The Virginia Gazette

The following stanzas were originally intended as a song, in commemoration of the glorious victory obtained by General Washington over the British forces at Princeton, on the morning of the third of January, 1777: The variety of ideas which flowed from so copious a subject insensibly spun them out beyond the ordinary length of compositions of that nature. They are however offered to the publick, with a view to revive (if necessary) the recollection of that important event; the benefits resulting from which have been, and will continue to be, felt by every friend to the liberties of America, even to latest posterity.

O'ER winter scowling along the plain,
And ruthless boreas urg'd amain,
His fierce, impetuous course:
In ice the liquid regions bound,
The torrent's foaming rage confound,
And stop its boist'rous force.

While hostile bands their rights invade,
Columbia's sons in tents were laid,
And winter's blasts defy'd:
No foes appal, no dangers fright,
While freedom's sacred cause they fight,
And WASHINGTON's their guide.

While slumber seal'd the hero's eyes.
He saw a god-like form arise,
Like martial Pallas drest
'Twas liberty, celestial maid!
In all her golden charms array'd,
The goddess stood confest.

"My son, she cried, the Gods above,
Thy country's sacred cause approve,
And on thy virtues smile;
Tho' proud oppression waste the land,
Yet freedom, purchas'd by thy hand,
Shall soon reward the toil."

"Lo! where Britannia's banners rise,
In awful pomp, and brave the skies,
Exulting o'er the land!
Her haughty legions, soon, shall feel
The force of thine avenging steel,
And this, thy chosen band:

"Tho' veterans compose their train,
And ten-fold numbers fill the plain,
To martial deeds inur'd :
Undaunted, rise, and take the field,
For liberty all lends her shield,
And victory her sword."

Up rose the Chief, at the command,
And strait conven'd his faithful band.
Inspir'd by freedom's lore:
Egyptian darkness veil'd the night;
But liberty's celestial light,
Their footsteps went before.

Before the banish'd muse's seat,
In arms the hostile legions met;
And fate upheld the scale:
Forth rush'd the blazing God of light,
Whose radiance crown'd the glorious fight,
While freedom's sons prevail.

Like Mars, Columbia's hero stood,
Her haughty foes were drench'd in blood
Or shun'd the doubtful fight:
While Britons shame and grief confound,
Fair liberty the victors crown'd,
With honours ever bright.

Henceforth, the grateful muse shall bring
Her annual incense, freedom's shrine,
The hero's brow to grace:
By whose victorious arm restor'd,
No more the lisping babe's afraid
Of sword;
But safe her ancient peace.

And, till, with the revolving year,
A garland shall the muse prepare,
To deck her Mercer's urn:
While freedom swells the trump of fame,
Columbia shall revere his name,
His fate her sons shall mourn.
Every American must remember that the attack was made, near Princeton college, by the American army, just as the sun rose, after a march of fourteen miles, in a most tempestuous night at that inclement season of the year.

The subject concludes with the preceding stanzas. The two last were added with a view of hinting to the Governors and masters of the several colleges in America, that the institution of an annual prize poem, to be composed on this subject, would be the most probable means of producing, at some future day, a poem not inferior to the subject. An institution of this kind, perhaps, would be adopted with singular propriety at Princeton college, which was on that day rescued from the British soldiery, by whom it was occupied as a barrack.

This tribute is certainly due to the memory of the gallant General Mercer who fell that day, with circumstances attending his fate which must ever sully the lustre of the British arms.