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Poem
November 17, 1781
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Satirical song celebrating the surrender of British General Cornwallis and his army to American General Washington, mocking Cornwallis's boasts, defeats by Greene and Morgan, and ultimate downfall, set to the tune 'Derry Down.'
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
Occasioned by the surrender of Earl Cornwallis and his whole army, to General WASHINGTON.
Tune "Derry down. &c."
When southward Cornwallis first enter'd the land
Commander in Chief, with the sword in his hand,
He swagger'd and boasted, and threaten'd the fates
In spite of their teeth, he would ravage the States.
Derry down, &c.
No longer he sits, with his thumb in his mouth,
Like prudent Sir Harry-but conquers the south--
And soon having victory bound in his chain--
Enclos'd her in letters he sent to Germain.
Derry down, &c.
The hero of Minden each packet displays,
St. James's resounds and the Tower cannon blaze;
The King and his Parliament make an oration,
Protesting this Peer, had no Peer in the nation.
Derry down &c.
Thus deck'd with the plumage of eagle wing'd fame
He swore there was conquest annex'd to his name;
For fortune the wanton voluptuous Gypsey--
He pledg'd him her cup 'till his Lordship was tipey.
Derry down, &c.
So rising in wrath like Achilles at Hector,
He swore he would turn every whig to a Spectre;
And bloodily threaten'd to pierce Mr. Greene,
And shiver more rebels than ever were seen.
Derry down, &c.
But ah what a pity! The hero of Britain,
On fame's highest pinnacle loftily sitting;
Should ever be stung by the serpent--mischance!
Or Morgan teach Tarleton the Lexington dance.
Derry down, &c.
Yet the heroic Earl of invincible punk--
Determines to finish us, sober or drunk;
He foams and he raves, and he marches evere.
'Til Greene sends him off, with a flea in his ear.
Derry down, &c.
Now quitting the loyal, deserting whole nations,
Subdu'd and protected by brave Proclamations;
Again he moves victor, for bright glory shows him
New triumphs wherever no mortals oppose him.
Derry down, &c.
'Till Washington cloth'd in the potence of might,
Restless as love, hurl'd the thunders of fight;
The bands of bold freemen surrounded the hoar.
And 'tis said the Earl never will conquer us more
Derry down, &c.
Thus still may the triumph of freedom expand,
Her laurels forever embellish the land;
And all who oppose her, in fetters await's,
Disgraces, defeats, and Cornwallis's fate.
Derry down, &c.
Tune "Derry down. &c."
When southward Cornwallis first enter'd the land
Commander in Chief, with the sword in his hand,
He swagger'd and boasted, and threaten'd the fates
In spite of their teeth, he would ravage the States.
Derry down, &c.
No longer he sits, with his thumb in his mouth,
Like prudent Sir Harry-but conquers the south--
And soon having victory bound in his chain--
Enclos'd her in letters he sent to Germain.
Derry down, &c.
The hero of Minden each packet displays,
St. James's resounds and the Tower cannon blaze;
The King and his Parliament make an oration,
Protesting this Peer, had no Peer in the nation.
Derry down &c.
Thus deck'd with the plumage of eagle wing'd fame
He swore there was conquest annex'd to his name;
For fortune the wanton voluptuous Gypsey--
He pledg'd him her cup 'till his Lordship was tipey.
Derry down, &c.
So rising in wrath like Achilles at Hector,
He swore he would turn every whig to a Spectre;
And bloodily threaten'd to pierce Mr. Greene,
And shiver more rebels than ever were seen.
Derry down, &c.
But ah what a pity! The hero of Britain,
On fame's highest pinnacle loftily sitting;
Should ever be stung by the serpent--mischance!
Or Morgan teach Tarleton the Lexington dance.
Derry down, &c.
Yet the heroic Earl of invincible punk--
Determines to finish us, sober or drunk;
He foams and he raves, and he marches evere.
'Til Greene sends him off, with a flea in his ear.
Derry down, &c.
Now quitting the loyal, deserting whole nations,
Subdu'd and protected by brave Proclamations;
Again he moves victor, for bright glory shows him
New triumphs wherever no mortals oppose him.
Derry down, &c.
'Till Washington cloth'd in the potence of might,
Restless as love, hurl'd the thunders of fight;
The bands of bold freemen surrounded the hoar.
And 'tis said the Earl never will conquer us more
Derry down, &c.
Thus still may the triumph of freedom expand,
Her laurels forever embellish the land;
And all who oppose her, in fetters await's,
Disgraces, defeats, and Cornwallis's fate.
Derry down, &c.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Political
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Cornwallis Surrender
Washington Victory
American Revolution
British Defeat
Derry Down Tune
Satirical Song
Nathanael Greene
Daniel Morgan
Yorktown
Poem Details
Subject
Occasioned By The Surrender Of Earl Cornwallis And His Whole Army, To General Washington.
Form / Style
To The Tune Of 'Derry Down'
Key Lines
When Southward Cornwallis First Enter'd The Land
Commander In Chief, With The Sword In His Hand,
He Swagger'd And Boasted, And Threaten'd The Fates
In Spite Of Their Teeth, He Would Ravage The States.
Derry Down, &C.
'Till Washington Cloth'd In The Potence Of Might,
Restless As Love, Hurl'd The Thunders Of Fight;
The Bands Of Bold Freemen Surrounded The Hoar.
And 'Tis Said The Earl Never Will Conquer Us More
Derry Down, &C.
Thus Still May The Triumph Of Freedom Expand,
Her Laurels Forever Embellish The Land;
And All Who Oppose Her, In Fetters Await's,
Disgraces, Defeats, And Cornwallis's Fate.
Derry Down, &C.