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Literary
July 12, 1870
Gold Hill Daily News
Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada
What is this article about?
Overview of early American literature before the Revolution, noting its embryonic state, followed by the patriotic song 'The Pennsylvania March' from the Pennsylvania Packet, August 7, 1775, which rallies against British slavery and affirms American freedom.
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LITERATURE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
American literature, anterior to the Revolution, like liberty, was almost entirely in embryo. Men of culture and extensive acquirements were not wanting, but, as in all new countries, there was little incentive to authorship. The few specimens of the literature of that period are therefore not remarkable for beauty of style.
The following appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet of August 7th, 1775:
THE PENNSYLVANIA MARCH.
To the tune of the Scots Song, "I Winna Marr Ony Lad but Sandy O'er the Sea."
We are the troops that ne'er will stoop
To wretched slavery;
Nor shall our seed, by one base deed,
Despised vassals be.
Freedom we will bequeath 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 will we prove,
Great Britain soon shall see.
II.
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.
CHORUS.
What can those British tyrants think
Our fathers crossed the main.
And savage foes and danger met,
To be enslaved by them!
If so, they are mistaken,
For we will rather die;
And since they have become our foes
Their forces we'll defy.
American literature, anterior to the Revolution, like liberty, was almost entirely in embryo. Men of culture and extensive acquirements were not wanting, but, as in all new countries, there was little incentive to authorship. The few specimens of the literature of that period are therefore not remarkable for beauty of style.
The following appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet of August 7th, 1775:
THE PENNSYLVANIA MARCH.
To the tune of the Scots Song, "I Winna Marr Ony Lad but Sandy O'er the Sea."
We are the troops that ne'er will stoop
To wretched slavery;
Nor shall our seed, by one base deed,
Despised vassals be.
Freedom we will bequeath 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 will we prove,
Great Britain soon shall see.
II.
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.
CHORUS.
What can those British tyrants think
Our fathers crossed the main.
And savage foes and danger met,
To be enslaved by them!
If so, they are mistaken,
For we will rather die;
And since they have become our foes
Their forces we'll defy.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Patriotism
Political
What keywords are associated?
Pennsylvania March
Revolutionary Song
American Freedom
British Tyranny
Patriotic Verse
Literary Details
Title
The Pennsylvania March
Subject
Published In The Pennsylvania Packet Of August 7th, 1775
Form / Style
Patriotic Marching Song In Verse, To The Tune Of A Scots Song
Key Lines
We Are The Troops That Ne'er Will Stoop
To Wretched Slavery;
Nor Shall Our Seed, By One Base Deed,
Despised Vassals Be.
Freedom We Will Bequeath Them,
Or We Will Bravely Die;
And All The World Shall Know
Americans Are Free:
Nor Slaves Nor Cowards Will We Prove,
Great Britain Soon Shall See.
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.