Kentucky Gazette

POETRY.

From the Columbian.

THE BATTLE OF STONINGTON,
Three gallant ships from England came,
Freighted deep with fire and flame,
And other things we need not name
To have a dash at Stonington.

Now safe arrived—their work begun—
They thought to make the Yankees run,
And have a mighty deal of fun
In stealing sheep at Stonington.

A Yankee, then, popp'd up his head,
And parson Jones's sermon read,
In which the reverend doctor said,
That they must fight for Stonington.

The ships advancing several ways,
The Britons soon began to blaze,
And put the old women in amaze,
Who fear'd the loss of Stonington!

The Yankees to their fort repaired,
And made as though they little cared,
For all their shot—though very hard
They blazed away on Stonington.

The Ramilies began the attack,
And Nimrod made a mighty crack,
And none can tell what kept them back,
From setting fire to Stonington.

The old razee, with red hot ball.
Soon made a farmer's barrack fall,
And did a cow-house sadly maul,
That stood a mile from Stonington.

The bombs were thrown, the rockets flew,
But not a man of all their crew,
(Though every man was full in view)
Could kill a man of Stonington.

To have their turn, they thought but fair—
The Yankees brought two guns to bear,
And, sir, it would have made you stare,
To see the smoke at Stonington!

They bored the Nimrod through and through,
And killed and mangled half her crew,
When riddled, crippled, she withdrew.
And cursed the boys of Stonington.

The Ramilies gave up the fray,
And with her comrades, sneak'd away—
Such was the valor, on that day,
Of British tars at Stonington.

But some assert, on certain grounds,
Beside the damage and the wounds,
It cost their king ten thousand pounds,
To have a dash at Stonington.