope and trust we place In the care of good Saint Francis, He will guide us to the place." 3 Soon, the Governor Portolá Started northward, on his way Overland, to rediscover The lost port of Monterey. Since the time within its waters Vizcaino anchor cast, It remained unknown to Spaniards, Though a century had passed. 4 On his journey went Portolá With his band of pioneers, Padres, Indian guides, and soldiers, And a train of muleteers; And said Serra, as he blessed them, As he wished them all Godspeed: "Trust Saint Francis—he will guide you In your direst hour of need." 5 On his journey went Portolá Till he reached the crescent bay; But he dreamed not he was gazing On the wished-for Monterey. So a cross on shore he planted, And the ground about he blessed, And then he and his companions Northward went upon their quest. 6 On his journey went Portolá, And his army northward on, And methinks I see them marching, Or in camp when day was done; Or at night when stars were twinkling, As that travel-weary band By the log-fire's light would gather, Telling of their far-off land. 7 And they told weird Indian legends, Tales of Cortés, too, they told, And of peaceful reign of Incas, And of Montezuma's gold; And they sang, as weary exiles Sing of home and vanished years, Sweet, heart-treasured songs that always Bring the dumb applause of tears. 8 When the day was sunk in ocean, And the land around was dim, On the tranquil air of midnight Rose the sweet Franciscan hymn; And when bugle told the dawning, And the matin prayers were done, On his journey went Portolá, And his army northward on. 9 Far away they saw sierras, Clothed with an eternal spring, While at times the mighty ocean In their path her spray would fling; On amid such scenes they journeyed, Through the dreary wastes of sand, Through ravines dark, deep, and narrow, And through cañons wild and grand. 10 And with what a thrill of pleasure, All their toils and dangers through, Gazed they on this scene of beauty When it burst upon their view, As Portolá and his army, Standing where I stand to-day, Saw before them spread in beauty Green-clad hills and noble bay. 11 Then the Governor Portolá Broke the spell of silence thus: "To this place, through Padre Serra, Hath Saint Francis guided us; So the bay and all around it For the Spanish King I claim, And forever, in the future, Let it bear Saint Francis' name." 12 Thus he spoke, and I am standing On the self-same spot to-day, And my eyes rest on the landscape, And the green hills, and the bay, And upon Saint Francis' city, As, with youth and hope elate, She is gazing toward the ocean, Sitting by the Golden Gate. 13 Needless were such gifts as heaven Gave to holy seers of yore, To foretell the meed of glory, Fairest town, for thee in store! To foretell the seat of empire Here will be, nor for a day, Where Balboa's sea doth mingle With the waters of thy bay! *Richard Edward White.

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🎤 EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH 📌 1783

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EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH - Festival on Poems of American History

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EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH [November 25, 1783] 1 They come!—they come!—the heroes come With sounding fife, with thundering drum; Their ranks advance in bright array,— The heroes of America! 2 He comes!—'tis mighty Washington (Words fail to tell all he has done), Our hero, guardian, father, friend! His fame can never, never end. 3 He comes!—he comes!—our Clinton comes! Justice her ancient seat resumes: From shore to shore let shouts resound, For Justice comes, with Freedom crown'd. 4 She comes!—the angelic virgin—Peace, And bids stern War his horrors cease; Oh! blooming virgin, with us stay, And bless, oh! bless America. 5 Since Freedom has our efforts crown'd, Let flowing bumpers pass around: The toast is, "Freedom's favorite son, Health, peace, and joy to Washington!"

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🎤 FREE AMERICA 📌 1774

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FREE AMERICA - Festival on Poems of American History

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FREE AMERICA [1774] 1 That seat of Science, Athens, And earth's proud mistress, Rome; Where now are all their glories? We scarce can find a tomb. Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway; Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose, For North America. 2 We led fair Freedom hither, And lo, the desert smiled! A paradise of pleasure Was opened in the wild! Your harvest, bold Americans, No power shall snatch away! Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 3 Torn from a world of tyrants, Beneath this western sky, We formed a new dominion, A land of liberty: The world shall own we're masters here; Then hasten on the day: Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 4 Proud Albion bowed to Cæsar, And numerous lords before; To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, And many masters more: But we can boast, Americans, We've never fallen a prey; Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 5 God bless this maiden climate, And through its vast domain May hosts of heroes cluster, Who scorn to wear a chain: And blast the venal sycophant That dares our rights betray; Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For free America. 6 Lift up your hands, ye heroes, And swear with proud disdain, The wretch that would ensnare you, Shall lay his snares in vain: Should Europe empty all her force, We'll meet her in array, And fight and shout, and shout and fight For North America. 7 Some future day shall crown us, The masters of the main, Our fleets shall speak in thunder To England, France, and Spain; And the nations over the ocean spread Shall tremble and obey The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons Of brave America. *Joseph Warren.

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🎤 GEORGE WASHINGTON 📌 1792

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GEORGE WASHINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

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GEORGE WASHINGTON 1 This was the man God gave us when the hour Proclaimed the dawn of Liberty begun; Who dared a deed and died when it was done Patient in triumph, temperate in power,— Not striving like the Corsican to tower To heaven, nor like great Philip's greater son To win the world and weep for worlds unwon, Or lose the star to revel in the flower. 2 The lives that serve the eternal verities Alone do mould mankind. Pleasure and pride Sparkle awhile and perish, as the spray Smoking across the crests of cavernous seas Is impotent to hasten or delay The everlasting surges of the tide. Where may the wearied eye repose When gazing on the Great; 3 Where neither guilty glory glows, Nor despicable state? Yes—one—the first—the last—the best— The Cincinnatus of the West, Whom envy dared not hate, Bequeath the name of Washington, To make men blush there was but one! *John Hall Ingham & **Lord Byron.

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🎤 GETTYSBURG 📌 1863

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GETTYSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History

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GETTYSBURG [July 1, 2, 3, 1863] 1 There was no union in the land, Though wise men labored long With links of clay and ropes of sand To bind the right and wrong. 2 There was no temper in the blade That once could cleave a chain; Its edge was dull with touch of trade And clogged with rust of gain. 3 The sand and clay must shrink away Before the lava tide: By blows and blood and fire assay The metal must be tried. 4 Here sledge and anvil met, and when The furnace fiercest roared, God's undiscerning workingmen Reforged His people's sword. 5 Enough for them to ask and know The moment's duty clear— The bayonets flashed it there below, The guns proclaimed it here: 6 To do and dare, and die at need, But while life lasts, to fight— For right or wrong a simple creed, But simplest for the right. 7 They faltered not who stood that day And held this post of dread; Nor cowards they who wore the gray Until the gray was red. 8 For every wreath the victor wearsT he vanquished half may claim; And every monument declares A common pride and fame. 9 We raise no altar stones to Hate, Who never bowed to Fear: No province crouches at our gate, To shame our triumph here. 10 Here standing by a dead wrong's grave The blindest now may see, The blow that liberates the slave But sets the master free! 11 When ills beset the nation's life Too dangerous to bear, The sword must be the surgeon's knife, Too merciful to spare. 12 O Soldier of our common land,' Tis thine to bear that blade Loose in the sheath, or firm in hand, But ever unafraid. 13 When foreign foes assail our right, One nation trusts to thee— To wield it well in worthy fight— The sword of Meade and Lee! *James Jeffrey Roche.

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🎤 HAARLEM HEIGHTS 📌 1776

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HAARLEM HEIGHTS - Festival on Poems of American History

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HAARLEM 1776. [1] They've turned at last! Good-by, King George, Despite your hireling band! The farmer boys have borne a brunt, The 'prentice lads will stand! [2] Though Peace may lag and Fortune flag, Our fight's as good as won; We've made them yield in open field! We've made the Redcoats run! [3] Our Rangers sallied forth at dawn With Knowlton at their head To rout the British pickets out And spend a little lead. [4] We gave them eight brisk rounds a-piece, And hurried, fighting, back; For, eighteen score, the Light Armed Corps Were keen upon our track. [5] Along the vale of Bloomingdale They pressed our scant array; They swarmed the crag and jeered our flag Across the Hollow Way. [6] Their skirmishers bawled "Hark, away!" Their buglers, from the wall, In braggart vaunt and bitter taunt Brayed out the hunting call! [7] Oh, sound of shame! It woke a flame In every sunburned face, And every soul was hot as coal To cleanse the foul disgrace. [8] And some that blenched on Brooklyn Heights And fled at Turtle Bay Fair wept for wrath, and thronged my path And clamored for the fray. [9] Our General came spurring!— There rolled a signal drum.— His eye was bright; he rose his height; He knew the time had come. [10] He gave the word to Knowlton To lead us on once more— The pick of old Connecticut,— And Leitch with Weedon's corps [11] Of proud Virginia Riflemen, Tall hunters of the deer,— To round the boastful Briton's flank And take him in the rear. [12] We left the dell, we scaled the fell, And up the crest we sprang, When swift and sharp along the scarp A deadly volley rang; [13] And down went Leitch of Weedon's corps! Deep hurt, but gallant still; And down went Knowlton!—he that bore The sword of Bunker Hill. [14] I raised his head. But this he said, Death-wounded as he lay:" Lead on the fight! I hold it light If we but get the day!" [15] In open rank we struck their flank, And oh! the fight was hot! Up came the Hessian Yagers! Up came the kilted Scot! [16] Up came the men of Linsingen, Von Donop's Grenadiers! But soon we sped the vengeful lead A-whistling 'bout their ears! [17] They buckled front to Varnum's brunt; We crumpled up their right, And hurling back the crimson wrack We swept along the height. [18] The helmets of the Hessians Are tumbled in the wheat; The tartan of the Highlander Shall be his winding-sheet! [19] A mingled rout, we drove them out From orchard, field, and glen; In goodly case it seemed to chase Our hunters home again! [20] We flaunted in their faces The flag they thought to scorn, And left them with a loud "Hurrah!" To choke their bugle-horn! [21] Upon a ledge embattled Above the Hudson's shore We dug the grave for Knowlton And Leitch of Weedon's corps. [22] And though in plight of War's despite We yield this island throne, Upon that ledge we left a pledge That we shall claim our own! *Arthur Guiterman.

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🎤 HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS 📌 1862

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HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS - Festival on Poems of American History

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HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS [March 10, 1862] 1 Heard ye how the bold McClellan, He, the wether with the bell on; He, the head of all the asses— Heard ye how he took Manassas? 2 When the Anaconda plucky Flopped its tail in old Kentucky; When up stream the gunboats paddled, And the thieving Floyd skedaddled, Then the chief of all the asses Heard the word: Go, take Manassas! 3 Forty brigades wait around him, Forty blatant trumpets sound him, As the pink of all the heroes Since the time of fiddling Neros. "Now's the time," cry out the masses, "Show your pluck and take Manassas!" 4 Contrabands come flocking to him: "Lo! the enemy flies—pursue him!" "No," says George, "don't start a trigger On the word of any nigger; Let no more of the rascals pass us, I know all about Manassas." 5 When at last a prowling Yankee— No doubt long, and lean, and lanky— Looking out for new devices, Took the wooden guns as prizes, Says he: "I sweow, ere daylight passes I'll take a peep at famed Manassas." 6 Then up to the trenches boldly Marched he—they received him coldly; Nary reb was there to stop him. Gathering courage, in he passes: "Jerusalem! I've took Manassas." 7 Bold McClellan heard the story: "Onward, men, to fields of glory; Let us show the rebel foemen, When we're READY we're not slow, men; Wait no more for springing grasses— Onward! onward! to Manassas!" 8 Baggage trains were left behind him, In his eagerness to find them; Upward the balloons ascended, To see which way the rebels trended; Thirty miles away his glasses Swept the horizon round Manassas. 9 Out of sight, the foe, retreating, Answered back no hostile greeting; None could tell, as off he paddled, Whitherward he had skedaddled. Then the chief of all the asses Cried: "Hurrah! I've got Manassas." 10 Future days will tell the wonder, How the mighty Anaconda Lay supine along the border, With the mighty Mac to lord her: Tell on shaft and storied brasses How he took the famed Manassas.

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🎤 KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA 📌 1864

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KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA - Festival on Poems of American History

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KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA [June 19, 1864] 1 It was early Sunday morning, in the year of sixty-four, The Alabama she steam'd out along the Frenchman's shore. Long time she cruised about, Long time she held her sway, But now beneath the Frenchman's shore she lies off Cherbourg Bay. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave Over the Union, the home of the brave. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave, God bless America, the home of the brave! 2 The Yankee cruiser hove in view, the Kearsarge was her name, It ought to be engraved in full upon the scroll of fame; Her timbers made of Yankee oak, And her crew of Yankee tars. And o'er her mizzen peak she floats the glorious stripes and stars. 3 A challenge unto Captain Semmes, bold Winslow he did send! "Bring on your Alabama, and to her we will attend, For we think your boasting privateerIs not so hard to whip; And we'll show you that the Kearsarge is not a merchant ship." 4 It was early Sunday morning, in the year of sixty-four, The Alabama she stood out and cannons loud did roar; The Kearsarge stood undaunted, and quickly she replied And let a Yankee 'leven-inch shell go tearing through her side. The Kearsarge then she wore around and broadside on did bear, With shot and shell and right good-will, her timbers she did tear; 5.When they found that they were sinking, down came the stars and bars, For the rebel gunners could not stand the glorious stripes and stars. The Alabama she is gone, she'll cruise the seas no more, She met the fate she well deserved along the Frenchman's shore; 6 Then here is luck to the Kearsarge, we know what she can do, Likewise to Captain Winslow and his brave and gallant crew. Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave Over the Union, the home of the brave! Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave, God bless America, the home of the brave!

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🎤 LEXINGTON 📌 1775

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LEXINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

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LEXINGTON [April 19, 1775] 1 Slowly the mist o'er the meadow was creeping, Bright on the dewy buds glistened the sun, When from his couch, while his children were sleeping, Rose the bold rebel and shouldered his gun. Waving her golden veil Over the silent dale, Blithe looked the morning on cottage and spire; Hushed was his parting sigh, While from his noble eye Flashed the last sparkle of liberty's fire. 2 On the smooth green where the fresh leaf is springing Calmly the first-born of glory have met; Hark! the death-volley around them is ringing! Look! with their life-blood the young grass is wet! Faint is the feeble breath, Murmuring low in death, "Tell to our sons how their fathers have died; "Nerveless the iron hand, Raised for its native land, Lies by the weapon that gleams at its side. 3 Over the hillsides the wild knell is tolling, From their far hamlets the yeomanry come; As through the storm-clouds the thunder-burst rolling, Circles the beat of the mustering drum. Fast on the soldier's path Darken the waves of wrath,— Long have they gathered and loud shall they fall; Red glares the musket's flash, Sharp rings the rifle's crash, Blazing and clanging from thicket and wall. 4 Gayly the plume of the horseman was dancing, Never to shadow his cold brow again; Proudly at morning the war-steed was prancing, Reeking and panting he droops on the rein; Pale is the lip of scorn, Voiceless the trumpet horn, Torn is the silken-fringed red cross on high; Many a belted breast Low on the turf shall rest Ere the dark hunters the herd have passed by. 5 Snow-girdled crags where the hoarse wind is raving, Rocks where the weary floods murmur and wail, Wilds where the fern by the furrow is waving, Reeled with the echoes that rode on the gale; Far as the tempest thrills Over the darkened hills, Far as the sunshine streams over the plain, Roused by the tyrant band, Woke all the mighty land, Girdled for battle, from mountain to main. 6 Green be the graves where her martyrs are lying! Shroudless and tombless they sunk to their rest, While o'er their ashes the starry fold flying Wraps the proud eagle they roused from his nest. Borne on her Northern pine, Long o'er the foaming brine Spread her broad banner to storm and to sun; Heaven keep her ever free, Wide as o'er land and sea Floats the fair emblem her heroes have won! *Oliver Wendell Holmes.

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🎤 MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA 📌 1864

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MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA - Festival on Poems of American History

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MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA (1864) 1 Bring the good old bugle, boys, we'll sing another song— Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along— Sing it as we used to sing it fifty thousand strong, While we were marching through Georgia. 2 Chorus—"Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the jubilee!Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free!" So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea, While we were marching through Georgia. 3 How the darkeys shouted when they heard the joyful sound! How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found! How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground, While we were marching through Georgia. 4 Yes, and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears, When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years; Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers, While we were marching through Georgia. 5 "Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never reach the coast!" So the saucy rebels said—and 'twas a handsome boast, Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon on a host, While we were marching through Georgia. 6 So we made a thoroughfare for Freedom and her train, Sixty miles in latitude—three hundred to the main; Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain, While we were marching through Georgia. *Henry Clay Work.

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🎤 MARYLAND RESOLVES 📌 1774

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MARYLAND RESOLVES - Festival on Poems of American History

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MARYLAND RESOLVES [December, 1774] 1 On Calvert's plains new faction reigns, Great Britain we defy, sir, True Liberty lies gagg'd in chains, Though freedom is the cry, sir. 2 The Congress, and their factious tools, Most wantonly oppress us, Hypocrisy triumphant rules, And sorely does distress us. 3 The British bands with glory crown'd, No longer shall withstand us; Our martial deeds loud fame shall sound Since mad Lee now commands us. 4 Triumphant soon a blow he'll strike, That all the world shall awe, sir, And General Gage, Sir Perseus like, Behind his wheels he'll draw, sir. 5 When Gallic hosts, ungrateful men, Our race meant to extermine, Pray did committees save us then, Or Hancock, or such vermin? 6 Then faction spurn! think for yourselves! Your parent state, believe me, From real griefs, from factious elves, Will speedily relieve ye. *Rivington's Gazetteer.

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🎤 MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY 📌 1774

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MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History

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MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY (ca.1774) 1 Come swallow your bumpers, ye Tories, and roar That the Sons of fair Freedom are hamper'd once more; But know that no Cut-throats our spirits can tame, Nor a host of Oppressors shall smother the flame. CHORUS 2 In Freedom we're born, and, like Sons of the brave, Will never surrender, But swear to defend her, And scorn to survive, if unable to save. 3 Our grandsires, bless'd heroes, we'll give them a tear, Nor sully their honors by stooping to fear; Through deaths and through dangers their Trophies they won, We dare be their Rivals, nor will be outdone. 4 Let tyrants and minions presume to despise, Encroach on our Rights, and make Freedom their prize; The fruits of their rapine they never shall keep, Though Vengeance may nod, yet how short is her sleep. 5 The tree which proud Haman for Mordecai rear'd Stands recorded, that virtue endanger'd is spared; That rogues, whom no bounds and no laws can restrain, Must be stripp'd of their honors and humbled again. 6 Our wives and our babes, still protected, shall know Those who dare to be free shall forever be so; On these arms and these hearts they may safely rely For in freedom we'll live, or like Heroes we'll die. 7 Ye insolent Tyrants! who wish to enthrall; Ye Minions, ye Placemen, Pimps, Pensioners, all; How short is your triumph, how feeble your trust, Your honor must wither and nod to the dust. 8 When oppress'd and approach'd, our King we implore, Still firmly persuaded our Rights he'll restore; When our hearts beat to arms to defend a just right, Our monarch rules there, and forbids us to fight. 9 Not the glitter of arms nor the dread of a fray Could make us submit to their chains for a day; Withheld by affection, on Britons we call, Prevent the fierce conflict which threatens your fall. [To Chorus] 10 All ages should speak with amaze and applause Of the prudence we show in support of our cause: Assured of our safety, a Brunswick still reigns, Whose free loyal subjects are strangers to chains. 11 Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all, To be free is to live, to be slaves is to fall; Has the land such a dastard as scorns not a Lord, Who dreads not a fetter much more than a sword? . *Attributed to Mrs. Mercy Warren.

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🎤 McKINLEY [killing] 📌 1901

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McKINLEY [killing] - Festival on Poems of American History

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McKINLEY [killing] [September 6, 1901] 1 'Tis not the President alone Who, stricken by that bullet, fell; The assassin's shot that laid him prone Pierced a great nation's heart as well; 2 And when the baleful tidings sped From lip to lip throughout the crowd, Then, as they deemed their ruler dead, 'Twas Liberty that cried aloud. 3 Ay, Liberty! for where the foam Of oceans twain marks out the coast 'Tis there, in Freedom's very home, That anarchy has maimed its host; 4 There 'tis that it has turned to bite The hand that fed it; there repaid A country's welcome with black spite; There, Judas-like, that land betrayed. 5 For 'tis no despot that's laid low, But a free nation's chosen chief; A free man, stricken by a blow Base, dastardly, past all belief. 6 And Tyranny exulting hears The tidings flashed across the sea; While stern Repression hugs her fears, And mouths them in a harsh decree. 7 Meanwhile the cloud, though black as death, Is lined with hopes, hopes light as life, And Liberty that, scant of breath, Had watched the issue of the strife, 8 Fills the glad air with grateful cries To find the sun no more obscured, And with new yearnings in her eyes Climbs to her watch-tower—reassured. *London Truth.

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🎤 MOSBY AT HAMILTON 📌 1863

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MOSBY AT HAMILTON - Festival on Poems of American History

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MOSBY AT HAMILTON [March 16, 1863] 1 Down Loudon Lanes, with swinging reins And clash of spur and sabre, And bugling of the battle horn, Six score and eight we rode at morn, Six score and eight of Southern born, All tried in love and labor. 2 Full in the sun at Hamilton, We met the South's invaders; Who, over fifteen hundred strong, 'Mid blazing homes had marched along All night, with Northern shout and song To crush the rebel raiders. 3 Down Loudon Lanes, with streaming manes, We spurred in wild March weather; And all along our war-scarred way The graves of Southern heroes lay, Our guide-posts to revenge that day, As we rode grim together. 4 Old tales still tell some miracle Of saints in holy writing— But who shall say while hundreds fled Before the few that Mosby led, Unless the noblest of our dead Charged with us then when fighting? 5 While Yankee cheers still stunned our ears, Of troops at Harper's Ferry, While Sheridan led on his Huns, And Richmond rocked to roaring guns, We felt the South still had some sons She would not scorn to bury. *Madison Cawein.

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🎤 NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH 📌 1631

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NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH - Festival on Poems of American History

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NEW ENGLAND'S GROWTH (ca.1631) 1 Famine once we had, But other things God gave us in full store, As fish and ground-nuts to supply our strait, That we might learn on Providence to wait; And know, by bread man lives not in his need. But by each word that doth from God proceed. 2 But a while after plenty did come in, From His hand only who doth pardon sin, And all did flourish like the pleasant green, Which in the joyful spring is to be seen. 3 Almost ten years we lived here alone, In other places there were few or none; For Salem was the next of any fame, That began to augment New England's name; 4 But after multitudes began to flow, More than well knew themselves where to bestow; Boston then began her roots to spread, And quickly soon she grew to be the head, 5 Not only of the Massachusetts Bay, But all trade and commerce fell in her way. And truly it was admirable to know, How greatly all things here began to grow. 6 New plantations were in each place begun, And with inhabitants were filled soon. All sorts of grain which our own land doth yield, Was hither brought and sown in every field: 7 As wheat and rye, barley, oats, beans and pease, Here all thrive, and they profit from them raise. All sorts of roots and herbs in gardens grow, Parsnips, carrots, turnips, or what you'll sow. 8 Onions, melons, cucumbers, radishes, Skirets, beets, coleworts, and fair cabbages. Here grow fine flowers many, amongst those, The fair white lily and sweet fragrant rose. 9 Many good wholesome berries here you'll find, Fit for man's use, almost of every kind, Pears, apples, cherries, plumbs, quinces, and peach, Are now no dainties; you may have of each. Nuts and grapes of several sorts are here, If you will take the pains them to seek. *William Bradford (From a fragmentary poem on "New England")

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🎤 NEWS FROM YORKTOWN 📌 1781

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NEWS FROM YORKTOWN - Festival on Poems of American History

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NEWS FROM YORKTOWN OCTOBER, 1781 1 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How the voice rolled down the street Till the silence rang and echoed With the stir of hurrying feet! In the hush of the Quaker city, As the night drew on to morn, How it startled the troubled sleepers, Like the cry for a man-child born! 2 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How they gathered, man and maid, Here the child with a heart for the flint-lock, There the trembling grandsire staid! From the stateliest homes of the city, From hovels that love might scorn, How they followed that ringing summons, Like the cry for a king's heir born! 3 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "I can see the quick lights flare, See the glad, wild face at the window, Half dumb in a breathless stare. In the pause of an hour portentous, In the gloom of a hope forlorn, How it throbbed to the star-deep heavens, Like the cry for a nation born! 4 "Past two o'clock and Cornwallis is taken. "How the message is sped and gone To the farm and the town and the forest Till the world was one vast dawn! To distant and slave-sunk races, Bowed down in their chains that morn, How it swept on the winds of heaven, Like a cry for God's justice born! *Lewis Worthington Smith.

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🎤 ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 📌 1790

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ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - Festival on Poems of American History

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ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN [April 17, 1790] 1 Thus, some tall tree that long hath stood The glory of its native wood, By storms destroyed, or length of years, Demands the tribute of our tears. 2 The pile, that took long time to raise, To dust returns by slow decays; But, when its destined years are o'er, We must regret the loss the more. 3 So long accustomed to your aid, The world laments your exit made; So long befriended by your art, Philosopher, 'tis hard to part!— 4 When monarchs tumble to the ground Successors easily are found; But, matchless Franklin! what a few Can hope to rival such as you, Who seized from kings their sceptred pride, And turned the lightning's darts aside! *Philip Freneau.

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🎤 PENNSYLVANIA SONG 📌 1775

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PENNSYLVANIA SONG (ca. 1775) 1 We are the troop that ne'er will stoop To wretched slavery, Nor shall our seed, by our base deed, Despisèd vassals be; Freedom we will bequeath to them, Or we will bravely die; Our greatest foe, ere long shall know, How much did Sandwich lie. [CHORUS] And all the world shall know, Americans are free; Nor slaves nor cowards we will prove, Great Britain soon shall see. 2 We'll not give up our birthright, Our foes shall find us men; As good as they, in any shape, The British troops shall ken. Huzza! brave boys, we'll beat them On any hostile plain; For Freedom, wives, and children dear, The battle we'll maintain. [To CHORUS] And all the world, etc. 3 What! can those British tyrants think, Our fathers cross'd the main, And savage foes, and dangers met, To be enslav'd by them? If so, they are mistaken, For we will rather die; And since they have become our foes, Their forces we defy. [To CHORUS] And all the world, etc. *Dunlap's Packet, 1775.

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🎤 SAN FRANCISCO 📌 1906

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SAN FRANCISCO - Festival on Poems of American History

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SAN FRANCISCO [April 18, 1906] 1 Such darkness as when Jesus died! Then sudden dawn drave all before. Two wee brown tomtits, terrified, Flashed through my open cottage door; Then instant out and off again And left a stillness like to pain— Such stillness, darkness, sudden dawn I never knew or looked upon! 2 This ardent, Occidental dawn Dashed San Francisco's streets with gold, Just gold and gold to walk upon, As he of Patmos sang of old. And still, so still, her streets, her steeps, As when some great soul silent weeps; And oh, that gold, that gold that lay Beyond, above the tarn, brown bay! 3 And then a bolt, a jolt, a chill, And Mother Earth seemed as afraid; Then instant all again was still, Save that my cattle from the shade Where they had sought firm, rooted clay, Came forth loud lowing, glad and gay, Knee-deep in grasses to rejoice That all was well, with trumpet voice. 4 Not so yon city—darkness, dust, Then martial men in swift array, Then smoke, then flames, then great guns thrust To heaven, as if pots of clay— Cathedral, temple, palace, tower— An hundred wars in one wild hour! And still the smoke, the flame, the guns The piteous wail of little ones! 5 The mad flame climbed the costly steep, But man, defiant, climbed the flame. What battles where the torn clouds keep! What deeds of glory in God's name! What sons of giants—giants, yea— Or beardless lad or veteran gray. Not Marathon nor Waterloo Knew men so daring, dauntless, true. 6 Three days, three nights, three fearful days Of death, of flame, of dynamite, 7 Of God's house thrown a thousand ways; Blown east by day, blown west by night— By night? There was no night. Nay, nay, The ghoulish flame lit nights that lay Crouched down between this first, last day. I say those nights were burned away! 8 And jealousies were burned away, And burned were city rivalries, Till all, white crescenting the bay, Were one harmonious hive of bees. Behold the bravest battle won! The City Beautiful begun: One solid San Francisco, one, The fairest sight beneath the sun. *Joaquin Miller.

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🎤 SAVANNAH 📌 1864

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SAVANNAH [December 23, 1864] 1 Thou hast not drooped thy stately head, Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed! Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Thou comest to thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! 2 Thine arm of flesh is girded strong; The blue veins swell beneath thy wrong; To thee the triple cords belong Of woe and death and shameless wrong, And spirit vaunted long, too long! Savannah! O Savannah! 3 No blood-stains spot thy forehead fair; Only the martyrs' blood is there; It gleams upon thy bosom bare, It moves thy deep, deep soul to prayer, And tunes a dirge for thy sad ear, Savannah! O Savannah! 4 Thy clean white hand is opened wide For weal or woe, thou Freedom Bride; The sword-sheath sparkles at thy side, Thy plighted troth, whate'er betide, Thou hast but Freedom for thy guide, Savannah! O Savannah! 5 What though the heavy storm-cloud lowers, Still at thy feet the old oak towers; Still fragrant are thy jessamine bowers, And things of beauty, love, and flowers Are smiling o'er this land of ours, My sunny home, Savannah! 6 There is no film before thy sight,— Thou seest woe and death and night, And blood upon thy banner bright; But in thy full wrath's kindled might What carest thou for woe or night? My rebel home, Savannah! 7 Come—for the crown is on thy head! Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed; Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Oh! come unto thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! *Alethea S. Burroughs.

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🎤 SHERMAN`S IN SAVANNAH 📌 1864

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SHERMAN'S IN SAVANNAH [a Christmas gift] [December 22, 1864] 1 Like the tribes of Israel, Fed on quails and manna, Sherman and his glorious band Journeyed through the rebel land, Fed from Heaven's all-bounteous hand, Marching on Savannah! 2 As the moving pillar shone, Streamed the starry banner All day long in rosy light, Flaming splendor all the night, Till it swooped in eagle flight Down on doomed Savannah! 3 Glory be to God on high! Shout the loud Hosanna! Treason's wilderness is past, Canaan's shore is won at last, Peal a nation's trumpet-blast,— Sherman's in Savannah! 4 Soon shall Richmond's tough old hide Find a tough old tanner! Soon from every rebel wall Shall the rag of treason fall, Till our banner flaps o'er all As it crowns Savannah! *Oliver Wendell Holmes.

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🎤 SONG OF TEXAS 📌 1836

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SONG OF TEXAS (1836) 1 Make room on our banner bright That flaps in the lifting gale, For the orb that lit the fight In Jacinto's storied vale. Through clouds, all dark of hue, It arose with radiant face; Oh, grant to a sister true, Ye stars, in your train a place! 2 The blood of the Saxon flows In the veins of the men who cry, "Give ear, give ear unto those Who pine for their native sky! We call on our Motherland For a home in Freedom's hall, While stretching forth the hand, Oh, build no dividing wall! 3 "The Mexican vaunteth no more; In strife we have tamed his pride; The coward raps not at your door, Speak out! shall it open wide? Oh, the wish of our hearts is strong, That the star of Jacinto's fight Have place in the flashing throng That spangle your banner bright." *William Henry Cuyler Hosmer.

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🎤 TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) 📌 1896

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TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) - Festival on Poems of American History

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TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) [June 1, 1896] 1 She is touching the cycle,—her tender tread Is soft on the hearts of her hallowed dead, And she proudly stands where her sons have bled For God and Tennessee; 2 Where the love of her women set the seal Of the warrior's faith for the country's weal, With hand on the rifle and hand on the wheel, By the altars of Tennessee. 3 They have builded well for the niche of fame, Through the sleet of want and the heat of blame, But the courage of heroes tried the flame, As they builded Tennessee. 4 'Twas up to the port-holes and down in the dust, Not the weight of might, but the force of must, With faith and rifle-bore free from rust, They were building Tennessee. 5'Twas up in the saddle and off to the fight, Where arrow and tomahawk shrieked in the light; But the sinews of pioneers won for the right, The bulwarks of Tennessee. 6 She was true when they pressed like a shadowy fate, Her royal foes at her unbarred gate, And as true when were menaced her Rights of State, The mother,—Tennessee. 7 And she gave of her life for the stars and bars, As she gave of her sons for the earlier wars, And the breast of her motherhood wears the scars, For the manhood of Tennessee. 8 But she wrought again, in the strength of might, In the face of defeat and a yielded right, The Cloth of Gold from the loom of night, The mantle of Tennessee. 9 She has given all that she held most dear, With a Spartan hope and a Spartan fear, Crowned in her statehood "Volunteer," Glorious Tennessee! 10 She has rounded the cycle,—the tale is told; The circlet is iron, the clasp is gold; And the leaves of a wonderful past unfold The garland of Tennessee. 11 And her garments gleam in the sunlit years, And the songs of her children fill her ears; And the listening heart of the great world hears The pæans of Tennessee! *Virginia Fraser Boyle.

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🎤 THANKSGIVING HYMN 📌 1783

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THANKSGIVING HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History

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THANKSGIVING HYMN (1783) 1 The Lord above, in tender love, Hath sav'd us from our foes; Through Washington the thing is done, The war is at a close. 2 America has won the day, Through Washington, our chief; Come let's rejoice with heart and voice, And bid adieu to grief. 3 Now we have peace, and may increase In number, wealth, and arts, If every one, like Washington, Will strive to do their parts. 4 Then let's agree, since we are free, All needless things to shun; And lay aside all pomp and pride, Like our great Washington. 5 Use industry, and frugal be, Like Washington the brave; So shall we see, 'twill easy be, Our country for to save, 6 From present wars and future foes, And all that we may fear; While Washington, the great brave one, Shall as our chief appear. 7 Industry and frugality Will all our taxes pay; In virtuous ways, we'll spend our days, And for our rulers pray. 8 The Thirteen States, united sets, In Congress simply grand; The Lord himself preserve their health, That they may rule the land. 9 Whilst every State, without its mate, Doth rule itself by laws, Will sovereign be, and always free; To grieve there is no cause. 10 But all should try, both low and high, Our freedom to maintain; Pray God to bless our grand Congress, And cease from every sin. 11 Then sure am I, true liberty Of every sort will thrive; With one accord we'll praise the Lord, All glory to Him give. 12 To whom all praise is due always, For He is all in all; George Washington, that noble one, On His great name doth call. 13 Our Congress too, before they do, Acknowledge Him supreme; Come let us all before Him fall, And glorify His name.

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🎤 THE AMERICAN FLAG 📌 1777

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THE AMERICAN FLAG (1777) I When Freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there; She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies, And striped its pure, celestial white With streakings of the morning light; Then from his mansion in the sun She called her eagle bearer down, And gave into his mighty hand The symbol of her chosen land. II Majestic monarch of the cloud! Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, To hear the tempest-trumpings loud, And see the lightning lances driven, When strive the warriors of the storm, And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven— Child of the sun! to thee 'tis given To guard the banner of the free, To hover in the sulphur smoke, To ward away the battle-stroke, And bid its blendings shine afar, Like rainbows on the cloud of war, The harbingers of victory! Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, The sign of hope and triumph high, When speaks the signal trumpet tone, And the long line comes gleaming on; Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet, Has dimmed the glistening bayonet, Each soldier eye shall brightly turn To where thy sky-born glories burn, And, as his springing steps advance, Catch war and vengeance from the glance And when the cannon-mouthings loud Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud And gory sabres rise and fall, Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall; Then shall thy meteor-glances glow, And cowering foes shall sink beneath Each gallant arm that strikes below That lovely messenger of death. IV Flag of the seas! on ocean wave Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave; When death, careering on the gale, Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail, And frighted waves rush wildly back Before the broadside's reeling rack, Each dying wanderer of the sea Shall look at once to heaven and thee, And smile to see thy splendors fly In triumph o'er his closing eye. V Flag of the free heart's hope and home, By angel hands to valor given, The stars have lit the welkin dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet! Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet, And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us? *Joseph Rodman Drake.

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🎤 THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER 📌 1776

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THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER - Festival on Poems of American History

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THE AMERICAN PATRIOT'S PRAYER [1776] 1 Parent of all, omnipotent In heav'n, and earth below, Thro' all creation's bounds unspent, Whose streams of goodness flow. 2 Teach me to know from whence I rose, And unto what design'd; No private aims let me propose, Since link'd with human kind. 3 But chief to hear my country's voice, May all my thoughts incline,' Tis reason's law, 'tis virtue's choice, 'Tis nature's call and thine. 4 Me from fair freedom's sacred cause Let nothing e'er divide; Grandeur, nor gold, nor vain applause, Nor friendship false misguide. 5 Let me not faction's partial hate Pursue to this land's woe; Nor grasp the thunder of the state To wound a private foe. 6 If, for the right, to wish the wrong My country shall combine, Single to serve th' erron'ous throng, Spite of themselves, be mine.

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🎤 THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE 📌 1814

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THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE [September 12, 1814] 1 Old Ross, Cockburn, and Cochrane too, And many a bloody villain more, Swore with their bloody savage crew, That they would plunder Baltimore. But General Winder being afraid That his militia would not stand, He sent away to crave the aid Of a few true Virginians. Then up we rose with hearts elate, To help our suffering sister state. 2 When first our orders we received, For to prepare without delay, Our wives and sweethearts for to leave, And to the army march away, Although it grieved our hearts full sore, To leave our sweet Virginia shore, We kiss'd our sweethearts o'er and o'er, And march'd like true Virginians. Adieu awhile, sweet girls, adieu, With honor we'll return to you. 3 With rapid marches on we went, To leave our sweet Virginia shore, No halt was made, no time was spent, Till we arrived at Baltimore. The Baltimoreans did us greet, The ladies clapt their lily-white hands, Exclaiming as we passed the street," Welcome, ye brave Virginians. May Heaven all your foes confound, And send you home with laurels crown'd." 4 We had not been in quarters long, Before we heard the dread alarms, The cannon roar'd, the bells did ring, The drum did beat to arms, to arms. Then up we rose to face our foes, Determined to meet them on the strand, And drive them back from fair Freedom's shore, Or die like brave Virginians .In Heaven above we placed our trust, Well knowing that our cause is just. 5 Then Ross he landed at North Point, With seven thousand men or more, And swore by that time next night, That he would be in Baltimore. But Striker met him on the strand, Attended by a chosen band, Where he received a fatal shot From a brave Pennsylvanian— Whom Heaven directed to the field, To make this haughty Briton yield. (…) * Unknown

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🎤 THE BATTLE OF TRENTON 📌 1776

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(1776) 1 On Christmas-day in seventy-six, Our ragged troops, with bayonets fixed, For Trenton marched away. The Delaware see! the boats below! The light obscured by hail and snow! But no signs of dismay. 2 Our object was the Hessian band, That dared invade fair freedom's land, And quarter in that place. Great Washington he led us on, Whose streaming flag, in storm or sun, Had never known disgrace. 3 In silent march we passed the night, Each soldier panting for the fight, Though quite benumbed with frost. Greene on the left at six began, The right was led by Sullivan Who ne'er a moment lost. 4 Their pickets stormed, the alarm was spread, That rebels risen from the dead Were marching into town. Some scampered here, some scampered there, And some for action did prepare; But soon their arms laid down. 5 Twelve hundred servile miscreants, With all their colors, guns, and tents, Were trophies of the day. The frolic o'er, the bright canteen, In centre, front, and rear was seen Driving fatigue away. 6 Now, brothers of the patriot bands, Let's sing deliverance from the hands Of arbitrary sway. And as our life is but a span, Let's touch the tankard while we can, In memory of that day.

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🎤 THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL 📌 1775

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THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL [October 7, 1775] 1 In seventeen hundred and seventy-five, Our Bristol town was much surprised By a pack of thievish villains, That will not work to earn their livings. 2 October 'twas the seventh day, As I have heard the people say, Wallace, his name be ever curst, Came on our harbor just at dusk. 3 And there his ship did safely moor, And quickly sent his barge on shore, With orders that should not be broke, Or they might expect a smoke. 4 Demanding that the magistrates Should quickly come on board his ship, And let him have some sheep and cattle, Or they might expect a battle. 5 At eight o'clock, by signal given, Our peaceful atmosphere was riven By British balls, both grape and round, As plenty afterwards were found. 6 But oh! to hear the doleful cries Of people running for their lives! Women, with children in their arms, Running away to the farms! 7 With all their firing and their skill They did not any person kill; Neither was any person hurt But the Reverend Parson Burt. 8 And he was not killed by a ball, As judged by jurors one and all; But being in a sickly state, He, frightened, fell, which proved his fate. 9 Another truth to you I'll tell, That you may see they levelled well; For aiming for to kill the people, They fired their shot into a steeple. 10 They fired low, they fired high, The women scream, the children cry; And all their firing and their racket Shot off the topmast of a packet.

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🎤 THE FALL OF RICHMOND 📌 1865

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(APRIL, 1865) 1 What mean these peals from every tower, And crowds like seas that sway? The cannon reply; they speak the heart Of the People impassioned, and say— A city in flags for a city in flames, Richmond goes Babylon's way— Sing and pray. 2 O weary years and woeful wars, And armies in the grave; But hearts unquelled at last deter The helmed dilated Lucifer— Honor to Grant the brave, Whose three stars now like Orion's rise When wreck is on the wave— Bless his glaive. 3 Well that the faith we firmly kept, And never our aim forswore For the Terrors that trooped from each recess When fainting we fought in the Wilderness, And Hell made loud hurrah; But God is in Heaven, and Grant in the Town, And Right through Might is Law— God's way adore. *Herman Melville.

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🎤 THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO 📌 1794

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THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO (1794) 1 The footsteps of a hundred years Have echoed, since o'er Braddock's Road Bold Putnam and the Pioneers Led History the way they strode. 2 On wild Monongahela stream They launched the Mayflower of the West, A perfect State their civic dream, A new New World their pilgrim quest. 3 When April robed the Buckeye trees Muskingum's bosky shore they trod; They pitched their tents, and to the breeze Flung freedom's star-flag, thanking God. 4 As glides the Oyo's solemn flood, So fleeted their eventful years; Resurgent in their children's blood, They still live on—the Pioneers. 5 Their fame shrinks not to names and dates On votive stone, the prey of time;— Behold where monumental States Immortalize their lives sublime! *William Henry Venable.

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🎤 THE FOURTH OF JULY 📌 1776

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THE FOURTH OF JULY (July 4, 1776) 1 Day of glory! Welcome day! Freedom's banners greet thy ray; See! how cheerfully they play With thy morning breeze, On the rocks where pilgrims kneeled, On the heights where squadrons wheeled, When a tyrant's thunder pealed O'er the trembling seas. 2 God of armies! did thy stars On their courses smite his cars; Blast his arm, and wrest his bars From the heaving tide? On our standard, lo! they burn, And, when days like this return, Sparkle o'er the soldier's urn Who for freedom died. 3 God of peace! whose spirit fills All the echoes of our hills, All the murmur of our rills, Now the storm is o'er, O let freemen be our sons, And let future Washingtons Rise, to lead their valiant ones Till there's war no more! *John Pierpont.

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🎤 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 📌 1775

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THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS [May 9, 1775] 1 Here halt we our march, and pitch our tent On the rugged forest-ground, And light our fire with the branches rent By winds from the beeches round. Wild storms have torn this ancient wood, But a wilder is at hand, With hail of iron and rain of blood, To sweep and waste the land. 2 How the dark wood rings with our voices shrill, That startle the sleeping bird! To-morrow eve must the voice be still, And the step must fall unheard. The Briton lies by the blue Champlain, In Ticonderoga's towers, And ere the sun rise twice again, Must they and the lake be ours. 3 Fill up the bowl from the brook that glides Where the fire-flies light the brake; A ruddier juice the Briton hides In his fortress by the lake. Build high the fire, till the panther leap From his lofty perch in flight, And we'll strengthen our weary arms with sleep For the deeds of to-morrow night. *William Cullen Bryant.

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🎤 THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY 📌 1815

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THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY (1815) 1 Ye gentlemen and ladies fair, Who grace this famous city, Just listen, if you've time to spare, While I rehearse a ditty; And for the opportunity Conceive yourselves quite lucky, For 'tis but seldom that you see A hunter from Kentucky. Oh! Kentucky, The hunters of Kentucky. 2 We are a hardy free-born race, Each man to fear a stranger; Whate'er the game, we join in chase, Despising toil and danger: And if a daring foe annoys, Whate'er his strength or force is, We'll show him that Kentucky boys Are Alligator-horses. 3 I s'pose you've read it in the prints, How Pakenham attempted To make old Hickory Jackson wince, But soon his schemes repented; For we, with rifles ready cock'd, Thought such occasion lucky, And soon around the general flock'd The hunters of Kentucky. 4 I s'pose you've heard how New Orleans Is famed for wealth and beauty; They've gals of every hue, it seems, From snowy white to sooty: So Pakenham he made his brags If he in fight was lucky, He'd have their gals and cotton bags, In spite of Old Kentucky. 5 But Jackson he was wide awake, And wasn't scared at trifles, For well he knew what aim we take With our Kentucky rifles; So he led us down to Cypress Swamp, The ground was low and mucky; There stood John Bull in martial pomp— But here was Old Kentucky. 6 We raised a bank to hide our breasts, Not that we thought of dying, But then we always like to rest, Unless the game is flying: Behind it stood our little force— None wish'd it to be greater, For every man was half a horse And half an alligator. 7 They didn't let our patience tire Before they show'd their faces; We didn't choose to waste our fire, But snugly kept our places; And when so near we saw them wink, We thought it time to stop 'em, It would have done you good, I think, To see Kentuckians drop 'em. 8 They found, at length, 'twas vain to fight, When lead was all their booty, And so they wisely took to flight, And left us all the beauty. And now, if danger e'er annoys, Remember what our trade is; Just send for us Kentucky boys, And we'll protect you, ladies: Oh! Kentucky, The hunters of Kentucky.

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🎤 THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK`S MEN 📌 1777

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THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK'S MEN [August 15, 1777] 1 March! March! March! from sunrise till it's dark, And let no man straggle on the way! March! March! March! as we follow old John Stark, For the old man needs us all to-day. 2 Load! Load! Load! Three buckshot and a ball, With a hymn-tune for a wad to make them stay! But let no man dare to fire till he gives the word to all, Let no man let the buckshot go astray. 3 Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire all along the line, When we meet those bloody Hessians in array! They shall have every grain from this powder-horn of mine, Unless the cowards turn and run away. 4 Home! Home! Home! When the fight is fought and won, To the home where the women watch and pray! To tell them how John Stark finished what he had begun, And to hear them thank our God for the day. Edward Everett Hale.

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🎤 THE MAYFLOWER 📌 1620

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THE MAYFLOWER (1620) 1 Down in the bleak December bay The ghostly vessel stands away; Her spars and halyards white with ice, Under the dark December skies. A hundred souls, in company, Have left the vessel pensively,— Have reached the frosty desert there, And touched it with the knees of prayer. And now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 2 Neither the desert nor the sea Imposes rites: their prayers are free; Danger and toil the wild imposes, And thorns must grow before the roses. And who are these?—and what distress The savage-acred wilderness On mother, maid, and child may bring, Beseems them for a fearful thing; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. 3 But Carver leads (in heart and health A hero of the commonwealth) The axes that the camp requires, To build the lodge and heap the fires, And Standish from his warlike store Arrays his men along the shore, Distributes weapons resonant, And dons his harness militant; For now the day begins to dip, The night begins to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower; 4 And Rose, his wife, unlocks a chest— She sees a Book, in vellum drest, She drops a tear and kisses the tome, Thinking of England and of home: Might they—the Pilgrims, there and then Ordained to do the work of men— Have seen, in visions of the air, While pillowed on the breast of prayer (When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower), 5 The Canaan of their wilderness A boundless empire of success; And seen the years of future nights Jewelled with myriad household lights; And seen the honey fill the hive; And seen a thousand ships arrive; And heard the wheels of travel go; It would have cheered a thought of woe, When now the day began to dip, The night began to lower Over the bay, and over the ship Mayflower. *Erastus Wolcott Ellsworth.

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🎤 THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION 📌 1775

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THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION - Festival on Poems of American History

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THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION [May 20, 1775] 1 Oppressed and few, but freemen yet, The men of Mecklenburg had met Determined to be free, And crook no coward knee, Though Might in front and Treason at the back Brought death and ruin in their joint attack. 2 The tyrant's heel was on the land When Polk convoked his gallant band, And told in words full strong The bitter tale of wrong, Then came a whisper, like the storm's first waves: "We must be independent, or be slaves!" 3 But, hark! What hurried rider, this, With jaded horse and garb amiss, Whose look some woe proclaims, Ere he his mission names? He rides amain from far-off Lexington, And tells the blood-red news of war begun! 4 Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke The wise bold words that aye invoke Men to defend the right And scorn the despot's might; Until from all there rose the answering cry: "We will be independent, or we die." 5 When Alexander called the vote, No dastard "nay's" discordant note Broke on that holy air— For dastard none was there! But in prompt answer to their country's call, They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor—all! 6 In solemn hush the people heard; With shout and cheer they caught the word: Independence! In that sign We grasp our right divine; For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate Must yield to men who fight for God and State! 7 The hero shout flew on the breeze; Rushed from the mountains to the seas; Till all the land uprose, Their faces to their foes, Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne, And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn! 8 And well those men maintained the right; They kept the faith, and fought the fight; Till Might and Treason both Fled fast before the oath Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down To place on patriot brows the victor's crown! *William C. Elam.

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🎤 THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL 📌 1848

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THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL - Festival on Poems of American History

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THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL (From 1848 forward) 1 It wound through strange scarred hills, down cañons lone Where wild things screamed, with winds for company; Its mile-stones were the bones of pioneers. Bronzed, haggard men, often with thirst a-moan, Lashed on their beasts of burden toward the sea: An epic quest it was of elder years, For fabled gardens or for good, red gold, The trail men strove in iron days of old. 2 To-day the steam-god thunders through the vast, While dominant Saxons from the hurtling trains Smile at the aliens, Mexic, Indian, Who offer wares, keen-colored, like their past; Dread dramas of immitigable plains Rebuke the softness of the modern man; No menace, now, the desert's mood of sand; Still westward lies a green and golden land. 3 For, at the magic touch of water, blooms The wilderness, and where of yore the yoke Tortured the toilers into dateless tombs, Lo! brightsome fruits to feed a mighty folk. *Richard Burton.

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🎤 THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON 📌 1777

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THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

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THE RIFLEMAN'S SONG AT BENNINGTON 1 Why come ye hither, stranger? Your mind what madness fills? In our valleys there is danger, And danger on our hills! Hear ye not the singing Of the bugle, wild and free? Full soon ye'll know the ringing Of the rifle from the tree! The rifle, the sharp rifle! In our hands it is no trifle! 2 Ye ride a goodly steed; He may know another master: Ye forward come with speed, But ye'll learn to back much faster, When ye meet our mountain boys And their leader, Johnny Stark! Lads who make but little noise, But who always hit the mark With the rifle, the true rifle! In their hands will prove no trifle! 3 Had ye no graves at home Across the briny water, That hither ye must come, Like bullocks to the slaughter? If we the work must do, Why, the sooner 'tis begun, If flint and trigger hold but true, The quicker 'twill be done By the rifle, the good rifle! In our hands it is no trifle!

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🎤 THROUGH BALTIMORE 📌 1861

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THROUGH BALTIMORE - Festival on Poems of American History

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THROUGH BALTIMORE [April 19, 1861] 1 'Twas Friday morn: the train drew near The city and the shore. Far through the sunshine, soft and clear, We saw the dear old flag appear, And in our hearts arose a cheer For Baltimore. 2 Across the broad Patapsco's wave, Old Fort McHenry bore The starry banner of the brave, As when our fathers went to save, Or in the trenches find a grave At Baltimore. 3 Before us, pillared in the sky, We saw the statue soar Of Washington, serene and high:— Could traitors view that form, nor fly? Could patriots see, nor gladly die For Baltimore? 4 "O city of our country's song! By that swift aid we bore When sorely pressed, receive the throng Who go to shield our flag from wrong, And give us welcome, warm and strong, In Baltimore!" 5 We had no arms; as friends we came, As brothers evermore, To rally round one sacred name— The charter of our power and fame: We never dreamed of guilt and shame In Baltimore. 6 The coward mob upon us fell: McHenry's flag they tore: Surprised, borne backward by the swell, Beat down with mad, inhuman yell, Before us yawned a traitorous hell In Baltimore! 7 The streets our soldier-fathers trod Blushed with their children's gore; We saw the craven rulers nod, And dip in blood the civic rod— Shall such things be, O righteous God, In Baltimore? 8 No, never! By that outrage black, A solemn oath we swore, To bring the Keystone's thousands back, Strike down the dastards who attack, And leave a red and fiery track Through Baltimore! 9 Bow down, in haste, thy guilty head! God's wrath is swift and sore: The sky with gathering bolts is red,— Cleanse from thy skirts the slaughter shed, Or make thyself an ashen bed, O Baltimore! Bayard Taylor.

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🎤 TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS 📌 1815

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TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS - Festival on Poems of American History

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TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS (1815) 1 Hail sons of generous valor, Who now embattled stand, To wield the brand of strife and blood, For Freedom and the land. And hail to him your laurelled chief, Around whose trophied name A nation's gratitude has twined The wreath of deathless fame. 2 Now round that gallant leader Your iron phalanx form, And throw, like Ocean's barrier rocks, Your bosoms to the storm. Though wild as Ocean's wave it rolls, Its fury shall be low, For justice guides the warrior's steel, And vengeance strikes the blow. 3 High o'er the gleaming columns, The bannered star appears, And proud amid its martial band, His crest the eagle rears. And long as patriot valor's arm Shall win the battle's prize, That star shall beam triumphantly, That eagle seek the skies. 4 Then on, ye daring spirits, To danger's tumults now, The bowl is filled and wreathed the crown, To grace the victor's brow; And they who for their country die, Shall fill an honored grave; For glory lights the soldier's tomb, And beauty weeps the brave. *Joseph Rodman Drake.

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🎤 TRENTON AND PRINCETON 📌 1776

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TRENTON AND PRINCETON - Festival on Poems of American History

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TRENTON AND PRINCETON [December 26, 1776—January 3, 1777] 1 On December, the sixth And the twentieth day, Our troops attacked the Hessians, And show'd them gallant play. 2 Our roaring cannon taught them Our valor for to know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. 3 The chiefs were kill'd or taken, The rest were put to flight, And some arrived at Princeton, Half-fainting with affright. 4 The third of January, The morning being clear, Our troops attack'd the regulars, At Princeton, we do hear. 5 About a mile from Princeton, The battle is begun, And many a haughty Briton fell Before the fight was done. 6 And what our gallant troops have done We'll let the British know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. 7 The British, struck with terror, And frighted, ran away: They ran across the country Like men in deep dismay, 8 Crying to every one they met, "Oh! hide us! hide us! do! The rebels will devour us, So hotly they pursue." 9 Oh, base, ungenerous Britons! To call us by that name; We're fighting for our liberty, Our just and lawful claim. 10 We trust in Heaven's protection, Nor fear to win the day; When time shall come we'll crown our deeds With many a loud huzza! 11 Our foes are fled to Brunswick, Where they are close confined; Our men they are unanimous, In Freedom's cause combined. 12 Success to General Washington, And Gates and Putnam, too, Both officers and privates, Who liberty pursue.

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🎤 UNHAPPY BOSTON 📌 1770

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UNHAPPY BOSTON - Festival on Poems of American History

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UNHAPPY BOSTON [March 8, 1770] 1 Unhappy Boston! see thy sons deplore Thy hallowed walks besmear'd with guiltless gore. While faithless Preston and his savage bands, With murderous rancor stretch their bloody hands; Like fierce barbarians grinning o'er their prey, Approve the carnage and enjoy the day. 2 If scalding drops, from rage, from anguish wrung, If speechless sorrows lab'ring for a tongue, Or if a weeping world can aught appease The plaintive ghosts of victims such as these; The patriot's copious tears for each are shed, A glorious tribute which embalms the dead. 3 But know, Fate summons to that awful goal, Where justice strips the murderer of his soul: Should venal Cts, the scandal of the land, Snatch the relentless villain from her hand, Keen execrations on this plate inscrib'd Shall reach a judge who never can be bribed. *Paul Revere.

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🎤 VIRGINIA CAPTA 📌 1865

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VIRGINIA CAPTA - Festival on Poems of American History

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VIRGINIA CAPTA APRIL, 1865 1 Unconquer'd captive!—close thine eye, And draw the ashen sackcloth o'er, And in thy speechless woe deplore The fate that would not let thee die! 2 The arm that wore the shield, strip bare; The hand that held the martial rein, And hurled the spear on many a plain,— Stretch—till they clasp the shackles there! 3 The foot that once could crush the crown, Must drag the fetters, till it bleed Beneath their weight:—thou dost not need It now, to tread the tyrant down. 4 Thou thought'st him vanquished—boastful trust!— His lance, in twain—his sword, a wreck,— But with his heel upon thy neck, He holds thee prostrate in the dust! 5 Bend though thou must, beneath his will, Let not one abject moan have place; But with majestic, silent grace, Maintain thy regal bearing still. 6 Look back through all thy storied past, And sit erect in conscious pride: No grander heroes ever died— No sterner, battled to the last! 7 Weep, if thou wilt, with proud, sad mien, Thy blasted hopes—thy peace undone,— Yet brave, live on,—nor seek to shun Thy fate, like Egypt's conquer'd Queen. 8 Though forced a captive's place to fill In the triumphal train,—yet there, Superbly, like Zenobia, wear Thy chains,—Virginia Victrix still! *Margaret Junkin Preston.

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🎤 WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT 📌 1814

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WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT - Festival on Poems of American History

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WASHINGTON'S MONUMENT (1799) 1 For him who sought his country's good In plains of war, mid scenes of blood; Who, in the dubious battle's fray, Spent the warm noon of life's bright day, That to a world he might secure Rights that forever shall endure, Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name 2 For him, who, when the war was done, And victory sure, and freedom won, Left glory's theatre, the field, The olive branch of peace to wield; And proved, when at the helm of state, Though great in war, in peace as great; Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name! 3 For him, whose worth, though unexpress'd, Lives cherish'd in each freeman's breast, Whose name, to patriot souls so dear, Time's latest children shall revere, Whose brave achievements praised shall be, While beats one breast for liberty; Rear the monument of fame! Deathless is the hero's name! 4 But why for him vain marbles raise? Can the cold sculpture speak his praise? Illustrious shade! we can proclaim Our gratitude, but not thy fame. Long as Columbia shall be free, She lives a monument of thee; And may she ever rise in fame, To honor thy immortal name!

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🎤 WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS 📌 1775

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WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS - Festival on Poems of American History

YOUR LOGO HERE

THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION [May 20, 1775] 1 Oppressed and few, but freemen yet, The men of Mecklenburg had met Determined to be free, And crook no coward knee, Though Might in front and Treason at the back Brought death and ruin in their joint attack. 2 The tyrant's heel was on the land When Polk convoked his gallant band, And told in words full strong The bitter tale of wrong, Then came a whisper, like the storm's first waves: "We must be independent, or be slaves!" 3 But, hark! What hurried rider, this, With jaded horse and garb amiss, Whose look some woe proclaims, Ere he his mission names? He rides amain from far-off Lexington, And tells the blood-red news of war begun! 4 Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke The wise bold words that aye invoke Men to defend the right And scorn the despot's might; Until from all there rose the answering cry: "We will be independent, or we die." 5 When Alexander called the vote, No dastard "nay's" discordant note Broke on that holy air— For dastard none was there! But in prompt answer to their country's call, They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor—all! 6 In solemn hush the people heard; With shout and cheer they caught the word: Independence! In that sign We grasp our right divine; For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate Must yield to men who fight for God and State! 7 The hero shout flew on the breeze; Rushed from the mountains to the seas; Till all the land uprose, Their faces to their foes, Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne, And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn! 8 And well those men maintained the right; They kept the faith, and fought the fight; Till Might and Treason both Fled fast before the oath Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down To place on patriot brows the victor's crown! *William C. Elam.

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YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND

A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON

ACROSS THE DELAWARE

ADAMS AND LIBERTY

ALASKA

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL

BEFORE VICKSBURG

BOSTON FIRE

BOSTON HYMN

CALIFORNIA

CAROLINA

CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy)

CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance)

CHICAGO

COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER

COLUMBUS DYING

CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER

DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY

EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH

FREE AMERICA

GEORGE WASHINGTON

GETTYSBURG

HAARLEM HEIGHTS

HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS

KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA

LEXINGTON

MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA

MARYLAND RESOLVES

MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY

McKINLEY [killing]

MOSBY AT HAMILTON

NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH

NEWS FROM YORKTOWN

ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

PENNSYLVANIA SONG

SAN FRANCISCO

SAVANNAH

SHERMAN`S IN SAVANNAH

SONG OF TEXAS

TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE)

THANKSGIVING HYMN

THE AMERICAN FLAG

THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER

THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON

THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL

THE FALL OF RICHMOND

THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO

THE FOURTH OF JULY

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS

THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY

THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK`S MEN

THE MAYFLOWER

THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION

THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL

THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON

THROUGH BALTIMORE

TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS

TRENTON AND PRINCETON

UNHAPPY BOSTON

VIRGINIA CAPTA

WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT

WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS

Community Interpretations

Tuning the instruments...

YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND - Festival on Poems of American History

A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON - Festival on Poems of American History

ACROSS THE DELAWARE - Festival on Poems of American History

ADAMS AND LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History

ALASKA - Festival on Poems of American History

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE - Festival on Poems of American History

ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL - Festival on Poems of American History

BEFORE VICKSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History

BOSTON FIRE - Festival on Poems of American History

BOSTON HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History

CALIFORNIA - Festival on Poems of American History

CAROLINA - Festival on Poems of American History

CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy) - Festival on Poems of American History

CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance) - Festival on Poems of American History

CHICAGO - Festival on Poems of American History

COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History

COLUMBUS DYING - Festival on Poems of American History

CORNWALLIS`S SURRENDER - Festival on Poems of American History

DISCOVERY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY - Festival on Poems of American History

EVACUATION OF NEW YORK BY THE BRITISH - Festival on Poems of American History

FREE AMERICA - Festival on Poems of American History

GEORGE WASHINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

GETTYSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History

HAARLEM HEIGHTS - Festival on Poems of American History

HOW McCLELLAN TOOK MANASSAS - Festival on Poems of American History

KEARSARGE AND ALABAMA - Festival on Poems of American History

LEXINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA - Festival on Poems of American History

MARYLAND RESOLVES - Festival on Poems of American History

MASSACHUSETTS SONG OF LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History

McKINLEY [killing] - Festival on Poems of American History

MOSBY AT HAMILTON - Festival on Poems of American History

NEW ENGLAND`S GROWTH - Festival on Poems of American History

NEWS FROM YORKTOWN - Festival on Poems of American History

ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - Festival on Poems of American History

PENNSYLVANIA SONG - Festival on Poems of American History

SAN FRANCISCO - Festival on Poems of American History

SAVANNAH - Festival on Poems of American History

SHERMAN`S IN SAVANNAH - Festival on Poems of American History

SONG OF TEXAS - Festival on Poems of American History

TENNESSEE (PRIZE CENTENNIAL ODE) - Festival on Poems of American History

THANKSGIVING HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History

THE AMERICAN FLAG - Festival on Poems of American History

THE AMERICAN PATRIOT`S PRAYER - Festival on Poems of American History

THE BATTLE OF BALTIMORE - Festival on Poems of American History

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON - Festival on Poems of American History

THE BOMBARDMENT OF BRISTOL - Festival on Poems of American History

THE FALL OF RICHMOND - Festival on Poems of American History

THE FOUNDERS OF OHIO - Festival on Poems of American History

THE FOURTH OF JULY - Festival on Poems of American History

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS - Festival on Poems of American History

THE HUNTERS OF KENTUCKY - Festival on Poems of American History

THE MARCHING SONG OF STARK`S MEN - Festival on Poems of American History

THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History

THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION - Festival on Poems of American History

THE OLD SANTA FÉ TRAIL - Festival on Poems of American History

THE RIFLEMAN`S SONG AT BENNINGTON - Festival on Poems of American History

THROUGH BALTIMORE - Festival on Poems of American History

TO THE DEFENDERS OF NEW ORLEANS - Festival on Poems of American History

TRENTON AND PRINCETON - Festival on Poems of American History

UNHAPPY BOSTON - Festival on Poems of American History

VIRGINIA CAPTA - Festival on Poems of American History

WASHINGTON`S MONUMENT - Festival on Poems of American History

WARREN`S ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS - Festival on Poems of American History

YANKEE DOODLE`S EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND - Festival on Poems of American History

A SONG ABOUT CHARLESTON - Festival on Poems of American History

ACROSS THE DELAWARE - Festival on Poems of American History

ADAMS AND LIBERTY - Festival on Poems of American History

ALASKA - Festival on Poems of American History

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE - Festival on Poems of American History

ASTRÆA AT THE CAPITOL - Festival on Poems of American History

BEFORE VICKSBURG - Festival on Poems of American History

BOSTON FIRE - Festival on Poems of American History

BOSTON HYMN - Festival on Poems of American History

CALIFORNIA - Festival on Poems of American History

CAROLINA - Festival on Poems of American History

CHARLESTON (front of the Confederacy) - Festival on Poems of American History

CHARLESTON (Ineffective resistance) - Festival on Poems of American History

CHICAGO - Festival on Poems of American History

COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER - Festival on Poems of American History