Ballads of the bivouac and the border . anks,Men fall like trees before a storm in center, rear and flanks. I hear a whizzing, singing noise, twas made by cannon ball,And on the slope behind me note a horse and rider fall. I felt a shudder oer me creep, a feeling kin to fear, The Pennsylvania mountain lad had neer seen death so near. As on the column swiftly moves I see a well-known form,His bearing firm, his stalwart breast bared to the leaden storm. Twas Jacob Lehmers figure, his form erect and straight,The first to reach St. Johns gray walls, the first to scale itsgate; The grim redoubt is
Ballads of the bivouac and the border . anks,Men fall like trees before a storm in center, rear and flanks. I hear a whizzing, singing noise, twas made by cannon ball,And on the slope behind me note a horse and rider fall. I felt a shudder oer me creep, a feeling kin to fear, The Pennsylvania mountain lad had neer seen death so near. As on the column swiftly moves I see a well-known form,His bearing firm, his stalwart breast bared to the leaden storm. Twas Jacob Lehmers figure, his form erect and straight,The first to reach St. Johns gray walls, the first to scale itsgate; The grim redoubt is taken, the British backward fell,And closely pressed take refuge within the citadel. Again the roar of shotted guns, the British cannoneerWithin the ranks of charging men has mowed a pathway clear. I saw my cousin backward reel, his hand upon his heart,A fleck of blood is on his lips, his nostrils wide apart. I sprang to aid the stricken man, his head falls on my breast—The gallant comrade of my youth lies dead on Quebecs crest. —o. THE ASS A ULT ON Q UEBEC. 4 3 I closed my kinsmans glazing eyes, the heart that knew no fear,When came the clash of backwoodsman gainst British grenadier. I felt my heart with anguish start, my veins surge hot with hate,The blood of every red-coat there could not my passion sate ; I lost no time, but in the charge press on with Morgans men,I felt no fear of mortal foe and scorned all danger then. The redoubts blaze with musketry, its cannon speak their ire,The charging column sways and fades like grass neath prairiefire. Backward the storming column is hurled down Quebecs and blood, howeer well spent, cannot with bastioncope. Again is formed the broken line with Arnold at their head,Against the citadels proud gates the bleeding ranks are led. The remnant left of Morgans men in squads of ten are toled,And two men of each charging squad stout scaling laddershold ; Again we face their musketry, again their cannon spoke,The ground is we
Size: 1295px × 1929px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidballadsofbiv, bookyear1896
