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Literary
April 1, 1813
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Patriotic poem by a lady from Frankfort, Kentucky, written on the August departure of local volunteers to fight British-allied Native American forces. It prays for their protection, laments the cost of liberty in blood and tears, and foretells many heroes' deaths, which proved prophetic.
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POETRY.
From the Petersburg (Virginia) Republican.
The following beautiful and affecting verses,
were written by a Lady of Frankfort, Ken-
tucky, on the departure of the Volunteers
of that place last August, to meet their
savage foes. She was, alas! too prophet-
ic—for many, many of those brave patriots
have fallen fighting heroically for the lib-
erty of their country.
Protect them Heaven! My faltering tongue
Could scarce to Heaven the prayer address,
For ah! the heart from which it sprung,
Felt the keen pressure of distress:
It bled for friends to distance borne—
Departed—never to return.
O freedom! must thy sacred tree,
Be nourish'd still with tears and blood?
Must our expiring kindred be,
Around thy reeking altars strow'd?
Oh! whence proceeds these dire alarms—
Oh! why this sad appeal to arms?
Hark through the forest's deep recess,
Resounds the yell of savage war:
Onward the Scantie legions press,
And bring destruction from afar.
See yonder cot in flames ascends,
And yonder lie your butcher'd friends.
And who supplies the murd'rous steel?
And who prepares the base reward,
That wakes to deeds of desperate zeal
The fury of each slumbering horde?
From Britain comes each fatal blow;:
From Britain, still our deadliest foe.
What do not ocean's wide domains,
Afford her sons sufficient prey?
But must they seek these distant plains
And bribe the savage to betray'?
Yes, Freedom, here thy banners wave,
And here would Britain mark thy grave
Then go, ye gallant warriors, go,
Arrest destruction's swift career;
In mighty vengeance crush the foe.
And bid your hidden strength appear.
The sword which lingering justice draws,
Will surely guard a righteous cause.
Then, Freedom, if thy sacred tree,
Must be sustained with tears and blood
Perish the tyrants of the sea!
Perish their allies of the wood!
But Heaven direct each patriot arm,
And shield each patriot breast from harm
And if the hero yields his breath,
Great God! receive his parting sigh.
And call him from the realms of death,
To purer mansions in the sky!
And sweetly may his ashes rest,
By all his country's wishes blest.
From the Petersburg (Virginia) Republican.
The following beautiful and affecting verses,
were written by a Lady of Frankfort, Ken-
tucky, on the departure of the Volunteers
of that place last August, to meet their
savage foes. She was, alas! too prophet-
ic—for many, many of those brave patriots
have fallen fighting heroically for the lib-
erty of their country.
Protect them Heaven! My faltering tongue
Could scarce to Heaven the prayer address,
For ah! the heart from which it sprung,
Felt the keen pressure of distress:
It bled for friends to distance borne—
Departed—never to return.
O freedom! must thy sacred tree,
Be nourish'd still with tears and blood?
Must our expiring kindred be,
Around thy reeking altars strow'd?
Oh! whence proceeds these dire alarms—
Oh! why this sad appeal to arms?
Hark through the forest's deep recess,
Resounds the yell of savage war:
Onward the Scantie legions press,
And bring destruction from afar.
See yonder cot in flames ascends,
And yonder lie your butcher'd friends.
And who supplies the murd'rous steel?
And who prepares the base reward,
That wakes to deeds of desperate zeal
The fury of each slumbering horde?
From Britain comes each fatal blow;:
From Britain, still our deadliest foe.
What do not ocean's wide domains,
Afford her sons sufficient prey?
But must they seek these distant plains
And bribe the savage to betray'?
Yes, Freedom, here thy banners wave,
And here would Britain mark thy grave
Then go, ye gallant warriors, go,
Arrest destruction's swift career;
In mighty vengeance crush the foe.
And bid your hidden strength appear.
The sword which lingering justice draws,
Will surely guard a righteous cause.
Then, Freedom, if thy sacred tree,
Must be sustained with tears and blood
Perish the tyrants of the sea!
Perish their allies of the wood!
But Heaven direct each patriot arm,
And shield each patriot breast from harm
And if the hero yields his breath,
Great God! receive his parting sigh.
And call him from the realms of death,
To purer mansions in the sky!
And sweetly may his ashes rest,
By all his country's wishes blest.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Patriotism
War Peace
What keywords are associated?
Patriotism
Volunteers
British Foe
Savage War
Freedom Tree
What entities or persons were involved?
A Lady Of Frankfort, Kentucky
Literary Details
Author
A Lady Of Frankfort, Kentucky
Subject
On The Departure Of The Volunteers Of That Place Last August, To Meet Their Savage Foes
Key Lines
Protect Them Heaven! My Faltering Tongue
O Freedom! Must Thy Sacred Tree, Be Nourish'd Still With Tears And Blood?
From Britain Comes Each Fatal Blow; From Britain, Still Our Deadliest Foe.
Then Go, Ye Gallant Warriors, Go, Arrest Destruction's Swift Career;
And If The Hero Yields His Breath, Great God! Receive His Parting Sigh.