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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
 
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 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
WASHINGTON 
 
 A NATIONAL EPIC 
 IN SIX CANTOS c2« 
 
 / 
 
 BY EDWARD JOHNSON RUNK 
 
 G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
 NEW YORK AND LONDON 
 
 Sbe fftnlcfterbocftcr jpress 
 1897 
 
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 Copyright, 1897 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD JOHNSON RUNK 
 Entered at Stationers' Hall, London 
 
 /^-5"?3^^ 
 
 Ube IRniclterbocker pvcss, mew ifiorh 
 
Dedicated 
 
 TO 
 
 THE PEOPLE 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNITED STATES OF 
 AMERICA 
 
PREFACE 
 
 THE following poem was written at Cold 
 Spring in the Hudson Highlands during 
 the summer months which succeeded the cen- 
 tennial celebration of Washington's inaugura- 
 tion as first President of the United States, 
 April 30, 1 789-1889. Circumstances have de- 
 layed its publication until the present time. 
 
 To one residing in the Hudson Highlands the 
 inspirations of mountain scenery are associated 
 with historic memories of the romantic revolu- 
 tionary period. As yet no one, to our know- 
 ledge, had wov^en or attempted to weave in 
 unity of person and place the poetic thoughts, 
 which nature and history here suggest in won- 
 derful richness and importance. 
 
 So marvelous has been the growth of our 
 country that the revolutionary epoch may ap- 
 pear relatively more remote than it really is, 
 and to the young and the many who have come 
 
Vi PREFACE, 
 
 from other countries to our shores a halo of 
 romance may envelop the persons of the heroes 
 of that age. 
 
 The nobility of his character, the difificulties 
 with which he successfully contended, the im- 
 portance of the humane principles for which he 
 labored in conjuncton with his fellow-citizens, 
 render Washington as inspiring and honorable 
 a character for poetic tribute as may be found 
 among the imperfect children of mortality. 
 
 The following lines find in Washington unity 
 of person, in the Hudson Highlands unity of 
 place, in the American Revolution unity of his- 
 tory, and in the principles of constitutional 
 republicanism unity of philosophy. The order 
 of cantos is historic; their names are taken 
 from places around us that have been centres of 
 revolutionary association ; and, while the prin- 
 cipal events of such places have been elaborated 
 in the respective cantos, the aim has been to 
 maintain historic continuity and trace the rela- 
 tive significance of local occurrences in the 
 totality of the general movement. The first 
 canto, " Constitution Island," describes the 
 advent of free principles to our country, the 
 fortifications early erected in the place that 
 names the canto, and the course of events until 
 Burgoyne's campaign in 1777, at which time 
 
PREFA CE. VI 1 
 
 the three forts, Montgomery, Clinton, and 
 Constitution, came into prominence. To the 
 second canto the name " The Three Forts " is 
 therefore given, and Clinton's diversion in Bur- 
 goyne's favor is described, with the brilliant 
 resistance of our men at the Forts Montgomery 
 and Clinton. A description of succeeding 
 events follows in the third canto, " Stony 
 Point," showing the condition of affairs, when 
 Wayne made his gallant and successful mid- 
 night charge upon that important post; and 
 account of this action gives a climax to the 
 canto. The richness of association at West 
 Point naturally tended to make the fourth 
 canto, so named, the longest. The origin of 
 the works there, the complot of Arnold and 
 Andr^ against its safety, the celebration of the 
 dauphin's birth, the location of the military 
 academy and the services of its graduates have 
 suggested many lines. In the fifth canto, 
 " Fishkill," we have described the army of the 
 revolution patiently waiting, even amid suffer- 
 ing, until the final success at Yorktown crowned 
 their endurance with victory. The reminis- 
 cences of constitutional convention, army en- 
 campment, hospital, and prison have been 
 alluded to, and the memories of Cold Spring 
 woven into the tale of the Marquis de Chastel- 
 
Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 lux's journey. Newburgh has given title to 
 the last canto, in which Washington's wisdom 
 in dealing with the army stationed there has 
 been extolled, the excursion to Peekskill to 
 receive the French on their homeward journey 
 described, and the closing scenes of disband- 
 ment of our army at Newburgh after cessation 
 of hostilities set forth. 
 
 The writer would acknowledge his indebted- 
 ness to the many historians and other authori- 
 ties consulted for matters w^hich he has 
 endeavored so to use that truth should not be 
 invaded by imagination. Truth is often high- 
 est art ; and the story of our patriotic ancestors' 
 struggle for constitutional freedom has its own 
 charm for true patriots. If the writer's lines 
 shall have stimulated reverence and gratitude 
 for past worthies and sympathy with the patri- 
 otic principles which animated them, his labor 
 will have been repaid. Notes have been added 
 to throw light on a few points in the poem ; 
 and a later edition may be embellished with 
 appropriate illustrations. 
 
 The historic places around Schuylerville, New 
 York, where Burgoyne's army was surrendered, 
 have been happily designated by the erection 
 of memorial bronze tablets, and the suggestion 
 occurs whether our wealthy residents on both 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 sides of the river in the Highlands may not be 
 moved to similar patriotic offerings to perpet- 
 uate to posterity the revolutionary associations 
 of their own neighborhood. In such tributes 
 to olden worth and valor the prophecy of 
 Washington in his orders, announcing the ces- 
 sation of hostilities, may find additional fulfill- 
 ment : " Happy, thrice happy, shall they be 
 pronounced hereafter, who shall have con- 
 tributed anything, who have performed the 
 meanest ofifice, in erecting this stupendous 
 fabric of freedom and empire on the broad 
 basis of independency; who have assisted in 
 protecting the rights of human nature, and 
 establishing an asylum for the poor and op- 
 pressed of all nations and religions." 
 
 It is hoped that as the children and people 
 of Greece and Rome imbibed the national spirit 
 from Homer's Iliad and Virgil's ^neid re- 
 spectively, and as the various nations of mod- 
 ern Europe have their respective epics, as the 
 Italians Dante's Divine Comedy and Tasso's 
 Jerusalem Delivered^ the Portuguese The 
 Lusiad of De Camoens, the English Spenser's 
 Faerie Queene and Milton's Paradise Lost, so 
 the children and youth and the people of the 
 United States at large, as well as of the States 
 where the revolutionary history in particular 
 
PRE FA CE. 
 
 occurred, may so read and study this centennial 
 epic as to find in it not only an intellectual dis- 
 cipline but also a refreshing fount of purest 
 patriotism. 
 
 Edward J. Runk. 
 
 Sept. 17, 1897. 
 
x/ 
 
 Preface . . . . 
 
 i o. 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 V 
 
 Canto First 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 Canto Second 
 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 Canto Third 
 
 
 
 
 52 
 
 Canto Fourth . 
 
 
 
 
 74 
 
 Canto Fifth 
 
 
 
 
 102 
 
 Canto Sixth 
 
 
 
 
 120 
 
 Notes to Canto First 
 
 
 
 
 137 
 
 Notes to Canto Second 
 
 
 
 
 145 
 
 Notes to Canto Third 
 
 
 
 
 151 
 
 Notes to Canto Fourth 
 
 
 
 
 155 
 
 Notes to Canto Fifth 
 
 
 
 
 . 161 
 
 Notes to Canto Sixth 
 
 
 
 
 . 164 
 
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 WASHINGTON 
 
 A NATIONAL EPIC IN SIX CANTOS 
 
 CANTO FIRST 
 
 CONSTITUTION ISLAND 
 I 
 
 FAIR time and region of our land, 
 Whose memories join us to the band 
 Of heroes that for freedom stood ! 
 From silver stream and mountain wood, 
 'Neath open sky, 'mid nature grand 
 We celebrate the law's demand ' 
 For governmental form secure 
 In Federal union to assure 
 The people of their hard-bought right 
 From thraldom of tyrannic might. 
 O Freedom fair, o'er all the earth 
 
WASHINGTON. 
 
 Reveal thy bright celestial birth ! 
 Infinitude perfection finds; 
 But human hearts that sinning blinds 
 Lose liberty of vision clear, 
 And toilsome agitate with fear. 
 Roaming migration peopled lands, 
 And mind along with body stands 
 Enlightened in the course of years, 
 For freedom yearning oft in tears, 
 Enriched, ennobled by the dawn. 
 Advanced to loftier height and lawn 
 Of emerald hope, unfading faith, 
 When worldliness sees but a wraith. 
 
 II 
 
 In Egypt Israel lay enslaved ; ' 
 
 To Sinai's mount led forth and saved. 
 
 Divinest law conserved their state. 
 
 Adorned by kings and prophets great. 
 
 From Persian servitude redeemed 
 
 The tribes the synagogues esteemed 
 
 As keepers of prophetic sign, 
 
 Precursor in Davidic line 
 
 Of the Messiah, one Divine, 
 
 Through whom their stately glories shine 
 
 With Israel's sad captivity 
 
 Mark Grecia's bold democracy, 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND, 
 
 Resistance of the Persian's hordes, 
 When Maratlion defeats his lords, 
 And saves broad Europe from the lash 
 Of puerile, oriental, trash. 
 Demosthenes for freedom strove 
 To keep the city of his love, 
 Proud Athens, from Macedon's gold. 
 And Philip's phalanx southward rolled. 
 In art fair Hellas stood supreme, 
 A sculptured, architectural dream, 
 In philosophic fancy great 
 And schools of thought to speculate 
 On mind and matter and the state, 
 Plato's Republic and the weight 
 Of Aristotle's practical pate 
 In Politics, the world's debate. 
 
 Ill 
 
 When Grecia languished in decline, 
 
 The Roman rose with legal sign. 
 
 Twelve massive tables marked the right 
 
 Of citizens exempt from might 
 
 Of kings expelled, while consuls twain 
 
 The independences maintain 
 
 Domestic and abroad in war. 
 
 Patricians, from plebeians far 
 
 In peace, prepared, with Carthage felled. 
 
WASHINGTON. 
 
 To circle Asia vast, compelled 
 The Alexandrian power to yield, 
 Chaldean and Egyptian field, 
 To Caesar's universal sway, 
 Enforced by legions in array. 
 With proconsuls imperious, 
 Taxation, justice serious, 
 And unity of law imposed. 
 The heathen empire was composed, 
 Till, 'neath Teutonic fury pressed. 
 The Roman weakness lay confessed ; 
 Yet in death grapple won a day 
 Of life for legalistic sway, 
 The jural form, the civil power, 
 The language of the learned hour. 
 While, mixed with Hebrew thought. 
 And blended as the Grecian wrought 
 In art supreme, Rome's hand is seen 
 In pontiff Hne, where kings had been. 
 
 IV 
 
 The language-pierced from Shinar's plain 
 Were scattered o'er the broad domain 
 Of earth's thick forests, mountains high, 
 And swelling streams or wadies dry, 
 Pelasgic Greek and Roman brave 
 Precede the Kelt and Teuton wave 
 
CONSTITUTION ISIAND. 
 
 Barbaric, surging to the West. 
 Druidic sylvan verdure best 
 From these the Gothic art addressed, 
 In mythologic thought confessed 
 By us in names of weekly days, 
 While free assemblies, votes and ways 
 Of tribal rule, for woman fear 
 And truth's dominion kept severe, 
 Conserved the race of modern hope, 
 Prepared the states 'neath feudal cope, 
 And gallant kings for chivalry, 
 And crusades vast beyond the sea. 
 In these behold the nations one. 
 To rescue lands by Muslim won, 
 For freedom battling, ideal high, 
 A cross, a hope, beyond the sky, 
 And feudal lords, devoutly led, 
 Of vast dominions vastly bled. 
 Consolidating monarchies 
 By weakening aristocracies. 
 
 V 
 
 O myriad-treasured Nature, Queen ® 
 
 Benignant with devices seen 
 
 At last subservient to free 
 
 Mankind from crude captivity! 
 
 Phenicia spread her sails to bring 
 
 The goods and thoughts on helpful wing 
 
WASHINGTON. 
 
 Of nations distant o'er the sea, 
 In trade one in fraternity, 
 Enriched through her with alphabet, 
 Whose origins, in Egypt set, 
 Vie with the Chinese boasted arts. 
 And all the warlike, deadly, darts. 
 The moderns add the powder charged 
 With flaming death to hosts enlarged, 
 Diseased from cumbrous coats of mail 
 That melt as snow beneath the hail 
 Of bullets beating as a flail. 
 The type and printed page diffuse 
 To many minds the learned views; 
 And magnet needles loose from shore 
 The timid vessels that before 
 Knew not the open, boistrous, sea, 
 Nor continent of liberty. 
 Fair Italy the laws of trade 
 In banks and bills and vessels made. 
 Prepared from Genoa to give 
 Columbus for the world to live. 
 
 VI 
 
 Brave soul that ventured'st o'er the mere 
 
 After eight years of pleading near 
 
 To expectation or despair. 
 
 Buoyed up by Christian faith most rare! 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. J 
 
 'Mid Summer and Autumnal days 
 
 Thou sailed'st o'er the watery ways, 
 
 Till on October morn the land 
 
 Descried proved harbinger of grand 
 
 Republics, and asylum large 
 
 For men fleeing before the charge 
 
 Of persecution, bringing here 
 
 A new foundation, hope to cheer. 
 
 Emancipate, and Christianize; 
 
 While Redmen made the white man wise 
 
 To till and use new herbs and foods. 
 
 Exchanging with Europa's goods. 
 
 Bearer of worth, O Christopher! * 
 
 Columbus, dove then sent over 
 
 To find a resting place where man 
 
 Might disembark, republican. 
 
 VII 
 
 Meanwhile the Teuton kindreds move 
 In restiveness profound 'gainst love 
 Of Roman chain of Church supreme, 
 By schism rent, a dismal dream 
 Of discord, shameful to the heart 
 That sought sincere the better part. 
 Obedient to the voice divine, 
 That bears the branches, deathless Vine. 
 Now blew bold Luther clarion loud. 
 That tore by faith the shriveled shroud 
 
WASHINGTON. 
 
 Of legalistic fetters proud 
 
 That kept the masses prison cowed. 
 
 Shrewd Calvin gave the world new form 
 
 Of olden liberty the norm, 
 
 For people led from durance long 
 
 In England, lifting high the song 
 
 Of pure ideals, while Holland staunch 
 
 The federal ship will duly launch, 
 
 And shake the Spanish thraldom down, 
 
 And found the new world's empire town. 
 
 VIII 
 
 O England, white-cliffed, wave-girt isle!" 
 
 Home of the British Arthur, while 
 
 He fought the pagan Saxon stout, 
 
 In turn by Normans put to rout, 
 
 What time victorious William led 
 
 His chivalry at Hastings red 
 
 With vanquished slain, or turned and fled 
 
 King Harold's warriors, hard bestead. 
 
 The barons wrested chartered right 
 
 From trembling, royal, selfish might ; 
 
 And yeomen bold in Parliament, 
 
 Or French or roseate wars resent 
 
 Encroachment on their liberty, 
 
 Till to the fall of papacy 
 
 They add the axe to monarchy, 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 
 
 While Cromwell rules on land and sea, 
 With warriors stern and Harrison,' 
 Whose honored scions twain have won 
 The chieftainship in later day 
 And state beyond the ocean way, 
 Whose freedom throve, when Stuarts fledj 
 And William, Prince of Orange, led 
 The revolution to the throne. 
 Whence kings the people's power own. 
 
 IX 
 
 Her colonies beyond the sea 
 
 Erelong proved England's greater glory. 
 
 Though Puritans for refuge came, 
 
 And romance heightens Raleigh's name. 
 
 The Baltimores taught tolerance. 
 
 And commerce might the Dutch enhance. 
 
 The jealous Indian's war-whoop wild. 
 
 The slaughter of the wife and child. 
 
 Gaunt war, disease, and famine dread 
 
 Proved valor to adventure wed, 
 
 And union sure, by danger bred. 
 
 Of colonies in armies led. 
 
 From Canada the Bourbon went ; 
 
 And England claimed the continent; 
 
 Till waxing poor, and long waxed proud. 
 
 Her nobles wrapped their Stamp-Act shroud 
 
10 WA SHING TON. 
 
 Secure around their feeble state, 
 Awakening to the loud debate 
 Adams, Henry, and Franklin great.' 
 
 X 
 
 Hail, Congress of colonial days ! ^ 
 In New York met, devising ways 
 To teach mankind the right to tax 
 Themselves, till nine years bolder wax. 
 And commerce lies with Britain lost 
 Till tyranny shall count its cost. 
 Ye bitter days of Indian strife. 
 The sacrifice of precious life, 
 How rich were ye to bring a truth 
 Of discipline and union, sooth 
 Necessity to her compelled, 
 And jealous cloudlets were dispelled : 
 For public woe, like private grief. 
 Can bring a value past belief; 
 And darkness ends with dawn's relief, 
 If light reveals the head as chief. 
 
 XI 
 
 Great scion of the Norman lord,' 
 Whom Durham's acres could afTord 
 A resting place at Wessyngton 
 Soon after England's crown was won! 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. II 
 
 Ancestral sire, a royal knight, 
 Created by the monarch's might, 
 To whose successor firm he stood, 
 Left Durham for Virginia's wood, 
 Potomac's stream and mountains grand,- 
 With broad demesne in Westmoreland. 
 Near tribute stream thine eyes saw light ; 
 Maternal love trained thee aright ; 
 Fraternal care Mount Vernon gave 
 To thee a fund of wealth to save 
 The land, whose people heard of him 
 That led the troops 'mid forests grim. 
 When Braddock fell, they heard of how 
 He held his men with fearless brow. 
 And brought them back, O peerless one. 
 Serene and matchless Washington ! 
 
 XII 
 
 When British arms, sent to our shore,'" 
 
 Awoke the people calm before. 
 
 And quartered insolence defied 
 
 The justice more intense, when tried 
 
 By angry bullets in a quiet town, 
 
 Prompt hands, disguised, the tea chests drown. 
 
 Though Boston port be rudely closed, 
 
 Of sterner stuff the mass composed 
 
 Joined with the suffering city brave 
 
12 WASHINGTON. 
 
 'Mid surges of tyrannic wave, 
 Fasted, and of their substance gave 
 For her relief and sure renown 
 That firm withstood the kingly frown. 
 Concord and Lexington became 
 Our Marathon of freedom's fame. 
 And from the blood of heroes shed 
 A voice over the country sped 
 To call the nation to the dread 
 Arbitrament of warlike will, 
 Reverberant on Bunker Hill. 
 
 XIII 
 
 Weep not, O Holland! that thy hand 
 
 Foundation laid in distant land 
 
 By mouth of Hudson's beauteous stream 
 
 Of city like imperial dream, 
 
 Surrendered to the English crown,*' 
 
 As though man's freedom e'er went dovv^i. 
 
 Thy sturdy blood secure remained. 
 
 And, when its patient cup was drained, 
 
 Rallied, resisting soldiers led 
 
 To private house and board and bed ; 
 
 Or stamps and teas denounced or broke, 
 
 And with the land in union woke, 
 
 Concerting measures, saving all. 
 
 With Jay and Hamilton to call 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 1 3 
 
 The people to the world's debate, 
 Schuyler, Clinton, Livingstons great, 
 Who built a nation with a state. 
 
 XIV 
 
 Britannia might o'er ocean reign 
 
 And towns that lay upon the main ; 
 
 But in the Highlands of our stream 
 
 America secure would dream 
 
 Of liberty that, like the hills. 
 
 Mounts heavenward with raptured thrills 
 
 Of beatific loftiness 
 
 And everlasting happiness. 
 
 A score of miles the regions run 
 
 Where rise the mountains to the sun 
 
 That climbs and sinks upon their mass, 
 
 The Nose of Anthony, the crass 
 
 Dutch trumpeter of Stuyvesant,'^ 
 
 With Dunderberg that looks askant 
 
 Toward Bear Hill, that looms behind, 
 
 And range of mounts that Northward wind 
 
 Till in Crow Nest and round Storm King 
 
 A terminus they lowly bring 
 
 At ancient Newburgh, prosperous grown. 
 
 Opposing her the mountains loan 
 
 Their Beacon shadows to the streets 
 
 Of thrifty Fishkill and the seats 
 
14 WASHINGTON. 
 
 At Matteawan of busy wheels 
 
 Whose rock-spilt stream propulsive reels. 
 
 A Breakneck cape the Hudson fronts 
 
 By valley where pedestrian hunts 
 
 The waters round of Lake Surprise; 
 
 And Southward rolls the mountain-rise 
 
 Of Taurus with its Table Rock 
 
 That guards the village like a flock, 
 
 The place that Cold Spring was to be ; 
 
 And farther South projecting see! 
 
 The massive cliffs peninsular, 
 
 The lofty rocks of Martelar,"' 
 
 With Redoubt Mountains rolling high, 
 
 And Sugar Loaf to pierce the sky 
 
 With everlasting sweetness, seen 
 
 To undulate with cloudy sheen 
 
 Till Manitou his hill disclose, 
 
 Protected by Antonian Nose.'* 
 
 XV 
 
 Here, where the Appalachian range. 
 
 With mounds and minerals rich and strange, 
 
 Unites the South and Puritan, 
 
 The thought of patriots cunning ran 
 
 To fortify and hold for aye 
 
 Against the coming warlike fray. 
 
 Provincial Congress of New York 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. I 5 
 
 An order gave to start the work, 
 And ere a score of days had fled 
 In August with her Dog Star red, 
 Memorable year of Seventy-five, 
 It was made known to all alive 
 The Highlands should a fortress be 
 For all the world and liberty. 
 
 XVI 
 
 Eleven suns their daily race had run 
 
 When Romans had his work begun '^ 
 
 Obedient to the people's will 
 
 To fortify the island hill. 
 
 In heart of Highland mountain wood, 
 
 Where Hudson's waters bend their flood 
 
 A point projects to stop the stream 
 
 With rocks that towering upward seem 
 
 To speeding boatmen 'neath their shade 
 
 As if they with the cloudlets played, 
 
 Or huge, precipitous, were like, 
 
 Falling, all things to atoms strike. 
 
 Eight score feet upward rise the trees 
 
 Upon the river point, where breeze 
 
 Perpetual rustles all the leaves 
 
 That stand where loitering eye perceives 
 
 The site of olden works of war 
 
 That crowned the heights of Martelar. 
 
1 6 WASHINGTON. 
 
 There Romans built a fort of stone, 
 And Constitution named it, grown 
 To full proportions, with redoubt 
 And batteries, where cannon shout 
 Their mad refrain, and round about 
 The hills the echoes loudly flout. 
 
 XVII 
 
 We clamber up the rocky slopes 
 
 And stand on site of ancient hopes 
 
 Of freedom's struggle glory crowned 
 
 With issue of the war renowned. 
 
 The rough-piled walls are steadfast still 
 
 On summit of our island hill, 
 
 And four the sides that run the round 
 
 Of safety on that vantage ground. 
 
 Below the remnants yet are seen 
 
 Of war's building, now smooth with green, 
 
 A house 'mid forestry serene. 
 
 And neighboring gleam of river sheen. 
 
 The mirror of the eye's delight 
 
 That glances o'er the gladsome sight. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 Northward the wandring look beholds 
 Descending river that enfolds 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 1/ 
 
 The island fortress in its sweep, 
 Here shrunk most narrow and most deep. 
 Mount Taurus thrusts his tongue far out 
 In Stony Point, which round about 
 The waters rush. On Breakneck and 
 Its camel humps the end of land 
 Seems come on Eastward rolling shore, 
 And Storm King lifts its mass before 
 Opposing hill. Between them rise 
 The heights of Western bank that lies 
 Above the soaring ridge supreme 
 O'er tempests and the resting gleam 
 Of bird-wings fluttered to their rest 
 When solar chariot seeks the West. 
 Eastward the trees conceal from view 
 The marshy meadows, which accrue 
 The name of island to the scene, 
 Once girt in days that long have been 
 By ocean-seeking river cleft, 
 Which channel sought, and old bed left. 
 Southward the stretch of waters ends 
 In wooded slopes, where beauty blends 
 The massiveness of earth below 
 With cloud-kissed vault, cerulean glow. 
 And as, returning Westward, trend 
 The raptured eyes to journey's end, 
 A Western Point, with higher plain 
 And higher hills, adds its domain 
 
1 8 WASHINGTON. 
 
 O'erlooking all, with martial strain 
 In trump and cannon, war's refrain. 
 
 XIX 
 
 Here came on April morn the feet ^® 
 
 Of Franklin, who chained lightning fleet, 
 
 And printed words of wisdom meet 
 
 To guide the mind, and with discreet 
 
 Counsel a diplomat abroad 
 
 Won Europe's favor to our sword. 
 
 May's buds of beauty welcome bloomed 
 
 To Stirling's Lord, whom fortune doomed 
 
 To lose an earldom, but bestowed 
 
 A better diadem that glowed 
 
 With splendor from fair Freedom's crown 
 
 And bloody battle's loud renown. 
 
 His glance the Western Point discerned 
 
 Superior, from which he learned 
 
 Advantage for the future state. 
 
 And hastened to communicate 
 
 The tidings to great Washington, 
 
 Who hither came, when Autumn sun 
 
 Had kissed the leaves October red, 
 
 And Summer's mildness turned and fled. 
 
 The CHntons, Mifflin, Stirling, Heath 
 
 His steps attended, and beneath 
 
 The island fastness all surveyed. 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 1 9 
 
 At early dawn on horse they paid 
 
 A visit to the Northern gate ; 
 
 Then turning, ere the morn grew late, 
 
 He charged brave Heath the hills to keep, 
 
 And crossing o'er the waters deep, 
 
 Rode Jerseyward on Southern track. 
 
 And reached the town of Hackensack. 
 
 XX 
 
 Those river shores now peaceful rest, 
 
 And letters make the place as blest 
 
 In later days as erst the fort 
 
 For freedom's cause made it resort 
 
 Of patriot heroes, planning shrewd 
 
 To guard their land 'mid strife renewed. 
 
 The legal Warner erudite " 
 
 In these retreats found home's delight, 
 
 And here his daughters sweetly wrote 
 
 Of Wide, Wide World, of world-wide note, 
 
 And Queechy by the many read, 
 
 And Hills of Shatemuc that led 
 
 Imagination to the scene. 
 
 Where memory adds to verdure green 
 
 The reverence which the many feel 
 
 For those who wrote the Say and Seal, 
 
 Now one fair hand is still in death. 
 
 Whose voice in works perused hath breath ; 
 
20 WASHINGTON. 
 
 And one yet blesses with her Hfe 
 The hallowed spot of freedom's strife. 
 
 XXI 
 
 Nor Constitution Isle alone 
 Did Romans fortify with stone, 
 But to the hills his men were drawn 
 To Eastern shore with sturdy brawn 
 To plant the heights with nests of war 
 And cast the bird's glance near and far. 
 Redoubt Mountains to South and North 
 Were ready made to issue forth 
 The metal and the men of Mars 
 Like deadly meteors, baleful stars. 
 On Sugar Loaf another work 
 Harbors the fort where warriors lurk. 
 Now Osborn's castle crowns the height 
 Hospitable to give the sight 
 Exalted o'er a beauteous scene, 
 While near the banks of river sheen 
 Great Fish, with laurel wreath of praise 
 For country served through length of days, 
 Rests 'mid associations grand 
 And honors of a grateful land. 
 Sagacious Sloan on Redoubt slopes 
 Fans Winter's toils with Summer's hopes, 
 And Livingstons keep stately seats 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 21 
 
 Where ancient worthiness repeats 
 Its excellence, while still remain 
 The scions of the ancient train, 
 And still our town in memory keeps 
 The worthy name of rich Philipse. 
 
 XXII 
 
 And lower still on Western bank. 
 Where Bear Hill rears its gloomy flank, 
 Confronting the Antonian Nose, 
 Each side where creek to river flows, 
 A fort opposing quickly rose. 
 In lower county Clinton stood, '^ 
 On upper side in lofty wood 
 Montgomery its breastworks reared, 
 And cannon o'er the ramparts peered. 
 The Horse Race soldiers scanned to see 
 Approaches of the enemy. 
 And on the North side of the bay. 
 Where even then old Peekskill lay, 
 Fort Independence with its guns 
 Rose watchful with the morning suns. 
 
 XXIII 
 
 These peaceful scenes sublime prepared 
 From war a twelvemonth more were spared, 
 
22 WASHINGTON. 
 
 While Northern regions heard the roar 
 Of combat on Laurentian shore. 
 Allen and Arnold at the lakes '" 
 Forts and victory gain that makes 
 A way to Canada, where falls 
 Montgomery before the walls 
 Of high Quebec, and Winter's gloom 
 Congeals the hopes of Summer's bloom. 
 
 XXIV 
 
 Yet firm before brave Boston lay 
 
 The army watchful for the day 
 
 When breastworks on Dorchester thrown, 
 
 And tempest from the ocean blown. 
 
 Should hinder Howe from hot attack, 
 
 And save the city from the sack 
 
 Of war's mortality of shells. 
 
 Of foreign rule time strikes the knells, 
 
 And on the Martian morning sailed 
 
 The hostile army unbewailed 
 
 By patriot hearts that joyous hailed 
 
 The victory of Virginia's son. 
 
 The patient, dauntless, Washington." 
 
 XXV 
 
 The Southern clime, solstitial sun. 
 Saw hostile sails approach Charleston, 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 23 
 
 And hot assault from ships begun. 
 But Moultrie fearless, pipe in hand, 
 Stood ready with his brave command. 
 And hulled the craft with shells. 
 The fort was shrieking with the yells 
 Of whizzing balls, and one had flung 
 The standard down, and low it hung 
 O'er ramparts traversed by red death. 
 While others looked with bated breath, 
 Fearless, brave Jasper, leaping out, 
 The flag regained, and, turned about. 
 Replaced it on the merlon high 
 To float its colors to the sky, 
 Till darkness veiled the dreadful hour, 
 And with the tide ebbed Britain's power.''' 
 
 XXVI 
 
 Meanwhile in civic Congress met 
 Colonial statesmen boldly set 
 Their purpose to achievement grand 
 Of independence for the land. 
 Virginia's motion well received, 
 And freedom's logic soon believed, 
 Gave Jefferson his pen the right 
 The Declaration to indite. 
 With Adams, Franklin, Sherman near. 
 And Livingston, a band the peer 
 
24 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Of Europe's statesmen, or the flower 
 Of ancient Rome and Grecian power. 
 Great Julius gave his name subHme " 
 To month of annual, solar, time; 
 And fourth the day of Caesar's moon, 
 And late the hour, well after noon. 
 When Congress voted and declared 
 The colonies as States prepared 
 Their independence to maintain 
 Of equal rights and gentle reign 
 Of faith in truth and liberty. 
 The people welcomed joyfully 
 The triumph of their waiting cause, 
 And all the world rang with applause 
 At that celestial ray of light 
 Which banished policy with right. 
 
 XXVII 
 
 The conflict hot Long Island next 
 Renewed near rivcred city, vexed 
 With heart divided. Sore perplexed 
 With crowding forces of the foe. 
 While friendly fogs their mantles throw, 
 With Washington the troops withdraw 
 In silence of the night, and saw 
 Manhattan's welcoming morning rise. 
 For them Hale falls a sacrifice ; 
 
CONSTITUTION ISLAND. 25 
 
 And stout resistance Harlem made, 
 
 And valorous deeds White Plains displayed. 
 
 The Hudson at the Palisade 
 
 Of rock the army crossed. 
 
 November saw the fortress lost 
 
 Of Washington on Eastern shore. 
 
 December with its Wintry store 
 
 Of snow and ice retreating bore 
 
 The shivering host that Southward fare 
 
 Across the freezing Delaware." 
 
 xxvni 
 
 The Hessian Christmas merriment 
 Provoked the voyage and descent 
 On Trenton's slumbering town 
 And Princeton's field, where with renown 
 Fell Mercer. Morristown received 
 The patient soldiery, who relieved 
 The country of the hostile bands, 
 Till September saw in Southern strands 
 The foe disbark for Brandywine, 
 Victorious o'er the patriot line; 
 And Germantown in vain renewed 
 The struggle with disaster strewed. 
 Till Winter drew the hosts apart. 
 And Valley Forge concealed the heart 
 That patient watched for coming morn 
 Amid privations poor and lorn." 
 
CANTO SECOND 
 
 THE THREE FORTS 
 I 
 
 CANADIAN shores sent forth their storm 
 Upon the patriot state in form 
 Of deadly war, and with Burgoyne 
 As leader of the host, purloin 
 The people's lands and common blood 
 Like ancient stock o'er ocean's flood. 
 Germania's thousands were enrolled 
 By princelings to a kinglet sold, 
 To bend free kinsmen to his will, 
 And with their lives the coffers fill 
 Of Europe's poor but haughty lords. 
 Nor scorned the foe to add to swords 
 The Indian tomahawk and cry 
 Of death wrought by the allies sly. 
 Six Nations gave power to the host,* 
 Descending with a haughty boast 
 Of victory to pierce the heart 
 26 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 2/ 
 
 Of freedom's citadel, and part 
 
 New England from states West and South, 
 
 And sail the Hudson to its mouth. 
 
 II 
 
 Below the waters of Champlain 
 The foe advanced, alert to rain 
 Destruction at the Georgian Lake, 
 Whose wooded hills successive make. 
 With clearest waters stretched between, 
 The traveller's ideal scene. 
 Ticonderoga fell again "^ \ 
 But, fleeing, St. Clair saved his men, 
 And through the wilderness withdrew 
 To Fort Edward, where Schuyler knew 
 The story of disaster grave. 
 Here, where the Hudson's waters lave 
 The thirsty shores, and, broadening, rush 
 O'er rocky beds with murmuring gush. 
 And Southward fix their steady course, 
 The ancients raise with warlike force 
 Securely built a fortress named 
 Fort Edward, fort in annals famed. 
 Delayed by broken roads, the foe 
 Their lazy length urge on, when lo ! 
 The fort forsaken falls a prey, 
 And Schuyler's troops are miles away. 
 
28 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Pathetic tales now roused all hearts ^ 
 
 That dwelt amid those Northern parts ; 
 
 For, ere the enemy had gained 
 
 The fort, one urged by love that reigned 
 
 Within her breast toward soldier brave 
 
 In Britain's nearing warrior wave, 
 
 To whom affiance linked her all. 
 
 Protected, as she thought, from fall 
 
 Of danger or of death by guard 
 
 Of Indians twain and reward 
 
 For guidance safe to them assured, 
 
 Fell 'neath their blow in quarrel lured 
 
 By greed of gain that scorned her life 
 
 As prey to their accursed strife. 
 
 This cruel deed Burgoyne condoned, 
 
 While shuddering freemen, hearing, groaned, 
 
 And sprang to arms against the beasts 
 
 Of nature, loosened for such feasts 
 
 Inhuman on the confiding fair, 
 
 And wasted soldier ranks repair. 
 
 Herkimer falls; but, Northward sped* 
 
 By stout resistance and the tread 
 
 Of Arnold's coming, wise St. Leger 
 
 Left the Fort he would beleaguer 
 
 In Mohawk's verdant valley placed ; 
 
 Toward Canada his steps retraced. 
 
THE THREE EORTS. 2g 
 
 Nor Baum nor Breyman Eastward sent * 
 
 To Bennington could circumvent 
 
 The honest hearts of free Vermont, 
 
 With Stark and Warner at the front 
 
 To keep the hungry foe from stores 
 
 Of needed food. The forest pours 
 
 Around the fated host a shower 
 
 Of warriors drawn as clouds that lower 
 
 By furious wind of rage provoked 
 
 By arrant cruelty uncloaked. 
 
 From Washington detachments came 
 
 To strengthen Schuyler in the name 
 
 Of freedom — victim to the blame 
 
 Of spiritless delay and fame 
 
 Of sloth and fear, unwarlike, tame. 
 
 Horatio Gates, in England born," 
 
 Aid to Monkton, by bullet torn 
 
 When at Monongahela 
 
 He fought, next in Virginia 
 
 A planter, chosen brigadier 
 
 By Congress, when the strife was near, 
 
 Was voted to command the host, 
 
 And check the march of Burgoyne's boast. 
 
 IV 
 
 Nor idle were the enemy 
 Amassed in cities by the sea. 
 
30 WASHINGTON. 
 
 For, while Burgoyne marched from above, 
 
 The Howes the Southern sea-board rove' 
 
 To land on shore of Chesapeake, 
 
 And, hurtling upward, shrewdly seek 
 
 To crush the force with Washington. 
 
 Manhattan's isle harbored Clinton 
 
 And his men, whom strategy 
 
 Would carry up the stream to see 
 
 The wondrous Highland fastnesses, 
 
 Accumulated vastnesses, 
 
 Fortified, with Putnam as chief, 
 
 Withstanding the coming relief, 
 
 As Autumn's colors touched the scene. 
 
 Far different it might have been, 
 
 Had Clinton earlier moved his force, 
 
 And stormed the Highlands in his course. 
 
 Gained Albany in time to join 
 
 The famished soldiers of Burgoyne, 
 
 And checkmate Schuyler in his game, 
 
 Or Gates, who won the laurel's fame. 
 
 Fell sloth and discord, jealous strife. 
 
 How ye have checkered mortal life! 
 
 Yet overruled may evil be 
 
 To help the right so wondrously, 
 
 That hushed are watching human hearts. 
 
 And dried the tear that welling starts. 
 
 For life is born, when dying parts. 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 3 1 
 
 V. 
 
 Leaving New York, as Autumn came,' 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, searching fame, 
 
 Weighed anchor on his men of war, 
 
 The Preston, Mercury, Tartar, 
 
 And galleys armed and transports filled 
 
 With four thousand British troops skilled 
 
 In fight, and for the conflict drilled. 
 
 Soon Fort Lee's lofty guns they passed. 
 
 And on the right in foliage massed 
 
 The conquered Fort of Washington. 
 
 The towering Palisades of stone 
 
 Long Westward on their voyage frowned, 
 
 By Nature's wondrous beauty crowned 
 
 In Tappan's Zee, with Eastern shore 
 
 For Sleepy Hollow famed before 
 
 Their day. By Senasyna seemed 
 
 The river ended, as the Point, now deemed 
 
 South Teller's better named, was called. 
 
 Nor yet from progress were they walled. 
 
 But outlet led them to the bay 
 
 Of Haverstraw, in former day 
 
 Kumackenack the Red Men say. 
 
 On Western shore, and skyward thrown. 
 
 High Torn's lone height, to travellers known, 
 
 O'erlooked the league of waters gray 
 
 And far to Grassy Point away, 
 
32 WASHINGTON. 
 
 With Montrose Point on Eastern side, 
 And, farther North, the river wide 
 Verplank and Stony Points divide. 
 
 VI 
 
 Nov/ Dunderberg, for thunder named. 
 And storms of summer uproar famed, 
 Stood massive, high, with threat subhme 
 Of tempest in fair freedom's cHme. 
 They say, A gobHn with a hat 
 Like sugar loaf on Dunder sat, 
 With crew of imps Hke evil self. 
 Whose somersaults threw storms as pelf 
 Of clouds and lightnings, rain and wind. 
 On hapless skippers whom they find 
 Afloat. The goblin hat 't was said. 
 On mast-head fallen, a sloop has led 
 On cloudy whirl from Newburgh bay 
 To Dunderberg ten miles away ; 
 And Goblin's self on bowsprit seat 
 Of other sloop that, sailing fleet. 
 He headed for the shore, was flung 
 Away by sacred hymn, but hung 
 On steeple of Esopus' church 
 Of the divine, who from his perch 
 Had him expelled, the nightly cap 
 That graced the dominie's wifely nap. 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 33 
 
 The next Sunday the people saw 
 
 The strange adornment filled with awe. 
 
 Where to the river sinks the mount 
 
 The name for Kidd we may recount ° 
 
 Has been assigned, and in the stream 
 
 Men hunt the waters in a dream 
 
 Of untold wealth in vessel lost 
 
 By pirate who these billows crossed. 
 
 VII 
 
 Northward of Dunderberg arose " 
 
 The sombre shade which Bear Hill throws 
 
 Across the scene, with Doodletown 
 
 Between, above the stream's fair crown 
 
 Of islands for lona named 
 
 And Scotland's monk Columba famed. 
 
 West Hill, Black Mount are found at hand, 
 
 And Northward farther up the land 
 
 Long and Summer Mountains stand. 
 
 Above the Ursine hill descends 
 
 To river fleet the stream which blends 
 
 Townships and counties at its mouth, 
 
 Poplopen's Kill, and to the South 
 
 An oval mirror lies, we think. 
 
 In mountain wood, Lake Sinnipink. 
 
 The gore of strife that stained its face 
 
 The Indian word served to erase, 
 
 3 
 
34 WASHINGTON. 
 
 And Bloody Pond preserved the trace 
 Of white men's rage, till moderns grace 
 The scene with peaceful thought and name, 
 And Highland Lake the Pond became. 
 
 VIII 
 
 The Spring of Seventy-six beheld 
 The work of Romans end, trees felled, 
 The stone and earthern ramparts raised 
 On either side of creek, and praised 
 With names of valiant men and great, 
 Montgomery, who loved the state 
 Better than life, and Clinton, known ^' 
 In politics and famous grown 
 In war. 'T was Machin who the forts'^ 
 Completed, freedom's twain resorts, 
 Montgomery for eight hundred, 
 And Clinton for those that numbered 
 Half as many. Across the stream 
 The next year's Autumn color dream 
 Waved round the finished boom and chain 
 That stretched its strong and costly rein 
 From Northern fort to Eastern shore, 
 Where Anthony's nose was cut of yore. 
 Another chain above was placed. 
 Where Pollopel's isle the river graced,'^ 
 And in the Spring, the year before. 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 35 
 
 Fort Washington to Jersey shore 
 Was linked by bands of idle strength, 
 For Britain gained the forts at length. 
 Two frigates, two galleys, a sloop, 
 All armed, a little navy, group 
 Themselves above Poplopen's boom, 
 Unconscious of their awful doom. 
 With fifteen hundred Putnam lay 
 At Peekskill town across the bay. 
 And in the forts the Clintons stood 
 With six hundred men from the wood 
 And farms of Duchess, Ulster, good 
 To marshal patriot soldier blood. 
 
 IX 
 
 We sing of Putnam, him whose name 
 
 Our county bears, who hither came 
 
 To watch and strive for liberty. 
 
 The honor of his nativity '* 
 
 By Eastern Salem town is claimed 
 
 Ere the last century had named 
 
 A score of years. Israel, famed 
 
 In sacred story, was he called, 
 
 A fearless wrestler, one who walled 
 
 The murderous she-wolf in her cave, 
 
 And, entering, torch-lit, death-shot gave, 
 
 While anxious friends without await 
 
36 WASHINGTON. 
 
 The hero to congratulate. 
 
 In Gallic war a major made, 
 
 Fort Edward's powder house he saved, 
 
 When fire endangered all the post ; 
 
 And when before the Indian host 
 
 He steered his craft o'er Hudson's falls, 
 
 Saving his men from savage balls, 
 
 The Great Spirit's beloved he seemed. 
 
 Nor then of slothful ease he dreamed 
 
 As Lexington awoke the land, 
 
 But plough and oxen left to stand, 
 
 While, mounting horse, he rode away 
 
 To Boston in a single day, 
 
 A journey three-score miles and ten. 
 
 The British lures he scorned, and men 
 
 He led to Bunker Hill, and fought 
 
 Till victory seemed too dearly bought 
 
 By foes who gained the heights they sought. 
 
 A general made, these hills his care, 
 
 With weakened force he stood, aware 
 
 The enemy were speeding fast 
 
 Along the stream, and anchor cast 
 
 At Tarrytown, thousands to land, 
 
 Revealing their deceitful hand, 
 
 As though Peekskill and Fishkill North 
 
 Were prey for which they issue forth. 
 
 At Verplanck's Point, on Sabbath morn, 
 
 October fifth, the foe are borne 
 
THE THREE FORTS, 37 
 
 Nearer ashore, three thousand strong, 
 
 While prudent Putnam, thinking wrong, 
 
 To Continental Village drew 
 
 His men ; and tidings Westward flew 
 
 Across the river to the forts, 
 
 While Clinton brave the hope supports 
 
 That Putnam on the Eastern shore 
 
 Will hear and send relief before 
 
 The dread event of war shall come, 
 
 And blood shall drench the Highland home. 
 
 X 
 
 Faithful to Charles, the Clinton fled ^^ 
 
 To Ireland green, whose grandson sped 
 
 Over Atlantic's restless waves 
 
 In chartered ship, and Cape Cod saves 
 
 His friends from mutiny and death. 
 
 In Ulster County Discord's breath 
 
 His sons, both James and George, aroused " 
 
 In war engaged, by safety housed, 
 
 'Gainst Frontenac in Canada. 
 
 Their father dead, these twain the war 
 
 For freedom animates to deed 
 
 Of statesmanship and valor's breed 
 
 Of suffering and steadfastness. 
 
 James with Montgomery distress 
 
 Of Northern Wintry loss had borne, 
 
38 WASHING 7VN. 
 
 And George in Congress, from state torn 
 
 With popular and royal feud, 
 
 Breathing the common fortitude, 
 
 For independence cast his vote. 
 
 Generals both, and men of note, 
 
 The twain command the Highland gate, 
 
 James at Southern Fort Clinton sate. 
 
 And George, the governor of the state, 
 
 At Northern Fort Montgomery, 
 
 Awaiting vengeance summary. 
 
 Six hundred men of patriot brawn, 
 
 From Ulster and Duchess drawn, 
 
 Around their captains ready lay 
 
 To check the adversary's way. 
 
 A regiment with Allison 
 
 From Goshen, and from Cornwall one 
 
 Under Du Bois; from New Windsor 
 
 McClaughry led on another, 
 
 With Master over Newburgh's braves. 
 
 And o'er the Continentals waves 
 
 Du Bois' sabre, while threatening near 
 
 The artillery of Lamb appear 
 
 Among other battalions three 
 
 By chieftains led for liberty — 
 
 Six hundred 'gainst two thousand matched. 
 
 Who bloodily the victory snatched. 
 
 The chain and boom the river block. 
 
 And vessels ready wait the shock 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 39 
 
 Of war afloat, while landward rise 
 The mountains, where Nature defies 
 The foemen in their enterprise. 
 
 XI 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, the grandson " 
 Of old Lincoln's Earl, with Tryon 
 And Vaughan, generals, and force, 
 Two thousand strong, o'er river's course 
 To Western Stony Point was borne 
 At daybreak on October's morn 
 The sixth, while foggy clouds conceal 
 The ruddy coats and gleaming steel. 
 By nine o'clock brave Logan bears ^* 
 The message to the forts, while fares 
 The army over Thunder's Hill 
 In single file, while frigates fill 
 The waters at its frowning base. 
 Ready to sail up the Horse Race.'" 
 At Doodletown on Northern face 
 Of Dunderberg the scouts are met 
 By Jackson led, and, later yet, 
 Bruyn and McClaughry, driven back 
 Before the foe. On Westward track 
 Campbell's nine hundred round Bear Hill 
 Advance, while Clinton's men are still 
 Waiting at Doodletown the hour ^^ 
 
40 WASHINGTON: 
 
 To march on Bruyn and meet the power 
 Sent from the forts to be o'ercome. 
 The sun Is waning toward his home, 
 When up the pass the British swarm 
 'Mid fire deadly, close and warm 
 From abatis that casts its flank 
 'Twixt Sinnipink and river bank. 
 Bruyn and McClaughry back are thrown 
 In slaughter, Fenno prisoner made, 
 And Sinnipink its depth displayed, 
 A watery grave for patriot dead. 
 Tossed there to stain the surface red. 
 Clinton's o'ercoming force consists 
 Of chasseurs. New York loyalists, 
 And regiments, fifty second 
 And fifty seventh, vet'rans reckoned. 
 
 XII 
 
 'T was four o'clock, when round Bear Hill 
 
 Campbell's column toiled to filP' 
 
 The space before the upper fort, 
 
 And send a flag with message short 
 
 Of summons to surrender all. 
 
 Ere five minutes pass, else will fall 
 
 War's hailstones with destruction's rain. 
 
 But with prompt answer of disdain 
 
 Rode Livingston the flag to meet, " 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 4 1 
 
 And spake a word the foe to greet, 
 
 If ye surrender up your cause, 
 Good treatment by our code of laws 
 Shall be your fate," and then withdraws. 
 Then on them opes the triple fire, 
 For Hotham led his frigates nigher,"* 
 The Preston, Mercury, Tartar, 
 Hurling combustion in the war 
 Of shipping on the peaceful stream. 
 With fury swords and bayonets gleam 
 Around the forts, assailed with shout, 
 Portentous of a bloody rout. 
 Grabowski, Poland's Count, will lead" 
 With Rawdon, England's Lord, and speed 
 The Grenadiers 'gainst Northern fort, 
 While on the South the vet'rans court 
 Mortality from Clinton's guns. 
 Volley on volley dreadful runs 
 O'er ramparts on the charging host 
 To tame the raging of their boast. 
 And thin their ranks by havoc torn. 
 Montgomery's bulwarks, now forlorn. 
 Were heaped with slain, and with them lay 
 Grabowski, fallen in the fray, 
 With dying gift to Rawdon's Lord," 
 A soldier's death, a soldier's sword. 
 
42 WA SHING TON. 
 
 XIII 
 O where was Israel Putnam, 
 Whose soldiers might have served to dam 
 The torrent of the surging steel 
 Against those shores, and to reveal 
 Victorious hardihood supreme? 
 Early the tidings of the gleam 
 Of hostile bayonets flew to him; 
 But at mid-day the forests grim 
 On Eastern bank no voice returned 
 Of help assured to those concerned 
 In waiting for the bloody fray. 
 At Continental village lay " 
 Israel's men, until the news 
 Of Western conflict come imbues 
 Their hearts with ardor to assist. 
 O'er hills a winding way they twist 
 Through shading woods, till on the shore 
 They stand, as twilight falls before 
 Their eyes to veil the dreadful scene 
 Across the stream, which rolls between 
 The combat and their willing feet. 
 They may not pass, nor render meet 
 Assistance to comrades o'erthrown. 
 Five hundred gaze on waters strown 
 With havoc of the war, and hills, 
 Where smoky cloud the heaven fills. 
 And patriot heart with sorrow thrills. 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 43 
 
 XIV 
 
 Like lions tawny, staunch, at bay 
 The Clintons stood, nor would give way. 
 Their banners waved, the cannon crashed, 
 The volleys yelled, the sabres flashed ; 
 And red coats fell, yet swarmed around 
 Like bees innumerable, found 
 Entrance o'er the blood-strewn mound, 
 And over ramparts, shouting, bound. 
 Like waves that fall upon the shore, 
 Are backward hurled, advance once more, 
 And, spurned again, return, to charge 
 The sands they undermine with large, 
 Uproarious, spray of spreading power, 
 So dashed the crest in evening hour 
 Of Britain's warriors 'gainst the strands 
 Of patriot, hero, rural bands. 
 Two mortal hours they firm withstand 
 In sturdy conflict for the land 
 The flower of England's fortitude, 
 Till o'er the scene, destruction-strewed, 
 Twilight descends with dusk bedewed. 
 But, as o'er Clinton's ramparts rushed 
 The maddened host with victory flushed, 
 Pitcher his loaded gun forsakes. 
 Port-fire drops, to his heels betakes; 
 But Molly his wife, brave and true," 
 
44 WASHINGTON. 
 
 The use of the port-fire aptly knew, 
 
 And, stooping, picked it from the ground ; 
 
 The breech she touched, and loud the sound 
 
 Of this last gun against the foe. 
 
 While Molly scampers off to go 
 
 With Pitcher on the ebbing tide 
 
 Or in the darkling mountain-side. 
 
 XV 
 
 Noble six hundred ! Half are dead," 
 Or prisoners made ! The rest have fled ! 
 The chieftains with their men remained. 
 And Allison captive is detained,^" 
 Livingston, McClaughry, DuBois, 
 Logan, Hamilton, Bruyn, whose voice 
 Of praise for valor passes not, 
 Nor shall their comrades be forgot. 
 Many of deadly wounds expired. 
 Or cruelty their lives required 
 In prison of the Sugar House*" 
 In New York placed, a bitter souse 
 Of sweetness from a right divine, 
 A bon-bon from a king benign ! 
 Nor them who bravely fell in fight 
 They buried, as was Nature's right, 
 But left to rot, or careless toss 
 In Sinnipink, a horrid floss 
 
THE THREE FORTS, 45 
 
 Of war upon the weary earth, 
 Torn with passions of lowest birth. 
 So men possessed by evil force, 
 Their own worst foes, career their course 
 Of suffering, while from it flows 
 Experience ; and he who knows 
 To scan aright may bless the stars 
 That shine in heaven after wars. 
 
 XVI 
 
 In sorrow at the horrid scene 
 
 And loss, where victory might have been, 
 
 Nature, for freedom mourning deep. 
 
 Invents a veil o'er stars that weep. 
 
 A darkness fell upon the ground. 
 
 As Clinton with his braves was found, 
 
 Contesting still, striving his way 
 
 To cut amid the foes' array. 
 
 Upon the river's neighboring shore 
 
 A small boat loitered near the roar 
 
 Of dying conflict. James would save " 
 
 His brother George across the wave. 
 
 ** Brother, behold! the boat is here. 
 
 Escape to the other side from fear, 
 
 To Putnam and his sturdy braves ! 
 
 Thy safety all the country craves. 
 
 For New York's governor thou art, 
 
46 WASHINGTON. 
 
 And thou must fire the people's heart 
 
 ForUberty! Nor think of me: 
 
 I will elude the enemy." 
 
 But George in love fraternal cried, 
 
 ** O James, depart not from my side! 
 
 I will not leave thee in this plight, 
 
 Nor shall I go, unless my flight 
 
 By thee be joined, and with this night, 
 
 As through the day, our fates unite." 
 
 Like Jonathan and David's bond, 
 
 Achilles of Patroclus fond. 
 
 Like Damon loved of Pythias, 
 
 Or Scipio and Laelius, 
 
 These brothers born, and friends as well. 
 
 Contending, cast this hallowed spell 
 
 Of purest love around the dell. 
 
 It might not be; and James perforce 
 
 His brother sent upon his course 
 
 By pushing off the boat from land. 
 
 While, springing on a steed at hand. 
 
 He galloped through the gathering gloom. 
 
 A bridge he meets in ruddy bloom 
 
 Of British soldiers, whom he bade 
 
 Make way for him, and spurs he played 
 
 Through bayonets bright to penetrate, 
 
 But not without the thrust of hate. 
 
 For stabbing steel must pierce his thigh. 
 
 He leaves his horse, to forest nigh 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 47 
 
 Rushes with bridle in his grasp, 
 Slides down a ledge of rocks that rasp, 
 A precipice in the ravine, 
 Poplopen's Creek, that lies between 
 The famous forts. Into the stream 
 He slipping falls. The waters seem 
 To staunch the oozing blood that night, 
 As on the summit he rests till Hght 
 Dawns on his pains and brings a horse 
 For him bareback to ride, and force 
 His anguished way through sixteen miles. 
 Fevered, husky, with scarlet smiles 
 Of war upon his garb, he greets 
 The first house that his journey meets, 
 Generous and great in fortitude 
 And monumental hardihood. 
 
 xvn 
 
 Unpropitious upon the deep 
 
 Blew Boreas a breeze to keep 
 
 The patriot navy round the boom 
 
 With sails all spread, nor from the gloom 
 
 Of awful overthrow secure. 
 
 For, when our countrymen were sure 
 
 The fight was lost, they fired the group 
 
 Of frigates, galleys, and the sloop. 
 
 Hodge the Montgomery kindled 
 
48 WASHINGTON. 
 
 To flames, and, when the hope dwindled 
 
 That the Congress would make her way, 
 
 And grounded on the flat she lay 
 
 By Constitution Isle, the light 
 
 To her was put ; and now the sight 
 
 Most wonderful gave day for night. 
 
 In scorching pyramids of flame 
 
 The vessels floated, and there came 
 
 A ruddy glow that overspread 
 
 The stream around, while overhead 
 
 The hills, where fugitives had fled, 
 
 Illumined, beckoned to escape. 
 
 Cannon loaded with ball or grape 
 
 Upon the decks were booming loud, 
 
 And powder rolled its warlike shroud 
 
 Across the waters, and the crowd 
 
 Of mountains, like a howling pack, 
 
 A thousand echoes thundered back. 
 
 Then, when destruction ceased her shout, 
 
 And ruddy flames had all died out, 
 
 A silent gloom appalled the scene, 
 
 And peace was known where strife had been. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 The morning dawned, and Mott forsook" 
 Fort Constitution. Tryon took 
 The isle, and all the works destroyed 
 
THE THREE FORTS. 49 
 
 The second day, the land annoyed, 
 
 And Continental village burned ^* 
 
 With barracks, which we whilom learned 
 
 Stood in the orchard 'twixt Cat Hill 
 
 And Huckleberry, near the rill 
 
 To left of Sprout Brook, and ruins fill 
 
 The towering sides about the pass 
 
 Of breastworks, grown with trees and grass. 
 
 Rumor abroad the tidings spread 
 
 Of victory for the English red. 
 
 And terror fell with sorrow bred. 
 
 Upon the river point called Gee's 
 
 Aunt Sally dwelt with all the teas 
 
 Remaining hers, but half a pound; 
 
 And when the rumors foul confound 
 
 The patriot-hearts with forts that fell, 
 
 Aunt Sally knows alas ! too well 
 
 For further tea this sounds the knell. 
 
 Determined none shall reach their hand 
 
 Who come to ravage all the land, 
 
 The whole half pound — and 't is her all — 
 
 Must in the tea pot quickly fall ; 
 
 And, in her terror almost daft, 
 
 She made her tea a bitter draught. 
 
 But all who heard were very merry 
 
 Over the news from Nelson's Ferry,^"* 
 
 And, laughing for Aunt Sally Gee, 
 
 Wondered how she enjoyed her tea. 
 
50 WASHINGTON. 
 
 XIX 
 
 Sir Henry up the river sped. 
 
 Shells over Fishkill Landing fled 
 
 From British cannon as they passed. 
 
 Mansions were burned, and lands harassed. 
 
 Kingston they reached and ashes made, 
 
 But here their hopes were dashed and laid, 
 
 For word descended from Burgoyne's host 
 
 That low was crushed their haughty boast ; 
 
 Stillwater, Saratoga slew 
 
 Their hopes, and sad surrender drew 
 
 The conflict to its destined end. 
 
 At Schuylerville Burgoyne must tend 
 
 His sword to Gates by Hudson's stream," 
 
 And with the passing of his dream — 
 
 Perhaps before him there may seem 
 
 To rise a spectre young and fair, 
 
 With severed scalp and bleeding hair, 
 
 And in events one seems to say, 
 
 ** The Lord avenged me, Jane McCrea." 
 
 XX 
 
 Down sails Sir Henry from the North, 
 And vain the task he sallied forth 
 To leave a monument of fame, 
 And glory turns to fading shame. 
 
THE THREE FORTS, 5 1 
 
 The Governor and Putnam attend " 
 
 His wanderings till they quickly end 
 
 In city by the roaring sea. 
 
 Another tale in history ^* 
 
 We might have read but for delay 
 
 On ocean's wave upon their way 
 
 Across the main in Holland ships 
 
 Of troops that Clinton in his trips 
 
 Led forth to war. A hundred days 
 
 The tardy breeze the army stays ; 
 
 And when October bids them roam, 
 
 Too late to help Burgoyne they come. 
 
 The great events of life are seen 
 
 To be arranged behind the scene. 
 
 Though forts may fall, and booms may snap, 
 
 And shrewdest generals take a nap. 
 
 They cannot bring the favoring breeze, 
 
 Nor circumvent divine decrees. 
 
CANTO THIRD 
 
 STONY POINT 
 I 
 
 FOUR seasons in the circle blend 
 Of yearly beauty; speeding, send 
 Their charm of casing round the soul 
 Of things united in the whole 
 Of universal thought secure. 
 Winter, with her snow-mantle pure, 
 Conceals a waiting life from death. 
 Ready to rise at vernal breath, 
 Vigorous, diverse, and beautiful. 
 She slays and hides, but dutiful 
 In universal thought conserves 
 A life renewed, and hope preserves. 
 So Winter joins the old and new, 
 A larger where a smaller grew. 
 Three forts a passing victory brought. 
 Eventual in disaster fraught. 
 52 
 
STONY POINT. 
 
 53 
 
 The Autumn of success must close, 
 And Winter to her gloom dispose. 
 Seventy-five like Spring had seemed, 
 And seventy-six a Summer gleamed, 
 And seventy-seven Autumn deemed 
 In fruitage of a rich success. 
 Seventy-eight the three confess 
 Winter sister with snowy tress. 
 
 II 
 
 October's foliaged robe was thrown 
 Around the waning year now grown 
 Great with success, when Donop led ' 
 His Hessian braves with hardy tread 
 Against Fort Mercer at Red Bank. 
 With slaughter mown the soldiers sank 
 To earth, Count Donop yielded life. 
 And vessels twain that joined the strife 
 Upon the Delaware lay fast 
 Upon the ground, victims at last 
 To red-hot shot the patriots cast 
 To burn and blow them up in vast 
 Destruction, sorry and aghast. 
 Fort Mififlin opposite remained 
 Until November, when were trained 
 Five hostile batteries at hand 
 Upon its works upon Mud Island. 
 
54 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Five men of war their cannon played 
 On fort and wave, and six days brayed 
 Their warHke yells, while undismayed 
 The patriots stood, nor flight essayed, 
 Until the siege at end they knew, 
 When Thayer and Fleury safe withdrew 
 To other shore, and famous grew. 
 
 Ill 
 
 December brought the soldiers forth 
 To Washington from the army north; 
 And strong encamped they steadfast lay, 
 Wliile Howe his warriors' proud array 
 Against them marched, but prudent grew, 
 And to the city back withdrew, 
 To spend the Winter in pleasure, 
 Games, plays, and balls without measure. 
 From Philadelphia twenty miles. 
 Where the East Valley Creek beguiles 
 The traveller's eye, and joins its stream 
 To Schuylkill's flood, and forests seem 
 To fill a vale betwixt the hills. 
 Where early stood of rolling mills 
 One of our first, the Valley Forge — ' 
 Burnt by the soldiers of King George — 
 The patriot army fell the trees 
 And make them huts. A fort one sees, 
 
STONY POINT. 55 
 
 And works around are quickly thrown, 
 A village and a fortress grown. 
 There cold and hunger they endure 
 And scarcity of pay, but sure 
 Of suffering and death ; and plots 
 Are woven 'gainst the chief, and spots 
 Are sought in his integrity, 
 Rebuked by his sincerity. 
 
 IV 
 
 Nor idle sat the Congress met 
 
 The general affairs to set 
 
 In order meet, perpetual; 
 
 But articles eventual ^ 
 
 Of their prolonged and wise debate 
 
 Declared the states confederate, 
 
 Republican in government, 
 
 Extensive with the continent. 
 
 Union perpetual shall be 
 
 Between the states, and all their free 
 
 Inhabitants alike in rights. 
 
 Congress for them their conflict fights 
 
 With meagre power to it bestowed ; 
 
 And from the stinted gift there flowed 
 
 In events manifest weakness. 
 
 The legislatures acquiesce. 
 
 The delegates the act approve, 
 
56 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Acknowledging the Hand of love 
 That ruleth all, and hearts inclines, 
 And nations to their place assigns. 
 
 Abroad the heart of France was fired * 
 
 To give the hand of help desired 
 
 Of money, ships, and men allied 
 
 For independence to our side, 
 
 Stirred up by recollected woes 
 
 Of Canada, and loss that grows 
 
 Bitter with lapse of proving time. 
 
 And strikes a blow at hoary crime, 
 
 D'Estaing, De Grasse, and Rochambeau, 
 
 With Gallia's power, sailing go 
 
 Across Atlantic's deep, and set 
 
 Their flags and names with La Fayette, 
 
 To win their deathless coronet 
 
 Of happy praise ; and here they met 
 
 Those warming beams from Freedom's sun 
 
 That, home across the water run 
 
 With their returning host, should see 
 
 The tottering of tyranny, 
 
 With rapid rise of liberty, 
 
 Fraternity, equality. 
 
 Upon our shore they recent placed ' 
 
 A lofty imaged goddess, graced 
 
STONY POINT. 57 
 
 With diadem of lights, and faced 
 The coming of the ships that paced 
 The waters of the main with rays 
 Of heaven seeking, for it pays 
 A glowing tribute to the past 
 Of fruitages that ever last. 
 
 VI 
 
 One hundred and eleven years " 
 
 This day Clinton marched 'mid the tears 
 
 Of Philadelphia's loyal hearts 
 
 Northward. A month ere Howe departs 
 
 With gallant pageantry afloat 
 
 And on the shore the army note 
 
 His going and their fond esteem. 
 
 'T was not a fortnight since the dream ' 
 
 Of French alliance realized 
 
 Had roused the patriot camp apprised 
 
 Or freedom's fortune in huzza 
 
 And salvos for their friends in war. 
 
 No entrance weak had once been forced 
 
 Within their lines, as winter coursed 
 
 Its dreary, bitter, hungry flight. 
 
 Nor, when the foe his hastening plight 
 
 Revealed, rested they in their peace. 
 
 But speeding harried him, nor cease 
 
 They for the rays of solstice sun. 
 
58 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Overtures from the king begun 
 
 They promptly scorned, and Monmouth hears 
 
 The negative for lasting years 
 
 Sealed with fresh blood and cries and tears 
 
 And love of country, braving fears. 
 
 VII 
 
 A snake with rattles twelve miles long. 
 
 The British army, thousands strong. 
 
 Reached Allentown ; by noise in front 
 
 Of opposition scared, the brunt 
 
 Of battle they avoid, and, borne 
 
 Toward Monmouth, on a Sabbath morn ^ 
 
 Await the onset of the foe. 
 
 Retreat brings on the patriots woe, 
 
 Till Washington disorder checks, 
 
 And Wayne's brigade brave Monckton wrecks 
 
 In deadly loss. The night descends. 
 
 And sleep brings peace, but Clinton wends 
 
 His way to Sandy Hook, and ends 
 
 His journey, by the city housed, 
 
 Slow 'gainst his foe to be aroused. 
 
 But ere he finished Sunday's fight, 
 
 He touched a link that joins us quite ^ 
 
 In Highland hills with Jersey coast. 
 
 For Pitcher of the warlike host 
 
 That manned Fort Clinton on that day 
 
STONY POINT. 59 
 
 Of memorable affray, 
 
 Of which we Ve sung, fell by his gun, 
 
 As Molly brought water on the run 
 
 From neighboring spring to quench his thirst. 
 
 Then she takes his place with the first 
 
 In danger and the conflict hot, 
 
 And Greene to Washington fails not 
 
 To bring and praise her bravery, 
 
 And she gets half-pay from slavery 
 
 Of poverty her days to free. 
 
 VIII 
 
 The patriot host that watched and fought 
 
 Held men who, absent from home, sought 
 
 Help for those defenceless left behind: 
 
 And in Wyoming's vale they find '° 
 
 Destruction swift upon them crept 
 
 By Indian stealth and fury swept 
 
 On in scorching wave by Tories led. 
 
 July's hot day brings broad bloodshed 
 
 On the settlers, a treaty spurned 
 
 And massacre, their houses burned 
 
 And crops to desolation turned. 
 
 Here pious Zinzendorf had taught " 
 
 The peaceful gospel, and besought 
 
 The Redman to the yoke of love ; 
 
 And here, where fruits and slaughter throve, 
 
6o WA SHING TON. 
 
 Poetic Campbell's Spenser verse '^ 
 
 May tragic scenes of old rehearse 
 
 In Delaware's large plains ^ of flame. 
 
 Then spread Bellona's torch along, 
 
 And coastwise leaped destruction strong 
 
 In death and plunder, for D'Estaing 
 
 With Gallic fleet, where Newport rang 
 
 With wave crashed crags, repulsed by storm, 
 
 Left Gray's command abroad to form 
 
 And spread mortality and loss 
 
 In Massachusetts, and the toss 
 
 Of war Savannah overthrows '' 
 
 To Britain's power, as December shows 
 
 The turning of the year, and time grows 
 
 White, yet blushes with crimson snows. 
 
 IX 
 
 Now sheltered lie the patriot bands. 
 While winter howls, and hostile hands 
 Are waiting for their enslavement. 
 Three brigades to Danbury sent 
 Rest in their chosen cantonment, 
 While Continental village holds 
 Two more, and one the camp enfolds 
 Near by at famed West Point. Below, 
 Near Haverstraw, where grow 
 
 [* In Delaware dialect Wyoming means large plains.] 
 
STONY POINT. 6 1 
 
 Most wide the Hudson's waves, was found 
 
 Another, whilst the ruddy ground 
 
 Of Jersey at EHzabeth 
 
 Doth one more keep, and seven houseth 
 
 At Middlebrook by Raritan. 
 
 There huts of logs and mud a man 
 
 Might see in streets laid out that ran 
 
 By rule like camp of canvas tents. 
 
 The historic record represents 
 
 At Pluckemin near by a fete 
 
 In February, where the great " 
 
 The French alliance celebrate 
 
 With feast and ball and works of fire ; 
 
 And on the mountain ridges higher, 
 
 Four hundred feet above the plains. 
 
 The rock of Washington remains, 
 
 Where erst his eye the scene surveyed. 
 
 And watched for plans of war displayed. 
 
 X 
 
 To-day our thirteen states have grown 
 To forty-five, and more will own " 
 In time our banner and our name ; 
 And even in the days of fame. 
 Whereof we sing, forth flowed the tide 
 Of population o'er the side 
 Of mountains and of rivers long 
 
62 WASHINGTON. 
 
 To smite the foreign power strong, 
 
 And claim the country for the free. 
 
 Brave Clarke, with trusty force, we see 
 
 To waters of the Illinois 
 
 And Wabash march, and know the joys 
 
 Of conquest grown imperial, 
 
 Ere in the yearly serial 
 
 July had ripened well her crops. 
 
 Nor him the royal governor stops 
 
 With chosen warriors come to gain 
 
 The ground once lost, with lasting stain 
 
 Of Indian savages in arms. 
 
 Around Vincennes' fort Clarke swarms '^ 
 
 With few but fearless men of war, 
 
 While Hamilton had sent afar 
 
 His savage friends; and, as the moon 
 
 Of February, aging soon. 
 
 Is waning to its end, the fort 
 
 Is ours, and swiftly flies report 
 
 Of conquest and of safety gained 
 
 To emigrants that home remained 
 
 Till thus assurance of life deigned 
 
 To freedom led them swarming forth. 
 
 Kentucky grows, and all the north 
 
 Above Ohio's banks shall swell 
 
 The empire of the free, and quell 
 
 The savage and the British yell. 
 
 Deep gratitude to France shall fill 
 
STONY POINT. 6l 
 
 The breast, whose king to Louisville " 
 
 Shall lend the name we call it still. 
 
 O great northwest, forever free, 
 
 A harbinger of liberty 
 
 To our domain of empire states. 
 
 In thee the past perpetuates. 
 
 On thee the heart of centuries waits! 
 
 XI 
 
 Now restless shakes the mother snake 
 Her rattles in New York to make 
 Excursions of her winning fangs 
 Along the coast, and speechless hangs 
 The country on such wooing strange 
 To bring the erring home, derange 
 Their plans, and lift a crown again. 
 In Chesapeake Bellona's men '" 
 Are slipped to ravage crops and homes. 
 And when returned the army comes 
 To Sandy Hook, northward it sails 
 To seize the points of war, where fails 
 Not time their names to keep to-day, 
 Verplanck's and Stony called, away 
 But thirteen miles from us who stay " 
 Around the heart of freedom's rest. 
 At Stony Point our force their nest 
 Of war abandon, but across 
 
64 WASHINGTON. 
 
 The stream Verplanck's inglorious loss 
 Our 'scutcheon soils, and King's Ferry 
 Between the two is a merry- 
 Gain to Clinton ; and sundered falls 
 The lower line below the walls 
 Of Hudson highlands for supplies — 
 To Washington a rude surprise. 
 
 XII 
 
 On bold Connecticut descends'^" 
 Fierce Tryon, and his journey ends 
 New Havenward, to burn and slay, 
 Till driven to his ships to weigh 
 Anchor, and on loved Fairfield land 
 His Hessian thieves, while homes stand 
 In flames to fall, and children weep. 
 To Norwalk next they deftly creep 
 To ply the torch, and all but go 
 New Londonward, when halt we know 
 Was called by Wayne upon the bank 
 Of Hudson's stream, and Tryon shrank 
 From eastern war, and quick withdrew 
 To help the serpent, struck anew 
 With sorer wound and nearer home. 
 Upon the head, the poison dome. 
 
STONY POINT. 65 
 
 XIII 
 
 Anthony Wayne's praise we sing," 
 
 Whose grandsire brave, Hke name bearing. 
 
 Left old Yorkshire for Ireland near, 
 
 And fought for William in the year 
 
 Of ninety-two beside the Boyne; 
 
 And later years his fortunes join 
 
 To Pennsylvania on this continent. 
 
 Isaac, his son, 'gainst Indians sent, 
 
 Perpetuated martial thrift 
 
 In Anthony, a new year gift 
 
 In forty-five to freedom's cause. 
 
 A regiment he quickly draws 
 
 To arms, at independence morn, 
 
 And colonel made, and northward borne. 
 
 In Canada and on Champlain 
 
 He bears and guides with skill the strain 
 
 Of war, till, general grown, he leads 
 
 With Washington o'er Jersey's meads, 
 
 And Brandywine and Germantown 
 
 Increase with praise his great renown. 
 
 Nor, when the winter famine raged 
 
 At Valley Forge 'mid army caged 
 
 In safe retreat, failed his brave heart. 
 
 Within the hostile lines to start 
 
 He dares, and gains needed supplies, 
 
 And expectation gratifies. 
 
66 M^A SHING TON. 
 
 Nor was he far on Monmouth day, 
 But, hastening on his martial way, 
 Disaster overcame, and fought 
 With fury, and victory wrought. 
 Now is the hour, and he is sought 
 To lead the drooping host to charms 
 Of glorious success in arms. 
 Disaster and inaction mark 
 The patriot name and cause, for hark ! 
 A wail ! and crackling flames arise 
 From Chesapeake, and hastening flies 
 Rumor of the Highland fastness 
 Approached, and forts lost in distress. 
 
 XIV 
 
 From Dunderberg scarce four miles south 
 Lies Stony Point, from mainland mouth 
 A huge high tongue of piercing green 
 Thrust in the stream that rolls between 
 The shores three quarters of a mile. 
 A beacon crowns the Point, and, while 
 It lights each vessel's speeding way 
 Upon the river with its ray. 
 The centre of the fort surmounts, 
 Covering the magazine, recounts 
 The past, and opposite confronts 
 The remnants of old Fort Fayette 
 
STONY POINT, 67 
 
 At Verplanck's Point on east bank set." 
 
 There Hudson anchored, when he first 
 
 Sailed up the stream, and, moved with thirst 
 
 Of curiosity to greet 
 
 His craft, the Indians from their seat 
 
 Within the Highland hills flock round 
 
 In wonder at the pale face found. 
 
 But one the white man's goods must steal. 
 
 Only the deadly shot to feel ; 
 
 And bitter hate abroad is spread 
 
 O'er red men's blood by pale face shed. 
 
 Three sides of Stony Point around 
 
 The waters washing keep a bound 
 
 Of safety, and toward land morass 
 
 Of depth and dangerous they pass 
 
 On narrow causeway, where high tide 
 
 Risen makes an island on that side. 
 
 A double row of abatis 
 
 And outworks round the fort the bliss 
 
 Of fancied strength afford the men 
 
 Confined within the warlike pen ; 
 
 And close at hand within the bay 
 
 Some ships of war with cannon lay. 
 
 The British in the Fort had placed 
 
 Six hundred men, and Johnson graced 
 
 With its command. A regiment. 
 
 The seventeenth, and contingent 
 
 Of grenadiers, that represent 
 
68 WA SUING TON. 
 
 The seventy-first, fill up with some 
 Artillery Bellona's home. 
 And on the other eastern shore 
 Lay Webster with as many more ; 
 And these his soldiers to sustain 
 Clinton his army will detain 
 At Philipsburg, called Yonkers now, 
 Opposing Jersey's rocky brow. 
 
 XV 
 
 Head of his army brave that lay 
 Around him, Washington the way 
 Of victory with Wayne had planned,''' 
 Who would assault infernal land 
 At his loved general's wise command. 
 Twelve hundred light armed infantry 
 From Massachusetts marched boldly 
 With Wayne the morn of mid July 
 To Sandy Beach, and waiting lie 
 Half of the day, till noon-tide lags. 
 Then o'er defiles and over crags 
 And crossing deep morass they come 
 Fourteen miles from their latest home 
 In single file to rendezvous 
 At eventide by waters blue, 
 Below the fated Point a mile 
 And more, and wait the chosen while 
 
STONY POINT. 69 
 
 Till reconnaissance made, and sleep 
 Beguile the foe like darkness deep. 
 
 XVI 
 
 The time of hoeing corn had been, 
 
 And round the fort at day was seen 
 
 No more dark Pompey with his fruits." 
 
 Servant to patriot master, suits 
 
 It more his purpose shrewd at night 
 
 To peddle viands, and recite 
 
 To the sentries the countersign. 
 
 Given to help him within their line. 
 
 This chosen day his knowledge gives 
 
 Advantage to the host, and lives 
 
 Dark Pompey in the roll of fame. 
 
 •' The fort 's our own " they may declaim 
 
 To guards that challenge their advance. 
 
 'T is half eleven past, and glance 
 
 The stars from heaven in splendor seen. 
 
 Placid the river, and trees green 
 
 With foliage rustle in the breeze. 
 
 No barking dogs one hears or flees, 
 
 For all the day before were slain. 
 
 The sentinel near would detain 
 
 Pompey with two farmers disguised, 
 
 Who prompt with gag the man surprised. 
 
 Another at the causeway near 
 
70 WASHINGTON. 
 
 They silence likewise, and the fear 
 Of premature repulse is lost. 
 Through ebbing tide the army crossed, 
 And then divided for the fray. 
 Muhlenburg's three hundred stay " 
 Reserved beyond the low morass, 
 While unobserved the others pass 
 In north and southern columns led 
 Upon the fort; and at the head 
 Of each with bayonets fixed, and load 
 Of powder drawn, the van the road 
 Essay, with Stewart faring forth" 
 Upon the side pitched toward the north, 
 And prompt De Fleury on the south." 
 To brave Bellona's cannon mouth 
 And abatis remove, a hope 
 Forlorn of twenty men will cope 
 With sure destruction for each band. 
 With Gibbon and with Knox they stand. 
 Brave comrades of their leaders brave. 
 Behind them rolls the onward wave 
 Of war in regiments of Meigs 
 And Febriger, nor captain begs. 
 For Wayne himself as chieftain leads, 
 While Butler and Murfey like deeds" 
 Of valor on the north advance, 
 And glory of our name enhance. 
 
STONY POINT. yi 
 
 XVII 
 
 The sentinels their muskets fire, 
 
 Fierce rolls the drum, and loud and dire 
 
 The cry, " To arms! to arms! " that flies 
 
 Throughout the fort. The soldiers rise, 
 
 The ramparts swarm, the cannon roar, 
 
 And shot and balls o'er stream and shore 
 
 Destruction reign upon our men. 
 
 " Advance! advance! " they hear again 
 
 Along their ranks, and axes strike 
 
 The obstacles, till lionlike 
 
 Through opened way at cost of life 
 
 Wayne heads the charge and leads the strife 
 
 With flashing sword and piercing shout. 
 
 O'er ditch and trees and rocks about 
 
 They rush with bayonets firmly fixed, 
 
 And, when their ranks with foemen mixed, 
 
 Their hats with paper white bedecked 
 
 Columbia's mutual slaughter checked. 
 
 A ball strikes Wayne upon the head, 
 
 And on the ranks he fell, and bled ; 
 
 But, rising on a knee, he said, 
 
 (With Fishbrow and Archer's support,) '° 
 
 March on! carry me into the fort, 
 For I will die at the head 
 Of my column! " and on they sped. 
 His men the deadly volleys take 
 
J 2 WASHINGTON, 
 
 Upon their breasts, and vengeance make 
 
 With rushing, sweeping bayonet thrust 
 
 That scatters all between like dust. 
 
 And tramples down. De Fleury leads, 
 
 And valor by example breeds. 
 
 He seeks and strikes the standard low, 
 
 As in the fort the columns flow 
 
 Together, and up the staff they run 
 
 Fair freedom's flag to greet the sun. 
 
 The garrison for quarters ask, 
 
 And Johnson ends the useless task^' 
 
 Of vain defense. Six hundred men, 
 
 With guns and stores of war taken, 
 
 Columbia's great victory crown, 
 
 And o'er the land spreads Wayne's renown." 
 
 XVIII 
 
 " The fort 's our own! " the countersign 
 
 Will sound along the lengthening line 
 
 Of history's scroll, tho' men were slain 
 
 Or wounded with Bellona's stain. 
 
 " The fort 's our own! " Honor to those 
 
 Who won the night, and mastered foes 
 
 At risk and cost of precious life 
 
 In freedom's name, with freemen's strife! 
 
 " The fort 's our own! " tho' opposite 
 
 Howe's project fail, and victory flit "' 
 
STONY POINT. 
 
 71 
 
 From those against Fort Fayette sent, 
 
 And freedom's arrow backward bent. 
 
 " The fort 's our own! " tho' soon destroyed 
 
 By victors elsewhere best employed, 
 
 And foemen came the scene to view, 
 
 And all the deed of valor knew. 
 
 *' The fort 's our own ! " A beam of light 
 
 To-day adorns the famous site, 
 
 And rays of guidance long have shown 
 
 The place that Wayne's men made our own. 
 
CANTO FOURTH 
 
 WEST POINT 
 
 WEST POINT! a name forever dear' 
 To patriots, whoe'er shall hear 
 Of thee and praise thee not for all 
 The echoes of the bugle call 
 In freedom's memories extant 
 Around thy crags reverberant ? 
 Whoe'er shall see thy beauteous plain, 
 Where trees in peaceful shadows reign, 
 While frowning mountains guard thy flank 
 And tortuous paths the river bank 
 Encircle round the sloping rock, 
 And northward, where the cannon shock 
 Is heard, the wondrous stream a bay 
 Becomes — shall see all this, and pay 
 Not tribute to thy magic sway ? 
 Here, fifty miles from ocean's roar, 
 
 74 
 
WEST POINT. 75 
 
 The deepened river's shelving shore 
 On either side its narrowest bed 
 Secures, and 'mid these hills, 't is said, 
 Once Hudson hove his Half Moo7i sloop "^ 
 To anchored rest, when Autumn's troop 
 Their colors first unfurled to view 
 In mid September's deepening hue. 
 The falls dash down a mile away ^ 
 O'er rocky bed, and churn their spray 
 Like Buttermilk that lends its name 
 To those cascades of neighboring fame; 
 And toward the north, on island near, 
 The wooded, rocky heights appear 
 For Constitution named of old 
 And forts erected in the wold. 
 Above, old Cro' Nest and Storm King 
 Stand guard with Taurus in the ring 
 Of hills, with Breakneck on the north, 
 And on the south there issue forth 
 In hazy mass Anthony's Nose 
 And Dunderberg, and sombre grows 
 The huge Bear Hill, and ever throws 
 On subject vales darkhng shadows. 
 
 II 
 
 Here, when the redmen kept the hill,* 
 Algonkin warriors of shrill 
 
'j6 WASHINGTON. 
 
 War-cry and painted cheek, bedecked 
 With ornaments of wrath unchecked, 
 Roamed hunting, or the river skimmed 
 In double-bowed canoes, and dimmed 
 The scene with dusky forms, or fought 
 Foes till peace the calumet brought. 
 Wigwams with smoking crests arose, 
 And in the stream the angler throws 
 His line, and great the booty grows. 
 The field with maizy masses glows, 
 And Shatemuc in beauty flows, ^ 
 A hill-locked lake, which mirrored shows 
 The sky and clouds, the mounts and trees. 
 Or, furrowed, ruffles 'neath the breeze. 
 Here fourteen score of years gone by 
 Came Hendrick Hudson safe to lie 
 At anchor in September's eve; 
 And, when the English flags relieve " 
 The Dutch of waving o'er their forts. 
 The royal seal the land assorts, 
 Congreve and Moore the Point receive; 
 But, when the hills the war-cries leave, 
 They deed to government the soil 
 Hallowed by freedom's patient toil, 
 To house the soldiers trained for war 
 In future days, and near and far 
 The academic glory spreads, 
 Where valor peaceful learning weds. 
 
WEST POINT. 77 
 
 III 
 
 The peaceful scene of beauty lay- 
 Prepared with bristling forts the fray 
 Of revolution strife to bear 
 On Constitution isle and where 
 Poplopen's kill to Hudson's stream 
 Descends, with chain and boom that seem 
 To block the way at southern gate ; 
 But all in vain ; for war's stern fate 
 Gave Clinton all these citadels, 
 Till northern misfortune repels 
 Him with tidings of surrender 
 Of Burgoyne, which retreat engender 
 To city by the sounding sea. 
 The new year opes auspiciously. 
 And Parsons at the Point arrives ' 
 With his brigade of troops, revives 
 The works of war with Radiere ^ 
 The fortifying to prepare 
 In plans, while Kosciuszko's rare "" 
 Accomplishments the building crown. 
 Mount Independence with the frown 
 Of Rufus Putnam's fort the plain '° 
 O'erlooked, and lower rose the twain 
 For Webb and Wyllys named. A chain " 
 Of batteries the river bank 
 Surrounds, and on its winding flank 
 
y2> WASHINGTON. 
 
 Fort Arnold, later Clinton called/' 
 Its threatening bulwarks reared, and walled 
 The green with cannon the Point before, 
 Where boom and chain together o'er 
 The river stretched to island shore. 
 
 IV 
 
 What time Wayne marched his men below 
 'Gainst Stony Point, and victory's glow 
 Of joy the patriot line o'erspread, 
 Columbia's gathered troops were led 
 In force to occupy these hills, 
 And thousands held the Point that fills 
 The heart with thoughts of strife gone by. 
 The axe and spade they busy ply. 
 And Kosciuszko's work complete 
 To stand for years our eyes to greet. 
 Here, midst their stationed throng, 
 Had Washington his tent, among " 
 The year's slow-waning days, from rise 
 Of Dog star till the full moon thrice 
 And four times cast broad beams around. 
 And bleak December nearing found 
 The trees made bare and stiffened ground. 
 Across the stream at Garrisons 
 More regiments lay, and Nixon's '* 
 Brigade on Constitution Isle 
 
fV£ST POINT. 79 
 
 Encamped, while, past the long defile 
 Toward Fishkill broadening, the rest 
 Were stationed, to the war addressed, 
 Did Discord's fangs the hills molest. 
 
 V 
 
 He conquers who can patient wait. 
 
 So Fabius the Roman state 
 
 Preserved from Hannibal, and great 
 
 William from Spain could liberate 
 
 The Netherlands confederate. 
 
 Those lofty hills, a coronet 
 
 Of emerald encircling, set 
 
 Their guardian glory meetly met 
 
 Around wise Washington, who let 
 
 Not wily foes extend a net 
 
 Of stratagem, wherein to fall. 
 
 This nest of war, in easy call 
 
 Of homing birds, attent to all 
 
 The tidings sent, within its wall 
 
 Of forest heights rejoiced, yet pall 
 
 Of sadness felt at sorrow told. 
 
 Exuberance of victory rolled 
 
 Upon these shores from Wayne's fierce, bold, 
 
 Surges of war that drowned the hold 
 
 Of Albion below; nor cold 
 
 Had grown his universal fame 
 
8o WASHINGTON. 
 
 When with the rushing tide-wave came 
 
 A new exploit, heroic name, 
 
 A bag of ruddy, royal game 
 
 From all the meed of praise to claim. 
 
 VI 
 
 *T was " Legion Harry " Lee who fell "* 
 
 On Paulus' Hook (which now we spell 
 
 As Jersey City) with his men 
 
 Three hundred strong, and from the pen 
 
 Of war captured red coats, eight score. 
 
 Retreating safely from the roar 
 
 Of August midnight enterprise, 
 
 A medal, Congress voted, lies 
 
 Upon his breast, and later fights 
 
 He in the South, and later frights 
 
 The Pennsylvania whiskey mob 
 
 With magic name, while soldiers rob 
 
 Of terror the rebellion sprung. 
 
 What time dire news with sorrow wrung 
 
 The land at Washington's demise, 
 
 Apt words from his pen falling rise 
 
 The hero lost to characterize 
 
 The one " first in war, first in peace, 
 
 And first in the hearts of his 
 
 Countrymen " — panegyric wise. 
 
 Whose echo lingering round us lies. 
 
WEST POINT. 8 1 
 
 VII 
 
 Hark ! wailing, burning, slaughter, cries " 
 
 From western Wyoming arise. 
 
 Thither has sped the caravan 
 
 Of war with sturdy Sullivan, 
 
 By brave James Clinton reinforced, 
 
 Whose Highland forts Bellona coursed 
 
 Erstwhile with drear catastrophe. 
 
 Elmira's vale with victory 
 
 O'er redmen and their tory friends 
 
 Revenge for former slaughter sends 
 
 Upon the crafty sons of war. 
 
 To Genesee the patriots mar 
 
 The country of the enemy, 
 
 And then return their homes to see. 
 
 VIII 
 
 Lo! John Paul Jones on Albion's coast '^ 
 
 With three small ships in battle tossed 
 
 Upon the deep, till Serapis 
 
 Shall yield, and convoyed fleet be his! 
 
 September's days his prowess own. 
 
 And mighty ocean now hath known 
 
 The navy of Columbia, 
 
 The rise of freedom's morning star 
 
 Above horizon's nothingness 
 
 6 
 
S2 WA SHING TON. 
 
 In vasty billows numberless. 
 
 The Bon Homme Richard in the fight 
 
 Goes down in ocean tomb from sight, 
 
 But victory afloat is ours. 
 
 The waning year its closing hours 
 
 Shall brighten round the Highland seat 
 
 With message from the cruising fleet. 
 
 IX 
 
 Southward the wave of war had rolled,'^ 
 
 And slowly surged through the winter cold 
 
 Upon doomed Charleston, the fount of strife, 
 
 And lately tossed with earthquakes rife. 
 
 Scarce six months passed, and blooming May 
 
 Saw Lincoln forced his sword to lay 
 
 At Clinton's feet, while conquering bands 
 
 Through Carolina ranged the lands. 
 
 Round Marion, Sumter, Pickens still 
 
 The patriots rallying fill 
 
 The victors with alarm, e'en when 
 
 De Kalb at Camden fell, and men 
 
 Deserted Gates, whom Greene succeeds, 
 
 And skillfully the army leads. 
 
 The Northern host, contending 'gainst 
 
 The bitter cold, with rude huts fenced 
 
 Their shivering forms at Morristown, 
 
 And hungered oft, braving the frown 
 
WEST POINT. 83 
 
 Of nature and misfortune fell. 
 
 The freezing blasts that year compel 
 
 The New York Bay congealed to stand 
 
 A solid floor, a level land, 
 
 To bear artillery and troops. 
 
 Then the lowest in the market droops 
 
 The Continental credit pledged 
 
 The patriot cause as one full fledged 
 
 With sure success to clothe and feed. 
 
 Then officers and men in need, 
 
 Distressed, to Congress would proceed, 
 
 Or homeward go, or intercede 
 
 With bayonets for subsistence sought 
 
 From those around whose lands they fought. 
 
 Amid these Highlands, bleak hills beneath, 
 
 The Massachusetts lines with Heath 
 
 Their chieftain hutted lay, while 'round 
 
 Them snow four feet thick spread the ground. 
 
 And antipodes disaster found 
 
 To add to cold a fiery wound, 
 
 And Washington the tidings learned, 
 
 How barracks in Fort Arnold burned 
 
 In ruins lay, to ashes turned. 
 
 X 
 
 What time the Summer balm had come, 
 And Clinton from the South to home 
 
84 WASiiiNcroN. 
 
 Returning in the North had seen 
 
 The city by the sea, the green 
 
 Clad hills 'round Jersey's Springfield saw '" 
 
 His troops adventured in the jaw 
 
 Of battle by Knyphausen led, 
 
 By Greene's resistance baffled, bled, 
 
 And backward disappointed hurled. 
 
 With flaunting scarlet standards furled. 
 
 Then blooming on the wave-crashed crags 
 
 Of Newport's rocky shore the flags 
 
 Of lilied France are welcomed near — 
 
 The Summer harvest of the drear 
 
 Winter that housed at home the heart 
 
 Of Lafayette, who then the part 
 
 Of freedom's true ally sustained. 
 
 And pleading pledged assistance gained. 
 
 Six thousand under Rochambeau, 
 
 Ready the gage of war to throw. 
 
 Embarked in ships, a convoyed fleet. 
 
 With Admiral De Tiernay meet 
 
 To render aid across the sea. 
 
 But reinforced the enemy 
 
 With mighty fleet imprison fast 
 
 In Narragansett Bay this last 
 
 Return of long-hoped help, and wears 
 
 Old Time away. September fares 
 
 Its bronzing journey, and provokes 
 
 A conference by Hartford's oaks 
 
WEST POINT. 85 
 
 Of Washington and Rochambeau. 
 So Washington must Eastward go, 
 And leave an unsuspected foe 
 To weave a web of wily woe. 
 
 XI 
 
 Mixtures of good and evil born, 
 
 By grace restrained, by passion torn, 
 
 Men's hearts to truth and falsehood turn, 
 
 And by experiences learn 
 
 Eternal laws of majesty 
 
 That rule their endless destiny. 
 
 In eastern Norwich on the Sound, 
 
 Upon the blue Connecticut ground, 
 
 Was Benedict Arnold given life;""* 
 
 And, when the revolution strife 
 
 Broke out, to Cambridge with his guards 
 
 He marched, and Fort Ti afterwards 
 
 Assailed at Ethan Allan's side. 
 
 At Champlain's Lake his courage vied 
 
 With Mars, and Canada was ware 
 
 Of his bold spirit, who knew no care 
 
 Of life in war's hot action lost. 
 
 His Saratogan valor cost 
 
 Burgoyne his lingering hope, tho* wounds 
 
 Inflicted kept him close, and grounds 
 
 Of popular complaint he gave 
 
86 ^A SUING TON. 
 
 In Philadelphia by the knave 
 
 Latent within that reappeared, 
 
 And harsh and mercenary feared 
 
 Not profit by extortion cursed. 
 
 Led on by childish, wayward thirst 
 
 Extravagant, he thought to sell 
 
 For gain his country, and compel 
 
 Her shame. Censure court-martial passed, 
 
 And Washington with mildness cast 
 
 On him the merited rebuke, 
 
 Which his proud spirit would not brook. 
 
 With Clinton now he corresponds, 
 
 Signing " Gustavus " to his bonds 
 
 Of infamy, to whom Andr^, 
 
 ** John Anderson," response must pay 
 
 In Clinton's name. Matures the plot, 
 
 As August nears, for valued spot 
 
 Of warlike trust would Arnold gain 
 
 In armed West Point, and would retain 
 
 But as a spoil for gold to give 
 
 To Clinton's troops, himself to live 
 
 A traitor to his country's cause 
 
 Within the lines once fought in war's 
 
 Hot, rankling fury. Conference 
 
 He first must have, and represents 
 
 His need, his wife's friend Andre names 
 
 For the debate, and fear he tames. 
 
WEST POINT. 87 
 
 XII 
 
 Of Genevese Swiss ancestry 
 
 Was Andr^ born in London three 
 
 Years ere the French-Indian war." 
 
 In loving foiled, he sought the scar 
 
 To soothe in martial service far 
 
 From home in war-scourged Canada. 
 
 A major, adjutant general, 
 
 He was promoted, and with all 
 
 Warm favor found from manners kind 
 
 And poHshed powers of the mind. 
 
 To serve his king, ambition sate, 
 
 Enroll his name among the great, 
 
 He met the false, and lost his life. 
 
 September's leaves with breezes rife 
 
 Had ripened in their dusky hue. 
 
 And charmed the traveler's wandering view 
 
 A week, when Arnold word he sent 
 
 To meet him at Dobb's ferry, went 
 
 There on the Vulture ; but access 
 
 For Arnold from the shore the stress 
 
 Of cannon fired warmly denied. 
 
 And back to Garrisons he hied, 
 
 And there amid the shading trees 
 
 Robinson's house, headquarters, sees, 
 
 Where he had planned to bring 
 
 Lost Andre to some conferring. 
 
88 WASHINGTON. 
 
 XIII 
 
 A day past mid September gone, 
 
 The Vulture sailed the stream alone 
 
 To Teller's Point with Robinson,^'' 
 
 Who letter sent to Arnold, shown 
 
 To Washington, by whom advised 
 
 'Gainst intercourse Arnold apprised 
 
 The sender of the journey East 
 
 To Hartford. Twenty days released 
 
 September's sun from sombre night. 
 
 When Andr6, riding, came in sight 
 
 Of the Vuliurey and on her deck 
 
 A day he spent, when mid the wreck 
 
 Of Summer at the equinox 
 
 And 'mid the night he hears oarlocks 
 
 With mufiflcd blades approach, and Smitii 
 
 From Haverstraw ascends, and, with 
 
 Letter from Arnold, enters, him 
 
 To row ashore. Where High Torn grim 
 
 Its lofty shadow two miles throws 
 
 Below fair Haverstraw, where grows 
 
 A thicket dense, he lands to find 
 
 Concealed the traitor, whose dark mind 
 
 Of treason spoken now he hears 
 
 With numerous words prolonged till peers 
 
 The dawn above horizon's line; 
 
 And to complete the dark design 
 
WEST POINT. 89 
 
 Four miles northward reluctant rides 
 
 The British adjutant, and hides, 
 
 With covered scarlet coat besides, 
 
 With Arnold in Smith's vacant manse, 
 
 Within the patriot lines. Descants 
 
 The traitor on his cherished plots, 
 
 While Livingston the project blots 
 
 From Teller's Point by firing guns 
 
 On Vulture, so that down she runs 
 
 At lower anchorage to rest. 
 
 The morning hours the plotting dressed 
 
 With plan matured, and named a day 
 
 For British troops to change their way 
 
 From Chesapeake to Highland forts, 
 
 Where Arnold at the loud reports 
 
 Of war the troops would prompt disperse, 
 
 And loose the iron chain, and curse 
 
 His country with catastrophe. 
 
 Orders given the artillery 
 
 And estimates of forces placed 
 
 Upon West Point and of those traced 
 
 As needed for defence, a list 
 
 Of ordnance there, and tale of tryst. 
 
 Where generals in council met 
 
 With Washington, the traitor set 
 
 In Andre's hands, a fatal net. 
 
90 WA SHING TON. 
 
 XIV 
 
 At ten o'clock they rise and part, 
 
 And up the stream the oarsmen start, 
 
 Returning Arnold to his place 
 
 Toward eventide. With anxious face 
 
 Andr^ besought his host to row 
 
 Him to the Vulture, but to go 
 
 Upon the stream once more declined 
 
 Shrewd Smith; and o'er King's Ferry find 
 
 They passage to the Eastern shore, 
 
 And on to Crompond press, where more " 
 
 Delay at vigilant Boyd's hands 
 
 They suffer, till Arnold's pass stands 
 
 For their deliverance, and sleep 
 
 At Miller's cottage falls to keep 
 
 Their wearied eyelids till the day. 
 
 At Underbill's breakfasting they 
 
 Part ere Pine's bridge is crossed, and Smith ^' 
 
 To Fishkill turns, and Andre with 
 
 Fatal papers southward wends. 
 
 'T is Saturday, and the hour tends 
 
 Toward ten o'clock, when Tarrytown 
 
 Is within half a mile, and down 
 
 In bushes by the stream the three, 
 
 Paulding, Van Wart, and Williams, see 
 
 The traveler approach unknown. 
 
 Paulding with gun steps out alone, 
 
WEST POINT. 91 
 
 And bids him tell the way he goes. 
 He hopes that they belong to those 
 Upon his own, the " lower," side. 
 To whom falsely Paulding replied. 
 Truth next the lost one's words prefer; 
 " I am a British officer," 
 And he must then be not detained. 
 To dismount by Paulding constrained 
 On show of watch with truth to glass 
 His words, he fetches out his pass 
 From Arnold, but 't is all too late. 
 Within the bushes searched, the bait 
 Of treachery upon his feet 
 Is found, which his stockings secrete — 
 Three tell-tale papers bound in each. 
 A spy they name him, and to speech 
 Of promised ransom turn deaf ear. 
 They march him to North Castle near, 
 And Jameson there in command 
 To Arnold sends him with a band 
 Of guards, and writes of papers found. 
 Tallmadge appearing on the ground 
 By pleading brought the captive back. 
 And to North Salem turned his track. 
 The captive on the Sabbath day 
 To Salem came, and, writing, lay 
 Before great Washington his name 
 And rank to vindicate his fame. 
 
92 WASHINGTON. 
 
 XV 
 
 The chosen Sabbath day arrived, 
 The time by treason's plot contrived 
 To bring the hostile army here ; 
 But failed the red-coats to appear. 
 From Hartford Washington's return 
 The French ambassador Luzerne 
 At Fishkill stayed till Monday's light, 
 When down to Garrisons' at sight 
 Of sun he rode, and first inspects 
 Redoubts upon the stream. Expects 
 Base Arnold at the morning meal 
 His noble chief. Instead, the seal 
 Of Jameson arrives with news 
 Of Andre's capture, and imbues 
 The traitor with the fear of life. 
 Apart, he tells and leaves his wife. 
 Sunk in a swoon, perhaps to die. 
 Of passing to West Point a lie 
 He tells the aides, and, mounting, flies 
 Down a steep path, and further hies 
 Upon the silver stream in barge 
 By oarsmen urged in hope of large 
 Promised reward. The Vulture lay 
 At Teller's Point, a bird of prey. 
 Devouring oarsmen with their chief, 
 Until to their deserved relief 
 
WEST POINT. 93 
 
 Came Clinton, and released the crew, 
 Their homeward journey to pursue. 
 
 XVI 
 
 At table, left by Arnold fled, 
 
 Had Washington soon breakfasted, 
 
 And o'er West Point, the silent works. 
 
 Surveyed his glance, and noontide lurks 
 
 Upon the scene, when he recrossed 
 
 The silver stream, and, mounting, lost 
 
 In wonder heard the story told 
 
 And read the proofs of treason bold 
 
 From Jameson at last received. 
 
 He sorrowing the tale believed. 
 
 And summoned Andre to the place, 
 
 Yet never saw the lost one's face. 
 
 On Tuesday Andr^ came, and slept 
 
 Two nights at Western Point, well kept 
 
 In custody, till Thursday sent 
 
 Him down to Tappan, the event 
 
 Of Friday's trials to await. 
 
 The generals deliberate 
 
 Upon his case, and as a spy 
 
 They doomed him 'customed death to die. 
 
 The following day Washington gave 
 
 Approval to the sentence grave. 
 
 And Sunday named whereon to wreak 
 
94 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Its penalty. The British seek 
 
 By parley Andre's life to save, 
 
 But will not yield the traitor knave 
 
 To suffer in his victim's stead, 
 
 And selfish Arnold keeps his head. 
 
 Parley delayed the bitter fate 
 
 Till Monday noon ; and then in state " 
 
 Went Andre forth, the multitude 
 
 And troops and waiting gibbet rude 
 
 To meet. A momentary pang 
 
 'T will be, he said, about to hang. 
 
 And bandaged his eyes, slipped the noose 
 
 Over his head, and, while 't was loose, 
 
 Permission used the throng to address ; 
 
 I pray you to bear me witness 
 That I meet my fate like a brave man." 
 So died the major near Tappan, 
 And buried lay in open field 
 Forty years, till wounds had healed 
 Between the lands, when England claimed 
 And took her dead to abbey famed. 
 At Westminster, near monument 
 Of praise erst reared to represent 
 The gratitude of George the Third 
 On marbles graved with lasting word. 
 
WEST POINT. 95 
 
 XVII 
 
 So failed the plot against the land 
 
 And people's cause, who constant stand 
 
 And wait another year to gain 
 
 Success. To wipe away the stain 
 
 Of treason mentioned in a name 
 
 The fort for Arnold called the same 
 
 Remains not, but for Clinton known 
 
 Continues to the present down. 
 
 Forth from the Highlands southward rolled 
 
 America's soldiers to fold 
 
 With them of France the English host 
 
 In Yorktown lost, and lay their boast 
 
 Of conquest here. Returned, rejoiced, 
 
 In May's fair bloom their joy they voiced ^^ 
 
 At tidings of the Dauphin's birth 
 
 In France, and hither brought their worth 
 
 Of chivalry with Washington 
 
 On May's last day, at waning sun, 
 
 To feast and toast in colonnade 
 
 Of trees by Villefranche made 
 
 Upon the West Point plain displayed. 
 
 With boughs and branches roofed and walled. 
 
 With flowers festooned and garlands palled, 
 
 And pillars girt with bayonets, 
 
 Illumed at fall of night by sets 
 
 Of lights, the arbor beamed with stars. 
 
96 WASHINGTON. 
 
 While danced the dames with sons of Mars. 
 
 The cannon roared at toasts announced, 
 
 The volleys flashed, and then pronounced 
 
 The officers a blessing prayed 
 
 The dauphin born, while the troops made 
 
 The welkin ring with hearty cheers 
 
 Thrice given him. As midnight nears, 
 
 The fireworks blaze, the rockets soar. 
 
 The wheels revolve, and fountains pour. 
 
 Trees bloom and fade, and beehives swarm, 
 
 Balloons ascend, and stars perform 
 
 With fleurs de lis against the sky, 
 
 Till in the gloom extinct they die. 
 
 So died the dauphin in the year 
 
 Of France's revolution, near 
 
 The fall of monarchy and rise 
 
 Of liberty. Our soldiers' cries 
 
 For blessing, answered v/ondrous wise, 
 
 Raised him from earth's darkness to the skies. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 A year had fled, and peace was near; 
 From Newburgh marched the army here 
 To be disbanded and sent home. 
 Save those retained, and of these some 
 Upon the Point, where in the year come 
 Of ninety-four the Congress sets 
 
WEST POINT. 97 
 
 A corps with thirty-two cadets 
 Artillerists and engineers, 
 Till strife in eighteen twelve appears, 
 When swells the number, and the corps 
 Of engineers is something more 
 As an academy of war, 
 Whilst the frontier of Canada 
 The prowess of our soldiers knows. 
 Contending 'gainst their country's foes. 
 The Indian and Mexican 
 Have later felt American 
 Valor trained here to win success 
 By art and science given to bless 
 Courage with sound discretion's reign. 
 Thayer in marble on the plain, ^^ 
 A graduate and warrior proved, 
 Stands looking on the work beloved 
 He superintended sixteen years, 
 Whilst on his right by shade trees peers 
 The chapel with the blazoned names 
 Of generals, whose deathless fames 
 The Revolution crowned, and cased 
 The flags won from Cornwallis graced 
 The walls, and studious thousands faced. 
 Leftward on Trophy Point the links 
 Of Revolution's chain that shrinks 
 In modest length around the bronze 
 In cannon cast. La Monarque, once 
 
 7 
 
98 WASHINGTON. 
 
 To La Fayette by Congress given. 
 Near by, from war's hot fury driven 
 To rest, stretch rows of cannon won 
 From Mexican and bold Briton. 
 Upon the banks mid shadows green 
 Brave Kosciuszko's shaft is seen 
 Above flirtation walk serene 
 That shaded winds, and winding ends 
 In garden where sweet nature blends 
 With art ; both beauteous memories give 
 Of Poland's love-lorn fugitive. 
 
 XIX 
 
 For Dade and his command who fell " 
 In distant Florida, and well 
 Serving their loved country, endures 
 A marble shaft that long insures 
 Their recollected bravery. 
 Across the plain one slavery 
 In war had slain ensculptured stands, 
 Sedgwick doomed in Virginia's lands.'" 
 Beyond, the shaded, twisting road 
 To cemetery leads, abode 
 Of sleeping heroes in the green, 
 Where many warrior names are seen. 
 The revolution Alden recalls,^" 
 Thompson at Okee-cho-bee falls," 
 
WEST POINT. 99 
 
 And Winfield Scott wins Mexico." 
 
 Again see Anderson the woe " 
 
 Of war in Sumpter bear, and hear 
 
 The roar of Gilmore's guns that peer" 
 
 Embrasured deadly. The rattle 
 
 Of Custer's sabres sounds in battle^' 
 
 'Round us, and far away the fight 
 
 Of Wilderness and plain to light 
 
 Is brought, and forts besieged and won. 
 
 Here Grant,^" Sherman," and Sheridan " 
 
 Their great renown began, and they 
 
 Who led opposing hosts the way 
 
 Of war to traverse afterward 
 
 Here learned, e'en Lee^^ and Beauregard," 
 
 'Gainst whom McClellan led his men*' 
 
 And Halleck, those weary days when " 
 
 The land divided fought and bled 
 
 That Washington left united. 
 
 XX 
 
 Cadets three thousand four hundred 
 Have drilled and studied here, numbered 
 'Mongst officers or civilians. 
 Engineering for the millions. 
 Ordeals they passed, and entered in, 
 The awkward squad survived to win 
 Their way to swell the dress parade, 
 
100 WASHINGTON. 
 
 And hear band music deftly played. 
 The sunset gun is fired, down flies 
 The flag, and at the chieftain's cries 
 The arms are manualed, report 
 The sergeants, and with orders short 
 And officers' salute dismissed 
 Fades the parade. Reveille kissed 
 The slumber from the sleeping brow, 
 And guard mount strains are wafted now 
 To listening ears. Inspection looks 
 Each week at arms and garb and nooks 
 Of quarters open, whilst night-time 
 In camp mingles soft music's chime 
 With rhythmic foot-prints in the darice, 
 Until tattoo ends glide and glance. 
 They swim the stream, and ply the oars, 
 With rifles fired resound the shores, 
 And pontoon bridges cross the waves. 
 The hissing ball the float mark shaves, 
 Or on the mount descending strikes. 
 Hark! hear the drill the soldier likes, 
 Artillery rattling, firing loud. 
 And dust arising as a cloud 
 Upon the plain by horses swept. 
 With sabres horsed to charge adept 
 The youth ride by, or in mild ranks 
 Of infantry evolve by flanks. 
 And march, or charge, or skirmish quick. 
 
IVEST POINT. lOI 
 
 The four years up, visitors pick 
 The learned valor out, approve 
 The work, and see the soldiers move 
 In drills that represent their skill. 
 Examinations passed, they will 
 Enjoy the graduation hop. 
 And spin the saltatory top. 
 Diplomas given beneath the trees 
 Shall end the days of gray for these, 
 Changed to brave officers in coats 
 Of blue, and others come. So floats 
 The stream of life 'mid hills of war 
 With shadows reaching out so far. 
 
CANTO FIFTH 
 
 FISHKILL 
 
 I 
 
 ENDURING steadfast, mountains stand 
 With verdure sprinkled o'er the grand 
 Array of rocks exposed, while glide 
 In living motion waters wide 
 Or narrow of the rushing stream. 
 Of things in daylight seen we dream 
 At night, and environs the mind 
 Affect, and mountaineers may find 
 In rocky hills exemplars meet 
 To guide and hold their shifting feet. 
 The stars above look down in hope 
 On earth that weary scans their cope 
 To read a promise of success 
 To come, and from the wilderness 
 Of struggle passing to the plain 
 Of safety peaceful, where the reign 
 
 102 
 
FISHKTLL. 103 
 
 Of free industry is assured. 
 
 One winter more patient endured 
 
 Shall find America's fair spring 
 
 Of blossomed glory appearing, 
 
 And Washington with diadem 
 
 Of victory elect with them 
 
 Who erst for freedom strove and won. 
 
 December's solstice nears the sun, 
 
 When winter quarters had begun 
 
 For all the host safe from treason 
 
 Delivered, and in Morristown 
 
 The Pennsylvanians from the frown 
 
 Of nature housed them, whilst Pompton 
 
 Hides the Jersey brigades, and on 
 
 The Hudson's banks Massachusetts 
 
 Continuing the cause abets 
 
 With four brigades at West Point placed. 
 
 On eastern shore confronting faced 
 
 These two Connecticut brigades. 
 
 With New Hampshire's men and the aids 
 
 Rhode Island sent. But Washington 
 
 At New Windsor tarried for one 
 
 More waiting till the war had run 
 
 Its course and set, as when the sun 
 
 Victorious its glory sheds 
 
 Around to linger on the heads 
 
 Of mountains, farewell fond to say 
 
 To sturdy toilers of the day. 
 
[04 WASHINGTON. 
 
 II 
 
 November sombre in Eighty, 
 
 Over a hundred years lately 
 
 Gone by, the friendly coming hailed 
 
 Of Gallia's Marquis, who had sailed * 
 
 From home to visit the allies 
 
 Of France, and from the east with wise 
 
 Footsteps to old Fishkill journeyed — 
 
 De Chastellux his name we read. 
 
 Then fifty houses lay around 
 
 The village site within the ground 
 
 Of Rambout's patent, where the creek 
 
 Flows shaded 'neath the hills to seek 
 
 The Hudson's broader silver stream. 
 
 Borne back two centuries we seem, 
 
 When Rambout's daughter marries Brett, 
 
 And they their country mansion set 
 
 Within these lands, standing to-day. 
 
 Verplancks and Van Voorhees this way 
 
 Settle ; Brinckerhoffs and Van Vliets, 
 
 De Peysters and Van Wycks their seats 
 
 Establish; Van Tassels, Du Bois, 
 
 Schoutens, Ter Boos, Noostrands make choice 
 
 Of homes, Brevorts, Ostranders, Schencks, 
 
 Hegemans, Roosekrans, Lessinks, 
 
 Swartwouts, De Largers, and the rest, 
 
 Unmentioned, yet among the best. 
 
FISH KILL. 105 
 
 III 
 
 Two churches then in Fishkill stood, 
 
 The one of stone and one of wood. 
 
 The latter housed the English rite ; 
 
 And, when the patriots from the sight 
 
 Of war around New York removed, 
 
 E'en here to Fishkill it behooved 
 
 Their Congress of the state to come, 
 
 And use the English churchly home 
 
 In Constitutional debate. 
 
 Through wintry months here sat the great 
 
 At work upon our law till fear 
 
 Of war in February drear 
 
 Moved them to Kingston, where in May 
 
 Of seventy seven the day 
 
 Of dissolution dawned. They part 
 
 With two years' labor o'er, a chart 
 
 To give, a Constitution long 
 
 To guide the people, and from the wrong 
 
 Defend the right. Twice since we changed 
 
 The ancient instrument, estranged 
 
 From current use, and oft enlarged 
 
 Its articles, like branches charged 
 
 On high with fruits and leafage grown 
 
 That still for life their rooting own 
 
 In ancient trunk and netted coil 
 
 Of seed-sprung shoots beneath the soil. 
 
I06 WASHINGTON. 
 
 IV 
 
 In the same church where sage debate 
 Resolved a charter for the state, 
 First printed in Fishkill, the sick 
 Soldiers were nursed to keep the wick 
 Of life afire, whilst caged near by 
 The prisoners of the war lie 
 In the Dutch church erst made of stone. 
 A row of port-holes wisely thrown 
 Into the upper story walls 
 Against the Redmen's arrows, balls, 
 And fierce attack had lent defense ; 
 And here was Crosby for offense ' 
 Of seeming aid to royal foes 
 Confined a captive, kept with those 
 Whom his espial had disclosed 
 To patriot leaders that supposed 
 And knew his knowledge truly told. 
 Escape, connived at, to his old 
 Service restored the spy a while, 
 Till darkling danger from his guile 
 Dissuaded him. But still he lives 
 In Cooper's storied page that gives 
 The Spy his due of grateful praise, 
 Describes the Wharton house of days * 
 Gone by, built by Van Wyck, and all 
 The scene around, where mountains fall 
 
FISH KILL. 107 
 
 With shadows on the plain below, 
 And Fishkill's babbling waters flow. 
 
 V 
 
 At Wharton house the officers 
 
 Their quarters kept ; and horse and spurs 
 
 But two miles passed to Washington, 
 
 When he headquarters placed at one 
 
 Time with the Brinckerhoff to north ' 
 
 And east beyond ; and southward forth 
 
 Toward the mountains barracks lay 
 
 To house the soldiers from the fray 
 
 Of conflict or of winter cold. 
 
 A noble walnut tree of old 
 
 Before the manse adorned the field, 
 
 With iron ring, where soldiers yield 
 
 To chastisement. The magazines, 
 
 Work-house and prisons dot the greens; 
 
 And in the corner, where the road 
 
 Branches eastward, where the corn is sowed, 
 
 We look upon the last abode 
 
 Of soldiers dead and buried here, 
 
 Who fell from wounds and lack of cheer. 
 
 O martyred host, obscure, unnamed. 
 
 Unnumbered, but forever famed. 
 
 Revered and loved ! some sightly shaft 
 
 Of modern wealth and modern craft 
 
1 08 WA SHING TON. 
 
 Shall yet this hallowed spot adorn, 
 
 Inscribed like ancient legend borne 
 
 Upon Thermopylae's great stone, 
 
 Through freedom's realms by all men known, 
 
 ** Stranger go, to America tell; 
 
 Obedient to her laws we fell." 
 
 VI 
 
 All this the Marquis saw, and turned 
 
 To travel southward, where he learned 
 
 The way to West Point winding led 
 
 Between the mountains with their bed 
 
 Of caves and tangled trees for bears 
 
 That lurk within these lofty lairs. 
 
 Within the woods a fort appears 
 
 Beside the road, and now he nears 
 
 The sombre shades of Beacon hill 
 
 And Grand Sachem, where patriots fill 
 
 The night betimes with warning fires, 
 
 In lieu of telegraphic wires, 
 
 Of news or danger nigh to tell. 
 
 Four miles he had descended well 
 
 On his journey, when in a camp 
 
 Hundreds of soldiers with the stamp 
 
 Of suffering on their naked forms 
 
 Were seen, there sheltered from the storms, 
 
 With ready arms and courage strong, 
 
FISHKILL. 109 
 
 Enduring steadfast through the long 
 
 Conflict for liberty and life. 
 
 O men of later day, whom strife 
 
 Successful of those heroes dead 
 
 Enriched with land and freedom wed 
 
 To civic and religious right, 
 
 Can we within the very sight 
 
 Of hallowed scenes of woe like these. 
 
 Embowered 'mid the mountain trees, 
 
 With bribes and drink contaminate 
 
 The regulation of the state ? 
 
 VII 
 
 Onward, downward, the traveler fares, 
 Whilst Autumn's changing Nature wears 
 Her gorgeous gown and fading face. 
 Till to the stream he turns to trace 
 His way, when on his raptured sight 
 The hill-crowned Hudson comes to Hght, 
 With forts and warlike armaments. 
 And shores that gleam with lines of tents, 
 And on the eastern bank he leaves. 
 Where northward rounding Taurus heaves 
 Its shaded rocks against the sky, 
 Upon the circling camp his eye 
 May glance from Table Rock around " 
 To Foundry Cove — all hallowed ground. 
 
no WA SHING TON. 
 
 For where the village meets the bank 
 
 A spring was found, and there they drank 
 
 In olden days, e'en Washington, 
 
 'T is said, who slaking thirst at one 
 
 Cool fount, and, drinking, lingering 
 
 Pronounced it a very cold spring/ 
 
 Upon the hillside Butterfield,* 
 
 The General, dwells, who lately sealed 
 
 Devotion to his country's good 
 
 In days of civil war with blood 
 
 He risked and shed on many fields. 
 
 Spared, May's first morn fresh honor yields^ 
 
 To him, who leads the pageantry 
 
 Of civic worth and industry 
 
 This year before the President," 
 
 And summer sees him represent 
 
 The triumph of our arms in war 
 
 Beside imperial Russia's czar." 
 
 VIII 
 
 Under the cliffs of Taurus lies 
 
 The pillared porch of Morris, wise " 
 
 In days gone by to weave the strains 
 
 For singing that Erato deigns 
 
 To love, when couched in ballad verse. 
 
 And now his ashes in the hearse 
 
 Of buried nature with us dwell 
 
FISHKILL. 1 1 1 
 
 By mountain stream he loved so well. 
 
 Where troops encamped now dwellings rise, 
 
 And churchly spires point toward the skies, 
 
 Whilst shops infold the foliaged streets. 
 
 Below in foundry cove the seats " 
 
 Of skillful toil resound with stress 
 
 Of labor moulding stubbornness 
 
 Of iron to some shrewd design. 
 
 Rebellion's cannon conquering line 
 
 Of deadly hail here deftly cast 
 
 Assisted victory at last 
 
 To bring our struggling arms, and keep 
 
 United still the land whose sweep 
 
 Of power vast the dream excels 
 
 Of revolution's sentinels. 
 
 Here Kemble planned,'* and Parrott " wrought, 
 
 And Paulding's entertaining thought " 
 
 In novels cast still lingers round 
 
 The hill that heard war's iron sound. 
 
 IX 
 
 So glanced the Marquis o'er the scene 
 Where beauty reigns with peace serene ; 
 And as he passed upon his way 
 The winter fell with shortened ray 
 Of waning sun that waxes bright 
 Once more with victory's blest light 
 
112 WA SHING TON. 
 
 In eighty-one's auspicious year. 
 At Morristown and Pompton fear 
 Of mutiny of suffering troops 
 Is overcome, though CHnton stoops 
 To tempt their constancy with bribes, 
 And remedy the law prescribes. 
 Now Arnold with a force ascends " 
 The river James, and fiercely sends 
 Destruction o'er Virginia's land 
 In show of zeal with change of hand 
 To royal cause and royal sword. 
 Relief the people roused afford 
 The state, and Lafayette combines 
 With Gallia's fleet within the lines 
 Of trapping war the fox to seize. 
 'T is not to be; the traitor flees 
 Unto New York and Philips leaves 
 The red destruction to fulfill. 
 And execute the royal will. 
 
 Up from the south Cornwallis moves 
 
 Till dashing Tarleton rashly proves 
 
 For his proud chief the valorous mood 
 
 Of Morgan's troops in hardihood 
 
 At Cowpens shown. The chieftain springs " 
 
 To prompt pursuit, but Morgan flings 
 
FISHKILL, 113 
 
 His brave retreating host across 
 
 Catawba's stream too soon, and loss 
 
 Of time from rain the Briton holds, 
 
 Till Yadkin's flood our men infolds 
 
 From capture, and Greene takes command. 
 
 Now to the Dan across the land 
 
 They rush, and blood from shoeless feet 
 
 Of patriots their pathway fleet 
 
 With fearful tell-tale stains reveals, 
 
 Till passage o'er the river seals 
 
 Awhile for them security. 
 
 Now reinforced futurity 
 
 For Greene proclaims advance and stand 
 
 To make at Guilford Court House, planned 
 
 By Cornwallis to be attacked. 
 
 Defeat befell ; yet the Briton tracked 
 
 Him not, but wounded sore made way 
 
 To Wilmington to bide his day 
 
 Beside the sea. Defeat again 
 
 Befell brave Greene near Camden 
 
 At Rawdon's hands toward April's end, 
 
 Nor may the victory descend 
 
 Complete on him at Eutaw Springs, 
 
 September-fought, but halting brings 
 
 Him to the high hills of Santee 
 
 Adjacent to the sounding sea. 
 
114 ^-^ SHING TON. 
 
 XI 
 
 The northern chieftain faithful kept 
 
 One wintry vigil more, nor slept 
 
 In hopelessness, for dawn drew near. 
 
 The Martial winds were blowing drear '* 
 
 Across these fields, when eastward rode 
 
 The chief to Newport, and abode 
 
 Three weeks with Gallia's leaders brave 
 
 And courteous, planning to pave 
 
 A way of war to victory. 
 
 May bloomed upon their bravery 
 
 With conference at Weathersfield, 
 
 Connecticut, and planning sealed 
 
 The orders westward to advance. 
 
 And soon the gleaming bayonets glance 
 
 On Hudson's eastern stretching shore 
 
 Around Dobb's Ferry and before 
 
 The Bronx's narrow, shaded, stream. 
 
 Six weeks, till mid-August, the dream 
 
 Of chivalry American 
 
 And their allies, the Gallican, 
 
 Encamp to threaten prompt descent 
 
 Upon New York; and word was sent 
 
 To Cornwallis beside the sea 
 
 To march and rest his arms, to be 
 
 Prepared to Clinton's aid to sail. 
 
 De Grasse now writes that he will hail 
 
FISH KILL. 115 
 
 Virginia's coast at Chesapeake, 
 And landing for his soldiers seek. 
 Southward the allied host must fare, 
 And Cornwallis encamped ensnare. 
 Below us a short way very, 
 Only twelve miles, at King's Ferry, 
 The allies cross our silver stream 
 On march triumphant, whilst foes dream 
 Attack impending upon New York. 
 Through Trenton, Philadelphia, work 
 The armies brave their way, till all 
 Too late the fatal schemings fall 
 Opened on Clinton's mind deceived. 
 To stop the march a plan conceived 
 Sent Arnold to New London east '° 
 With burning massacre to feast 
 Upon the state, whose cause he sought 
 To stab ; but all in vain ; for nought 
 Could turn the hand of history 
 From Yorktown's shore of victory. 
 
 XII 
 
 September's closing days beheld " 
 The British Yorktown host compelled 
 A siege to stand. De Grasse with ships 
 Shut up the bay, and from the lips 
 Of Washington and Rochambeau 
 
Il6 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Fell orders to the encircling row 
 Of gathered troops. De Lauzun brave " 
 With his dragoons across the wave 
 On Gloucester's Point completes the net. 
 Approaches made, the cannon let 
 Their deadly roaring loose to crush 
 The works and hostile firing hush. 
 Nearer they draw, and now they rush 
 Upon redoubts. Against the one^^ 
 Brave Hamilton, with Fish, Ogden," 
 Laurens, Gibbs, and Gimat charges; 
 Against the other enlarges 
 French valor for the commonweal, 
 Led by the Baron Viomenil,"" 
 Dumas, De Deuxponts, De Lameth, 
 And young De Sireuil, doomed to death. 
 Triumphant valor captures all, 
 Nor can a dashing sortie fall 
 Successful on the nearing lines. 
 A dreadful storm blasts the designs 
 By Gloucester to escape from fate ; 
 And Clinton's aid has sailed too late. 
 Past mid-October, in the morn. 
 Must Cornwallis, of glory shorn. 
 To parley beat, and terms accept, 
 Surrendering all, by vengeance swept, 
 A name disgraced, a fame unwept. 
 
FISH KILL. 
 
 117 
 
 XIII 
 
 The nineteenth of October, long 
 
 Hoped for, saw the allied ranks, strong 
 
 With sixteen marshaled thousands, ranged 
 
 Beside the Hampton road ; and, changed 
 
 From pomp to woe, the captive host, 
 
 Seven thousand strong, with humbled boast, 
 
 And colors cased, and drummers' blare 
 
 Of music in a British air. 
 
 At two o'clock by solar light, 
 
 O'Hara leads between the right" 
 
 Line drawn up of Americans 
 
 And left array of Galileans, 
 
 Whilst twenty thousand populace 
 
 With joyful mien surround the place. 
 
 To Washington he bows, and pleads 
 
 Excuse for Cornwallis, who needs 
 
 Seclusion in a sheltering tent, 
 
 But with his sword O'Hara sent. 
 
 Then Washington to Lincoln waves " 
 
 Him for directions that he craves. 
 
 So Lincoln led them to the field. 
 
 And there O'Hara meek must yield 
 
 The sword, by Lincoln given back. 
 
 Following in their chieftain's track 
 
 The twenty-eight captains in line, 
 
 With colors cased, must now consign 
 
1 1 8 WA SHING TON. 
 
 The standards of their regiments 
 To twenty-eight marshaled sergeants 
 Six paces from their rank arrayed. 
 The transfer gracefully to aid 
 Between them stands the young ensign 
 Wilson, youngest officer in line, 
 Who takes the standard from each hand, 
 And gives it to the sergeant band. 
 Then arms are piled upon the ground, 
 Accouterments laid down ; and sound 
 Of war has ceased. The ships to France 
 Are given, and warlike stores enhance 
 The treasures of the allied arms, 
 Triumphant 'mid the war's alarms. 
 
 XIV 
 
 A hundred years had passed away 
 Upon the land, where Yorktown's ray 
 Of triumph grand with glory crowned 
 Successful all the patient wound 
 Of steadfastness the modest name 
 Of Fishkill signifies to fame; 
 And on that same peninsula 
 Of revolution's weary war 
 McClellan had in contest sore 
 Contended for a union more 
 Prolonged than passion's fury wished. 
 
FISHKILL. 
 
 The greater nation, from the famished 
 Conflicts emerged, would celebrate. 
 With foreign guests of Gallia great 
 And Brave Germania, the weight 
 Of ancient worth and valor proved. 
 With oratory it behooved 
 The present to salute the past, 
 A monumental base to cast. 
 And troops parade for the event 
 Before the graceful President, 
 Who, like the knightly Arthur told 
 In British legend writ of old, 
 The vanquished foe now friendly held. 
 Would bind in bands that kindreds weld; 
 For at the mandate from his lips 
 Upon the mastheads of our ships 
 The British standard greets the breeze. 
 And now the gathered wonder sees 
 The yards are manned, and cannon roar 
 A loud salute o'er sea and shore, 
 To tell the world the ancient strife 
 Was not for death but all for life 
 And peace for all humanity 
 In keeping Saxon liberty. 
 
CANTO SIXTH 
 
 NEWBURGH 
 
 FOR William prince of Orange famed, 
 And later England's king, they named 
 A county by the Highland stream/ 
 And, where it broadens in a dream 
 Of bay-like beauty, England's Queen, 
 The good Queen Anne, whose arms had been 
 Assisted by Palatines brave 
 In Europe's wars, a refuge gave 
 To their distress, when fiercely driven 
 From home by persecutions given 
 In Louis' harsh religious zeal/ 
 With patents from the royal seal 
 Foundations of a town they lay, 
 A Newburgh called, and on the Tay 
 In Scottish land near high Dundee, 
 But nearer Perth washed by the sea, 
 
 120 
 
NEWBURGH. \2 
 
 An older Newburgh erst was made. 
 But weary grown the Teutons bade 
 America's Rhine a long farewell, 
 And in their stead there came to dwell 
 The English, Irish, Huguenots, 
 To risk their scalps and crops and cots 
 Amid the lurid Indian's yells, 
 Whose breast with raging envy swells. 
 
 II 
 
 The heathen aborigines 
 
 Were wont to hold horrid orgies 
 
 Upon Dans Kamer's Point that lay 
 
 At Northern end of Newburgh bay; 
 
 And Bachtamo their god adored. 
 
 And help in all their schemes implored. 
 
 When to the hunt or war about 
 
 To march, here first they hold a rout, 
 
 Conjurers turned in somersaults, 
 
 Or smote themselves for all their faults, 
 
 Leaped round the blaze in maddened gyre, 
 
 Or charged, abandoned, through the fire. 
 
 Then all the tribe with caterwaul 
 
 Invoke to come the devil foul, 
 
 Whom in an animal they see, 
 
 If ravenous, bad prodigy, 
 
 If innocent, fair augury. 
 
122 WA SHING TON, 
 
 The savages with warfare sly 
 Oft scourged the settlers doomed to die 
 Beneath their hand, and Minnisink 
 For e'er remains a dreaded brink 
 Of massacre, once wrought by Brant. 
 At Goshen now a shaft extant 
 Commemorates the whites who fell. 
 Contesting for their homes right well 
 That Julian day in Seventy-nine,'' 
 Where Delaware's ravines entwine 
 Their rocky knolls with bosky vine. 
 
 Ill 
 
 In Orange saw the Clintons light, 
 Immortal trio, George who right * 
 Wisely as governor ruled the state. 
 And James who led to war's debate ^ 
 The soldiery, sire of De Witt," 
 His greater son, chosen to sit 
 As chieftain of the state, and plan 
 The great canal, now free, that ran 
 Between Lake Erie and the sea. 
 To fight the royal enemy 
 The people raised six regiments. 
 Du Bois as colonel brave presents ^ 
 The continental Fifth in line. 
 From Goshen Allison the sign 
 
NEWBURGH. 1 23 
 
 Of valor leads ; from Florida 
 
 Come Hathorn's soldiers to the war, 
 
 And Cornwall's patriotic host, 
 
 By WoodhuU led, maintain their post. 
 
 James Clinton heads New Windsor's braves, 
 
 And o'er the Newburgh warriors waves 
 
 The sword of Hasbrouck in command — 
 
 All sworn to free their native land. 
 
 Quebec and Montreal in fight 
 
 The Orange valor bring to light ; 
 
 Fort Schuyler, Saratoga's field. 
 
 And Yorktown's cape fresh honor yield. 
 
 And in the annals of the state 
 
 Their names enroll among the great. 
 
 IV 
 
 Where Otterkill its waters pours 
 Upon the Hudson's favored shores. 
 Now Moodna Creek or Murderer's called. 
 On broad Plum Point a battery walled ' 
 And armed with guns, by Machin made. 
 An iron chain and boom surveyed 
 That stretched across to Pollepel's isle " 
 To close the stream 'gainst force or guile. 
 Below the Creek Sloop Hill arose. 
 Where vessels landed their cargoes, 
 With beacon fires illumed at night 
 
124 WASHINGTON. 
 
 To flash the news along with light 
 In days of periled freedom's fight. 
 West of New Windsor lay the Square 
 With mansions round about, and there 
 The generals erst their quarters placed. 
 Greene, Qinton, Knox and St. Clair graced 
 The scene with Gates and La Fayette, 
 Whilst in the village, neighboring yet, 
 Had Washington his quarters set/" 
 
 In prosperous Newburgh, toward the south, 
 
 Above Quassaic's broadening mouth, 
 
 Lies Hasbrouck's house with gable roof,'' 
 
 Built six score years ago, and proof 
 
 Against the gnawing tooth of time. 
 
 Within its walls we hear the chime 
 
 Of mellow memories — the shrewd 
 
 Designs of patriots, imbued 
 
 With yearnings all the state to free, 
 
 The mustering of company 
 
 And regiment that marched away 
 
 To swell America's array. 
 
 E'en valiant Hasbrouck's own command 
 
 To help emancipate the land. 
 
 From Philadelphia, where he stayed 
 
 The Winter after Yorktown made 
 
NEWBURGH. 1 2$ 
 
 Our arms victorious in war, 
 Came Washington to dwell afar 
 From home once more another year, 
 And in his house of stone from fear 
 And danger ward the waiting state. 
 Upon the stoop the Highland gate 
 And stream he might with ease survey, 
 And mountain range across the Bay. 
 Within, the room of seven doors 
 And single window, where fire roars 
 In huge recess, a welcome gave 
 To peaceful guests and warriors brave. 
 
 VI 
 
 While discontent stole through the host, 
 
 Encamped around these hills, and boast 
 
 Of mutiny was murmuring heard, 
 
 Redress from Congress seemed absurd, 
 
 And violence appeared the way 
 
 To wrest just treatment from delay. 
 
 In Pennsylvania's ranks enrolled 
 
 Led Lewis Nicola in bold 
 
 Array of arms a regiment, 
 
 Who in the bloom of May had sent " 
 
 A missive to the chief revered. 
 
 In which he pondered on the feared 
 
 Stability of government 
 
126 WASHINGTON, 
 
 Republican, to represent 
 
 Advantages of monarchy, 
 
 The English one particularly, 
 
 And urge with gentle hint made plain 
 
 The kingly title and the reign 
 
 Majestic for the chief addressed. 
 
 But Washington such schemes repressed 
 
 With patriotic promptitude, 
 
 Rebuking all such hardihood, 
 
 Injurious to the struggling state. 
 
 Unlike ambitious Caesar, great 
 
 In war, who thrice refused a crown, 
 
 A single nay enough renown 
 
 Brought him, who played no pompous part, 
 
 But showed mankind an honest heart. 
 
 VII 
 
 The camps amid the Highland hills 
 Columbia's resting army fills, 
 While Frank allies the Winter pass 
 Within Virginia's lines, alas! 
 The keeper, too, with Maryland, 
 Of Britain's second lost command. 
 Revolving time the summer brings. 
 And Northward Gallia's army wings 
 Its homeward way across the lea. 
 Their brave allies once more to see 
 
NEWBURGH. 12/ 
 
 And bid farewell and fond Godspeed, 
 
 Columbia's soldiers, valiant breed 
 
 Of foemen armed, to Peekskill wend 
 
 Their way by road or boat, descend 
 
 Upon Verplanck's high pointed shore, 
 
 And wait their martial guests before 
 
 The bay that like Lake Como seems. 
 
 With ordered tents the landscape gleams. 
 
 September's speeding fortnight beams 
 
 Upon the serried martial lives, 
 
 When Rochambeau the brave arrives, 
 
 His welcome host in arms to lead 
 
 'Tvvixt dual lines that orders heed, 
 
 Arranging them from ferry pier 
 
 To quarters of the chieftain near. 
 
 The right wing under Gates is ranked 
 
 In two divisions closely flanked. 
 
 In one McDougall leads again " 
 
 Rhode Island and Connecticut's men, 
 
 And in the other Scotch St. Clair'* 
 
 With New York and New Jersey's pair 
 
 Of bold brigades, four regiments. 
 
 Deployed in steady line, presents. 
 
 The left wing stands with sturdy Heath," 
 
 With one division ranged beneath 
 
 The sabre in Lord Stirling's hand," 
 
 From Massachusetts' eastern land 
 
 And bleak New Hampshire's mountains grand, 
 
128 WA SHING TON. 
 
 Whilst Howe's division is complete '" 
 With men from Massachusetts, meet 
 To start the war, and victory greet. 
 All uniformed and armed they rest. 
 Five thousand strong, to hail the guest 
 Of Gallia lingering in the West. 
 
 VIII 
 
 Up from the strand the Frenchmen come, 
 With banners flying, sound of drum. 
 And martial music, horses' stamp. 
 Artillery rumbling, and the tramp 
 Of ordered thousands, bright arrayed. 
 De Lauzun's legion undismayed, 
 With ViomeniTs light infantry. 
 Appears, the flower of Gallic chivalry, 
 Whose regiments are marching on, 
 With Montmorenci, De Deux Fonts, 
 Wounded at the Yorktown redoubt. 
 And Custine, leading them 'mid shout 
 Of victory. At Crompond, near '^ 
 Mohegan and Mohansic's mere 
 Of dual waters beautiful, 
 The French encamp ; and dutiful 
 To Mars the allied hosts review 
 Their mutual lines, marshaled in true 
 Allegiance to the warlike art. 
 
NEWBURGH. 1 29 
 
 Nor are there lacking to the heart 
 
 Of patriotic chivalry 
 
 The rites of hospitality 
 
 And joyous round of courtesy, 
 
 To celebrate the victory. 
 
 IX 
 
 A month they spend in social joy, 
 When toward October's end with coy " 
 And envious wing the flight of Time 
 The allies sundered from the clime 
 By stream and mountain beautified. 
 Eastward the army dignified 
 By Rochambeau's wise leadership 
 In perfect order marched. 'Mid drip 
 And pour of rain our soldiers strike 
 Their tents, and follow the turnpike 
 O'er Sachoes' brook and toilsome hill " 
 To Redoubt mountain wood, where still 
 The pleasing forest shades the eye. 
 All night beneath the heavens they lie 
 At Garrisons, till morning light 
 With dawn salutes their waking sight 
 And rouses them the stream to cross. 
 Their journey meets no loitering loss 
 As up the Butter Hill they press, 
 And though another night caress 
 
130 WASHINGTON, 
 
 The couch and pillow of the ground, 
 
 The morning's rise and march have found 
 
 At New Windsor the camp regained. 
 
 So left they ancient Peekskill, drained 
 
 Of all that grand array, the forts 
 
 And lookouts toward the bay, and sports 
 
 Of international delight. 
 
 Now to Fort Independence site " 
 
 The soldiers of the state repair 
 
 In summer months the garb to wear 
 
 And arms to use of warlike drill. 
 
 And keep alive our martial skill; 
 
 Whilst from the village near to view, 
 
 Where matchless Whitefield's preaching threw' 
 
 A saving charm o'er sinners called. 
 
 And all his listeners enthralled, 
 
 Doth silver speech her power renew 
 
 In world-famed Chauncey M. Depew." 
 
 X 
 
 So rested in their winter camp 
 
 The army, and with reflection stamp 
 
 Unbearable their tardy pay. 
 
 To their memorial delay 
 
 And empty promises are given 
 
 By the Congress, till onward driven 
 
 A mutiny seems ripe and near. 
 
NEWBURGH. 131 
 
 Bold Armstrong calls a meeting here 
 
 Within the camp of officers 
 
 For measures as occasion offers. 
 
 But Washington censures the call" 
 
 Disorderly, and to forestall 
 
 Disaster bids the chieftains meet. 
 
 With words dignified and discreet 
 
 And sympathetic the revolt 
 
 In bud he nips, and spent the bolt 
 
 Seditious falls. Wise words enhance " 
 
 Again the stoop of Hasbrouck's manse, 
 
 Where he the speech of power writ, 
 
 As rosy June there sees him sit, 
 
 And governors of the states address 
 
 Upon the prevalent distress 
 
 Throughout the body politic, 
 
 With feeble constitution sick. 
 
 In later day a gifted child 
 
 Of letters hath in Idlewild 
 
 With rhythmic power brought delight, 
 
 As Willis thrilled his lyre, and sight '" 
 
 Of Highland scenes with golden glow 
 
 Illumed the storied page of Roe." 
 
 XI 
 
 Peace ! peace ! for this the warring world 
 Contends and waits. The flag, unfurled 
 
1 3 2 WA SHING TON. 
 
 In blood at Lexington, eight years" 
 
 Thereafter at Newburgh appears 
 
 With peaceful acclamations hailed. 
 
 In diplomatic Paris failed 
 
 Not our statesmen to negotiate 
 
 The independence of the state. 
 
 Adams, Franklin, Jay, and Laurens " 
 
 Write peace and greatness with their pens 
 
 For us, while Oswald, Fitzherbert '" 
 
 And Strachey sign for Britain's hurt 
 
 And weal the day November ends.^' 
 
 Concord, white-winged, her journey wends 
 
 Westward, and Congress, glad at peace 
 
 Bids tell. Hostilities shall cease. 
 
 The army lines the Hudson's banks 
 
 With burnished arms in serried ranks, 
 
 And banners floating in the air. 
 
 Arms they present, and lo ! the blare 
 
 Of cannon roars reverberant 
 
 From West Point near, with fiery chant 
 
 Of joy in musket volleys rolled 
 
 Along the lines. The camp a fold 
 
 Of worshippers in Temple walls ^' 
 
 Becomes ; in prayer lowly knelt falls 
 
 The reverent host, whilst Gano prays," 
 
 Adoring the Ancient of Days, 
 
 Jehovah Saboath, God of victory. 
 
 The supplication ended, see! 
 
NEWBURGH. 1 33 
 
 The risen host with music stilled, 
 
 As Billings' joyous anthem thrilled ^* 
 
 The balmy April peaceful air. 
 
 The speeding day the patriots wear 
 
 Away with feasts and social joy, 
 
 Till Eve her mantle gathers coy 
 
 And sombre round Day's loveliness. 
 
 Up from the south the warning stress 
 
 Of booming cannon sounds to arms, 
 
 And thrice along the line the charms 
 
 Of martial joy in lightning flash 
 
 Are loudly peaied around to dash 
 
 In thundered waves upon the hills, 
 
 Whilst ruby light the heaven fills. 
 
 Forth from the shrouded mountain peaks 
 
 Each beacon fire its message speaks 
 
 No more of danger but of peace. 
 
 Nor shall the glowing summits cease 
 
 To light and cheer till they have rolled 
 
 Their radiance with tidings told 
 
 From town to town, from state to state. 
 
 From Newburgh at the Highland gate 
 
 To Lexington the famed and great. 
 
 Where sturdy patriots took their stand, 
 
 And fired the shot that freed the land. 
 
1 34 WA SHING TON. 
 
 XII 
 
 With white-winged peace to war farewell ! 
 
 Now dissolution sounds the knell 
 
 Of old association strong 
 
 And precious for the army long 
 
 Enrolled and led to conflict fierce, 
 
 Or steadfast when disasters pierce 
 
 The waiting heart. To keep alive 
 
 These memories, though peace may drive 
 
 O'er all the land dispersed the sons 
 
 Of Mars, the chieftains meet by Hudson's 
 
 Broad stream at Steuben's quarters, placed 
 
 In Verplanck's house that Fishkill faced, 
 
 And organize a band maintained 
 
 To-day by their first-born. They feigned ' 
 
 No secret purpose proud, averse 
 
 To liberty, but would rehearse 
 
 The cause of freedom, foster love 
 
 Of union, honor, and above 
 
 The lapse of time a brotherhood. 
 
 A name revered of hardihood 
 
 In danger, but in peace return 
 
 To civic toil, they choose, and learn 
 
 From Roman Cincinnatus grand '" 
 
 To save and serve a grateful land. 
 
 Their chosen president is one 
 
 Like him of old, e'en Washington. 
 
NEWBURGH. 1 35 
 
 XIII 
 
 Now Newburgh, shorn of olden arms, 
 
 Adorns herself with growing charms, 
 
 And Hasbrouck's house as sacred keeps." 
 
 There Uzal Knapp, last guardsman, sleeps 
 
 In honor near the staff, where Scott 
 
 Flung to the breeze the flag, whose spot 
 
 Of slavery has been erased. 
 
 A hundred years increasing graced 
 
 The land with power, but unforgot 
 
 The Highland memories slumber not. 
 
 The solid tower of victory 
 
 Commemorates the chivalry 
 
 And prose and verse, the pageantr\s 
 
 That celebration kept of days' 
 
 Past excellence that passes praise. 
 
 And in that year a social bond ^® 
 
 Was knit of recollection fond 
 
 And patriotic by the sons 
 
 Of Revolution Washingtons. 
 
 XIV 
 
 With remnants of the famous host 
 The hero leads to Southern coast 
 And city by the sea the way 
 Victorious, as Britain's day 
 
1 36 WA SUING TON. 
 
 Of power wanes, and darkling sets. 
 And in New York his farewell wets 
 The eyes of all with painful tears. 
 Before the Congress he appears 
 To lay his sword, and then retires 
 At home to rest, until desires 
 Of union and of government 
 Recall the chief to represent 
 The nation in the chair of state. 
 Secure foundations of the great 
 And glorious future he had laid, 
 When Time's fast flight but a decade 
 Of brief years had encircling sped, 
 And taken from the land its head. 
 A halo rests round his person. 
 And Freedom knows one Washington. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIRST 
 
 1. Stanza /, line 6. The inauguration of Washington as 
 President of the United States, in New York City, April 30, 
 178Q, marked the practical commencement of a more efficient 
 constitutional, federal union among the thirteen United States 
 of America. The Constitution took the place of the imperfect 
 Articles of Confederation, which were adopted by the Conti- 
 nental Congress, Nov. 15, 1777, but did not go into operation 
 until March 2, 1781. The war for independence was begun 
 and prosecuted by the Continental Congress, composed of 
 delegates from the various states. The first Congress met in 
 Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774, and the second May 10, I775- 
 These bodies exercised national powers with the hearty consent 
 of the people at large. 
 
 2. Stanza 2. The second staitza begins the enumeration of 
 those historic forces which have contributed to the devel- 
 opment of civilization and freedom in America. Hebraic re- 
 ligion, Grecian art, philosophy, and politics, Roman rule and 
 law (Stanza 3), and Germanic customs and chivalry (Stanza 4), 
 are successively presented. 
 
 j>. Stania j. The assistance of commerce and invention is 
 here acknowledged, and in the succeeding stanza the service of 
 Columbus is characterized. 
 
 4. Stanza 6, line //. Christopher Columbus, discoverer of 
 137 
 
38 WASHINGTON. 
 
 America, was born in Genoa, Italy, about 1435, the eldest son 
 of a cloth weaver, Domenico Columbo, of Genoa. Sent to 
 the University of Pavia at the age of ten, he studied books of 
 cosmography, history, philosophy, and other sciences having a 
 bearing on navigation. Later he served twenty years in the 
 Genoese marine. Shipwrecked when thirty-five, he proceeded 
 to Lisbon, where his brother Bartholommeo was settled as a 
 designer of charts. He remained in Portugal until 1484, sup- 
 ported himself by drawing charts, made occasional voyages in 
 the Atlantic, and married Felipa Monis de Palestrello, the 
 daughter of a distinguished Italian navigator. The subject of 
 a western passage to India being then discussed, Columbus 
 matured views to the effect that the earth is spherical, that 
 Asia extended to the parallel now indicated by 180° E. from 
 Greenwich (the longitude of Behring Sea and New Zealand), 
 that only a navigable ocean intervened, not more than one- 
 third of the earth's circumference. Applying for aid to Genoa, 
 he was refused, and to Portugal, he was delayed (1474-1484). 
 He left Lisbon in 1484, and proceeded along the sea-coast to 
 Palos, Spain, where he was befriended at a Franciscan monas- 
 tery. Further applications to Genoa and Venice were unsuc- 
 cessful. Columbus now turned to the Spanish court, and an 
 ecclesiastical commission at Salamanca considered his project, 
 and at last reported adversely in 1491. He next resolved to 
 lay his project before Charles VIII. of France, but the prior of 
 the monastery at Palos, convinced of the proofs, interceded 
 with Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and secured him an 
 interview. His demand of powers was refused, and he de- 
 parted from Cordova, but was recalled, and Isabella offered to 
 pawn the crown jewels to meet the necessary expenses of the 
 expedition. An agreement was signed at Santa Fe, April 17, 
 1492, and Columbus fitted out his expedition at Palos in three 
 months. There were three ships. Columbus commanded the 
 Santa Maria, a decked vessel, of ninety feet keel, with four 
 masts, Martin Alonzo Pinzon the Pinta, and Vincent Yanez 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 1 39 
 
 Pinzon the Nina — both caravals, or undecked boats. The 
 ships were provisioned for a year and carried one hundred and 
 twenty souls. They sailed from the roads of Saltez, near Palos, 
 Friday morning, Aug. 3, 1492, left the Canaries Sept. 6th, 
 and, after various vicissitudes of storm, mutiny, and imagined 
 discovery, the Bahaman island of San Salvador was discovered 
 Friday, Oct. 12, 1492, at two o'clock a.m., by Rodrigo Triana, 
 a sailor of the Pinta. Columbus took possession of the island, 
 and, later, of Cuba and Hayti. He returned to Palos March 
 15, 1493. On his second expedition, which sailed with seven- 
 teen ships from Cadiz, Sept. 34, 1493, he discovered Jamaica 
 and Porto Rico, and founded a colony in Hayti. He returned 
 to Cadiz June 11, 1496. He sailed on his third voyage with 
 six ships, May 30, 1498, and discovered the Orinoco River. 
 Arrested on account of the difficulties that had arisen in the 
 colony at Hayti, he was sent to Spain. Released, he was 
 given command of four caravels, with which he sailed from 
 Cadiz May 9, 1502, coasted the south side of the Gulf of 
 Mexico, and returned home Nov. 7, 1504. His claims for 
 redress were denied, and at seventy years of age he died in 
 poverty at Valladolid, Spain, May 20, 1506. His remains 
 were transferred to the Carthusian monastery of Las Cuevas, 
 1513, to the cathedral of St. Domingo, 1536, and to the cathe- 
 dral of Havana, 1796, where they now repose. The word 
 Columbus is from Columba, a dove (Gen. viii., 12). Christo- 
 pher means Bearer of Christ, which in the form Chrestes sig- 
 nified worth. See Tertullian's Apology, 3, and Lactantius, 
 iv., 7. 
 
 5. Stanza 8. The events alluded to are King Arthur's 
 reign, who fell in battle in Cornwall 542, having defeated 
 Cerdic, the Saxon, twelve times ; William's victory at Hast- 
 ings, Oct. 14, 1066 ; Magna Charta granted by King John to 
 the English barons June 15, 1215 ; the organization of the 
 English Parliament, 1265 ; the Anglo-French wars, 1346- 
 1450 ; the war of the Roses, 1460-1486 ; the fall of the 
 
1 40 WA SHING TON. 
 
 papacy in England by the Act of Supremacy, Nov. 3, 1534, 
 which declared Henry VIII. to be the Supreme Head of the 
 Church. Charles I. was executed Jan. 30, 1649, the victim of 
 a conspiracy of military officers. Cromwell's protectorate 
 lasted from Dec. 16, 1653, until his death, Sept. 3, 1658. 
 
 6. Stanza <?, line ly. Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third 
 President of the United States, is the grandson of William 
 Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States, and son 
 of Benjamin Harrison, who was a signer of the Declaration of 
 Independence and twice governor of Virginia. This Benjamin 
 Harrison, 1 740-1 791, is reputed to be descended from Major- 
 General Harrison, who was prominent in Cromwell's army, 
 one of the protector's advisers, one of the triers of Charles I., 
 1649, for which he was executed under Charles H., 1660. 
 The English revolution of 16S9 expelled the despotic house of 
 Stuart, and introduced the Hanoverian succession based on 
 the Act of Settlement. 
 
 7. Stanza g. Sir Walter Raleigh obtained his patent from 
 Queen Elizabeth, and sent out expeditions to America in 1584, 
 1585, 1586, 1587, 1595, and 1617. King James confiscated 
 his patent, 1603, and granted the lands to the London and 
 Plymouth Companies. The London Company settled Virginia 
 at Jamestown, 1607. The Puritans settled in Massachusetts, 
 1620, without knowledge of the Plymouth Company or the 
 King. George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, obtained Maryland 
 as a grant from Charles I, in 1632. The charter made out to 
 his son, Cecil Calvert, secured to freemen in America a voice 
 in the making of the laws, and made no distinction in favor 
 of any Christian sect. 
 
 The Dutch settled in New York and Albany about 1614. 
 The New England colonies formed an union 1643 for mutual 
 protection against the Dutch, French, and Indians. The plan 
 of colonial union in 1754 failed, but the colonists assisted in 
 gaining Canada from the French, 1759. The Whig aristocracy 
 of England sought to impose the burden of war expenses upon 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. I4I 
 
 the colonists, and the Stamp Act was passed in pursuance of 
 this policy, 1765. The principle of taxation without represen- 
 tation, thus involved, precipitated the loud debate in which 
 Samuel Adams, 1722-1803, Patrick Henry, 1736-1799, and 
 Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, were conspicuous. 
 
 8. Stanza jo. Delegates from nine colonies met in New 
 York in October, 1765, and passed the " Declaration of 
 Rights." The second colonial Congress of twelve colonies met 
 at Philadelphia Sept. 5, 1774, and recommended the sus- 
 pension of all commercial intercourse with Great Britain. 
 
 g. Stanza 11. The family to which George Washington 
 belonged is traced in England to the twelfth century (one cen- 
 tury after William won the crown at Hastings, 1066), and to 
 the county of Durham, where William de Hertburn exchanged 
 his estate, Ilartbaru on the Tees, for that of Wessyngton or 
 Washington. John Washington was knighted by James I. in 
 1623, and was loyal to Charles I. This led to emigration with 
 his brother Lawrence to Virginia, about 1650. Pie settled in 
 Westmoreland County, between the Potomac and Rappahan- 
 nock Rivers. By his second wife, Ann Pope, he had a son 
 Lawrence. Lawrence married Mildred Warner, by whom he 
 had a son Augustine, the father of General George Washing- 
 ton. Augustine married as second wife Mary Ball. George, 
 their eldest son, was born Feb. 22, 1732, in a house situated 
 half a mile from the junction of Pope's Creek with the Po- 
 tomac. A stone now marks the spot where the house stood. 
 Augustine Washington died 1743. His widow reared her 
 family on the estate below Fredericksburg. Lawrence Wash- 
 ington, half brother of General George Washington, served as 
 captain with Admiral Vernon in the unsuccessful expedition 
 against Carthagena, near the Isthmus of Panama, 1740, and 
 named his estate on the Potomac Mount Vernon in honor of 
 the admiral. Lawrence and George made a voyage to Barba- 
 dos, Sept. 1 75 1, where the latter was attacked with small-pox, 
 from which he was slightly marked through life. Lawrence 
 
142 WASHINGTON. 
 
 died on his return to America, 1752, and the estate of Mount 
 Vernon was given to George. By inheritance and by success- 
 ful business management, George Washington v>'as, at the out- 
 break of the revolution, one of the wealthiest men in America. 
 At the time of Braddock's fatal expedition against Fort du 
 Quesne, 1755, Washington in vain warned the commander of 
 the danger of Indian warfare. When Braddock fell, he rallied 
 the Virginian troops, and covered the retreat of the regulars. 
 
 JO. Stanza 12. Four British regiments were sent to Boston, 
 Sept., 1768. The soldiers fired on a crowd and killed three 
 persons, March 5, 1770. A tax remaining on tea, some fifty 
 men in disguise boarded tea-vessels at Boston, and threw 
 the chests into the water, Dec. 16, 1773. For this the port 
 was closed June i, 1774. An expedition of British troops to 
 Concord and Lexington, near Boston, to destroy patriot stores, 
 resulted in a bloody skirmish, and a disastrous retreat for the 
 British, April 19, 1775. The Americans invested Boston, and 
 the British dislodged them from their position on Bunker Hill, 
 June 17, 1775, but with great loss to themselves, 
 
 //. Stanza ij, line j. New Amsterdam, settled by the 
 Dutch, 1614-1619, was surrendered to the English, 1664, and 
 became New York. 
 
 12. Stanza 14, line ij. In Irving's History of New York 
 the voyage of Governor Peter Stuyvesant up the Hudson is de- 
 scribed, during which the nose of Antony Van Corlear reflected 
 a sunbeam into the water and killed a mighty sturgeon that 
 was sporting beside the vessel. The bluff, from behind which 
 the sun broke, was therefore called by the Governor Antony's 
 Nose. 
 
 7j. Stanza 14, linej4. Martelarwas the name of a French 
 family that lived on Constitution Island, opposite West Point, 
 about 1720. The rocks named for them rise abruptly from the 
 river over one hundred feet. 
 
 14. Stanza 14, line 40. The heights of these Highlands are 
 as follows, ascending from south to north : 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIRST, I43 
 
 Left Side. Right Side. 
 
 Dunderberg, 1098 feet. 
 
 Bear Hill, 1350 feet. 
 
 Independence Mt., 600 feet. 
 Old Cro' Nest, 1428 feet. 
 
 Storm King, 1529 feet. 
 
 Manitou Mt., looo feet. 
 
 Anthony's Nose, 1128 feet. 
 Sugar Loaf, 865 feet. 
 Redoubt Mt., 800 feet. 
 
 Mt. Taurus, 1438 feet. 
 
 Breakneck, 1187 feet. 
 Beacon Hill, 1685 feet. 
 
 75". Stanza 16, line 2. Bernard Romans, who planned the 
 works, was an English engineer, who at that time held ihe 
 same office in the British army. — Lossing's Field Book of the 
 Rev., i., 703. 
 
 16. Stanza ig. These visits to Constitution Island took 
 place in 1776. Bancroft, United States, v., 76. 
 
 ij. Stanza 20, line 7. Henry W. Warner, of the New York 
 bar, bought Constitution Island in 1836. His daughters, 
 Susan (b. 1818) and Anna B., were authors of a series of semi- 
 religious novels, which had an extraordinary sale. Susan died 
 1885. The titles of a number of their works are given in the 
 stanza. 
 
 18. Stanza 22, line 6. The dividing line between Rockland 
 County on the south and Orange County on the north meets the 
 Hudson at Poplopen's Creek. The remains of Fort Clinton 
 are on the grounds of Mr. Stevens ; those of Fort Montgomery 
 on the grounds of Mr. Pell. 
 
 ig. Stanza 2j, line j". Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold 
 captured the British post at Ticonderoga May 10, 1775. 
 Arnold and Montgomery's expedition to Canada ended dis- 
 astrously, Dec. 31, 1775. 
 
 20. Stanza 24. The siege of Boston ended with the exit of 
 the British, March 17, 1776. 
 
1 44 WA SHING TON. 
 
 21. Stanza 2^. The attack on Fort Moultrie, Charleston, 
 S. C, failed June 28, 1776. 
 
 22. Stanza 26, line ij. July was named for Julius Caesar 
 the year after the dictator's death, B.C. 43. Its former name 
 was Quinctilis, or Fifth Month. 
 
 2j. Stanza 2y. The Battle of Long Island was fought Aug. 
 27, 1776. Washington retreated to New York the night of 
 Aug. 29th. Capt. Nathan Hale crossed to Long Island to 
 obtain information of the British plans, was arrested on sus- 
 picion, and executed without trial, Sept. 22d. The British 
 crossed to New York, and were resisted at Harlem, Sept. i6th. 
 The affair at White Plains took place Oct. 28. Washington 
 crossed the Hudson at King's Ferry, Peekskill, and joined 
 General Greene at Fort Lee, Nov. 13th. The Hessians took 
 Fort Washington, opposite, Nov. i6th. Lord Cornwallis hav- 
 ing crossed the Hudson Nov. 20th, Washington retreated 
 across New Jersey, and entered Pennsylvania, Dec. 8th. 
 
 24. Stanza 28. Washington surprised the Hessians at 
 Trenton Dec. 25th. Retreating toward Princeton, his ad- 
 vance guard under General Mercer met the British, Jan. 3, 
 1777. The Battle of Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del., 
 was fought Sept. nth, that of Germantown, near Phila- 
 delphia, Oct. 4th. Valley Forge, where the Americans estab- 
 lished winter quarters, was on the Schuylkill River, twenty 
 miles northeast of Philadelphia. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SECOND 
 
 /. Stanza /, line i_$. The Six Nations were the tribes of the 
 Mohawks, Onondagas, Oneidas, Senecas, Cayugas, Tusca- 
 roras, who were long time allied and known as the Five Na- 
 tions, until in 17 14 the Tuscaroras of North Carolina joined 
 the confederacy. This was then styled the Six Nations. The 
 great council fire was kept burning by the Onondagas. This 
 confederacy was a terror to the other Indian tribes. Lossing's 
 Field Book of the Rev,, i., 109. Burgoyne, the British gen- 
 eral, aided also by the Hessian hirelings, advanced from St. 
 John's, June 15, 1777. 
 
 2. Stanza 2. The Americans, under St. Clair, abandoned 
 Ticonderoga July 5th. Fort Edward on the Hudson was the 
 headquarters of the Army of the North under Major-General 
 Philip Schuyler, who adopted a Fabian policy of delay. 
 
 J. Stanza j, line i. The murder of Jane McCrea (see stanza 
 19, line 19) occurred July 27, 1777. See Bancroft, United 
 States, v., 164. 
 
 4. Sta?izaj, line 21. Colonel St. Leger with a force made a 
 diversion in the Mohawk Valley. He laid siege to Fort 
 Schuyler, now Rome, Aug. 3, 1777. General Herkimer, ad- 
 vancing to relieve the fort, fell at Oriskany, six miles distant, 
 Aug. 6th. 
 
 J-, Stanza J, line 2^. Colonels Baum and Breyman and their 
 10 145 
 
1 46 WA SHING TON. 
 
 forces were defeated at Bennington, Vt., by Colonel Stark 
 and Colonel Warner and the militia of New Hampshire, 
 Vermont, and Massachusetts, Aug. 16, 1777. 
 
 6. Stanza j, Ihie 42. Gen. Horatio Gates was born in Eng- 
 land, 1728, was made brigadier 1775, superseded Schuyler in 
 command of the Northern army, March, 1777, was superseded 
 by him in May, and was reinstated in the command by Con- 
 gress, Aug. 4, 1777. His military fame was blasted by the 
 disastrous battle of Camden, S. C, Aug. 6, 1780. On the 
 C(mclusion of peace he retired to his estate in Virginia. He 
 removed, 1790, to New York, after emancipating all his 
 slaves. He died in New York, April 10, 1806. 
 
 7. Stanza 4^ line 4. General Howe and Admiral Howe 
 sailed from New York in July, 1777, for the Brandywine and 
 Germantown campaigns. 
 
 8. Stanza J, line i. Clinton left New York Saturday, Oct. 
 4. 1777) to effect an union with Burgoyne. 
 
 9. Stanza 6, line 26. Capt. William Kidd was a New York 
 shipmaster, commissioned by William HI., King of England, 
 in 1696, to suppress piracy. He and his crew turned pirates, 
 and plundered ships along the coast of Malabar and Mada- 
 gascar. He returned in 1698 to New York, and buried a 
 portion of his treasures on Gardiner's Island, at the East end 
 of Long Island. His treasure was also said to be buried at 
 the base of Dunderberg on the Hudson, and below Storm King 
 at a place named Plug Point or Kidd's Point. Scandalous 
 reports led to his arrest, and he was executed in I^ondon, May 
 24, 1 701. Many attempts have been made to discover his 
 abandoned wealth. — New Amer. Cyc. 
 
 10. Stanza 7, line i, lona Island lies on the west shore of 
 the Hudson, a few miles north of Dunderberg. It is named for 
 its resemblance to lona Island, which is near the western coast 
 of Scotland, about fifty miles west from Oban. lona was pre- 
 sented to the Irish monk Columba, 563 A.D., who founded a 
 church and monastery there, and from the island as head- 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 1 47 
 
 quarters labored for the Christianization of Scotland, — Schaff, 
 Ch. Hist., iv., 65 scq. 
 
 11. Stanza <?, line 7. Gen. George Clinton was governor of 
 the State 1777-1795. In 1777 he was appointed brigadier- 
 general of the United States. Gen. Richard Montgomery fell 
 at Quebec, Dec. 31, 1775. For these men the forts were 
 named. 
 
 12. Stanza S, line g. Capt. Thomas Machin, engineer, con- 
 structed also the obstructions across the Hudson below New- 
 burgh, 1778, and assisted in the engineering operations at 
 Yorktown, when Cornwallis was captured, 1781. — Lossing's 
 Field Book of Rev., i., 705. 
 
 ij. Stanza <?, line 20. Pollopel's Isle lies in the Hudson 
 above Breakneck Mountain, near the east shore. A pretty 
 story of its being named for Mary (Polly) Pell will be found in 
 Stories of the Hudson, G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 
 
 14. Stanza 9, line 4. Gen. Israel Putnam was born in Salem, 
 Mass., Jan, 7, 1718. He died in Brooklyn, Conn., May 19, 
 1790. Counties are named for him in many states. In New 
 York, the southern part of Duchess County, 241 square miles 
 in extent, was erected into a separate county, named Putnam, 
 June 12, 1812. 
 
 75. Stanza jo, line i. The Clinton here mentioned was an 
 adherent of Charles I. , who fled to Ireland after the defeat of the 
 royalists. His grandson, Charles Clinton, was born in Long- 
 ford, Ireland, in 1690, and chartered a ship to come to America 
 with friends, 1729. The captain's attempted starvation of his 
 passengers suggested a mutiny, which was prevented by a land- 
 ing effected at Cape Cod, Oct. 4, 1729. The place for a per- 
 manent settlement was selected in 1731 in Orange County, six 
 miles west from the Hudson and sixty miles north from New 
 York. In 1756 Clinton was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and 
 served with his sons James and George in the expedition 
 against Fort Frontenac, now Kingston, Canada, in the French 
 war. 
 
1 48 WA SHING TON. 
 
 16. Stanza 10, line 7. Gen. James Clinton was born Aug. q, 
 1736, and died Dec. 22, 1812. Gen. George Clinton, three 
 years younger (born July 26, 1739), died before his brother, 
 although in the same year — April 20, 1812. 
 
 77. Stanza 11, line i. Sir Henry Clinton was grandson of 
 Francis, sixth earl of Lincoln, served in the Hanoverian War, 
 and was sent to America as major-general in 1775. 
 
 18. Stanza 11 , line g. Logan is Major Logan, of the 
 American force. 
 
 jg. Stanza 11, line i^. The Horse Race is that part of the 
 Hudson River which lies between Peekskill Bay and the bend 
 at Anthony's Nose. 
 
 20. Stanza 11, line 22. Doodletown is now Queensboro', 
 town of Monroe, Orange County. 
 
 21. Stanza 12^ line 2. Campbell is Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Campbell of the British force, mentioned in the preceding 
 stanza. 
 
 22. Stanza 12, line g. Livingston is Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Livingston, sent by Governor Clinton. 
 
 2j. Stanza 12^ line /j". Commodore Hotham commanded 
 the British naval force. 
 
 24, Stanza 12^ line 22. Lossing says : " Count Grabowski, 
 a brave Pole, and Lord Rawdon led the grenadiers to the charge 
 on Fort Montgomery." He " fell at the foot of the ramparts 
 of Fort Montgomery, pierced by three bullets. He gave his 
 sword to a grenadier with a request that he would convey it to 
 Lord Rawdon, with the assurance of the owner that he died as 
 a brave soldier ought to. A pile of stones still marks the burial- 
 place of the count." — Lossing, Fd. Bk. of Rev., i., 736. 
 
 ^5. Stanza 12, line 2j. Francis Rawdon Hastings, born 
 1754, was afterward conspicuous at the battles of Monmouth, 
 1778, and Camden, 1780: was created Baron Rawdon, and in 
 1812 Governor-general of India. He was created Marquis of 
 Hastings 1816, and died 1826. 
 
 26. Stanza /j, line 12. Continental Village lies at the south- 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 1 49 
 
 eastern end of Philiptown, about four miles northeast from 
 Peekskill, and as many miles due east from the Hudson. 
 
 2y. Stanza 14, line 26. Molly Pitcher was an Irish woman. 
 She was conspicuous at the battle of Monmouth for working a 
 field-piece after the death of her husband in battle. For this 
 Washington gave her a sergeant's commission. At the close of 
 the war she lived on the road between Fort Montgomery and 
 Highland Falls. See Canto 3, stanza 7, and note. 
 
 28. Stanza ij, line i. The British loss was 140. 
 
 2g. Stanza /j, Ii7ie4. Allison was colonel of a regiment from 
 Goshen. Lieutenant-Colonel McClaughry was in command of 
 Col. James Clinton's regiment from New Windsor, near New- 
 burgh. Major Zachariah Du Bois commanded Col. Jesse 
 Woodhull's regiment from Cornwall, when he was made pris- 
 oner. Livingston and Bruyn were lieutenant-colonels, Logan 
 and Hamilton were majors, 
 
 JO. Stanza /j", line 11. The Sugar House stood in Liberty 
 Street east of Nassau Street, New York City, where it was 
 built in 1689 in the days of Leisler. Its use as a prison by the 
 British is described in BooiWs History of N'ew York, pp. 514- 
 520. After the war it was returned to its original use. In 
 1840 it was torn down. A monument to the patriots who died 
 there, and in the prison ship Jersey, stands in Trinity Church- 
 yard, New York. 
 
 j>/. Stanza 16, line 11. See Headley's Washington and 
 His Generals, ii., 174. 
 
 32. Stanza ij. See Bolton's History of Westchester County, 
 i., 162 ; also histories of Orange and Rockland Counties. 
 
 jj». Stanza 18, line i. Capt. Valentine Mott had been left 
 in charge of Fort Constitution. He forsook this Oct. 7th, 
 
 1777. 
 
 j4. Stanza 18, line 3. Barracks were constructed at Con- 
 tinental Village in 1777 to accommodate two thousand men. 
 A large number of cattle and a great quantity of military stores 
 had been collected there. General Tryon's detachment in- 
 
1 50 JVA SHING TON. 
 
 eluded Emerich's chasseurs and other Germans, with a three- 
 pounder. They destroyed the settlement Oct. gth. 
 
 jj-. Stanza 18, line 2g. Nelson's Ferry ran between Gee's 
 Point on the west shore and the island opposite. A lighthouse 
 stands now on Gee's Point, 
 
 ^6. Stanza jg. The expedition up the Hudson consisted of 
 three thousand six hundred men under General Vaughan, car- 
 ried in a flying squadron of light frigates under Sir James 
 Wallace. Kingston was burned Oct, 13, 1777. Instead of 
 relieving Burgoyne, who surrendered after the battles of Still- 
 water, Oct, 7th. and Saratoga or Bemis's Heights, Sept. 19th, 
 at Schuylerville, Oct, 17, 1777, the expedition devoted itself 
 to marauding, 
 
 j>7. Stanza 20, line j. The Governor is Gov. George 
 Clinton. 
 
 jS. Stanza 20, line 8. Burgoyne had urged Sir Henry 
 Clinton to make a diversion in his favor. Clinton was eager to 
 comply; "but a reinforcement of troops from Europe, ex- 
 pected for several weeks, was still delayed. This force, 
 amounting to almost two thousand men, under General 
 Robertson, arrived at the beginning of October. Having 
 sailed in Dutch bottoms, they were three months on the 
 voyage," — hossiug's I^ield Book, i., 733. The resistance at 
 Forts Clinton and Montgomery was not in vain. It delayed 
 the expedition of Clinton, and taught the British caution, 
 giving them a fresh taste of American determination and 
 resistance. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO THIRD 
 
 /. Stanza 2. The repulse of the Hessians under Count 
 Donop at Red Bank, near Philadelphia, occurred Oct. 22, 
 1777. The bombardment of Fort Mifflin occurred Nov. 10- 
 15, 1777. The Americans were commanded by Major Simeon 
 Thayer, of Rhode Island, and Major Fleury, a French En- 
 gineer. — Bancroft, United States, v., 198. 
 
 2, Stanza j. Valley Forge is described in Lossing's Field 
 Book, ii., 125-8 ; also the cabal of General Conway and other 
 foreign-born officers against Washington, prompted by Gates's 
 success against Burgoyne. 
 
 J. Stanza 4. The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual 
 Union, having been matured by the Continental Congress, 
 were adopted Nov. 15, 1777, to be submitted for approbation 
 to the several States. See note on Canto, i., St. i, line 6. 
 The delegates signed the Articles July 9, 1778, with a sub- 
 scription which began : "And whereas it hath pleased the 
 great Governor of the world to incline the hearts of the legis- 
 latures we respectively represent in Congress to approve of, 
 and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation 
 and Perpetual Union, Know ye," etc. 
 
 4. Stanza j. On Feb. 6, 1778, a treaty of amity and 
 commerce and an eventual defensive treaty of alliance were 
 concluded between the King of France and the United States. 
 
 J". Stanza^, line 21. The statue of the Goddess of Liberty 
 enlightening the world, designed by M. Bartholdi, a French 
 151 
 
152 WASHINGTON. 
 
 sculptor, and contributed by popular subscriptions in France, 
 was formally presented to the United States Oct. 26, 1886. 
 The pedestal was built by popular subscriptions in the United 
 States. The total height is 306 feet. 
 
 6. Stanza 6, line i. Written June 18, 1889, one hundred 
 and eleven years after the departure of Sir Henry Clinton from 
 Philadelphia, to whom Lord Howe relinquished the command 
 of the British forces, 17,000 strong. The festival given to 
 Lord Howe, May 18, 1776, is described by Bancroft, United 
 States, v., 269. 
 
 7. Stanza 6, line 8. The rejoicing at Valley Forge over the 
 French alliance took place May 6, 1778. 
 
 8. Stanza 7, line 6. The Battle of Monmouth was fought 
 June 28, 1778. 
 
 g. Stanza 7, line ly. See Canto 2, stanza 14 and note. 
 
 10. Stanza 8, line 4. The massacre of Wyoming on the Sus- 
 quehanna was perpetrated in July, 1778, by a body of eleven 
 hundred tories and Indians under Col. John Butler and the 
 Indian chief Brandt. 
 
 77, Stanza 8, line 12. Nikolaus Ludwig, Count of Zinzen- 
 dorf and Pottendorf, founder of the revived sect of Moravians 
 or United Brethren, born in Dresden, Saxony, May 26, 1700, 
 took orders in 1734, visited North America, 1741-1743, and 
 established the first Indian Moravian congregation in America 
 at Shekomeco. 
 
 12. Stanza 8, line 16. Thomas Campbell's Gertrude of 
 Wyoming, published 1809, adopts the Spencerian stanza, eight 
 pentameters followed by a closing hexameter. 
 
 7j. Stanza <?, line 27. The British, under Colonel Camp- 
 bell, took Savannah, Dec. 29th, 1778. 
 
 14. Stanza 9, line 20. The celebration of the French alli- 
 ance at Pluckemin, N. J., occurred Feb. 6, 1778. Washing- 
 ton's " Rock " is near Middlebrook. 
 
 75. Stanza 10, line 2. In November, 1889, four States 
 were admitted to the Union : North Dakota, South Dakota, 
 Montana, and Washington. In 1890 Idaho and Wyoming 
 
NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 1 53 
 
 were admitted. Total in 1893, forty-four. Utah, admitted in 
 1895, makes forty-five. 
 
 16. Stanza lo, line 20. Col. George Rogers Clarke, of Vir- 
 ginia, marched from the Falls of the Ohio, in the Spring of 
 1778, and took Vincennes, capital of Knox county, Ind., Feb. 
 20, 1779. 
 
 77. Stanza 10, line 36. Louisville was settled during 
 Colonel Clarke's expedition, 1778, and in 1780 the Virginia 
 legislature named it Louisville, in honor of Louis XVL of 
 France. 
 
 18. Stanza 11, line 8. In May, 1779, Clinton sent 2500 
 men, under General Matthews, to the Chesapeake. 
 
 ig. Stanza 11, line /j". In June, 1779, Clinton captured 
 Stony Point and Verplanck's Point, which lie on the Hudson 
 River opposite one another, about thirteen miles south of 
 Cold Spring. 
 
 20. Stanza 12, line i. Early in July, 1779, General Tryon, 
 late governor of New York, ravaged the coast towns of Long 
 Island Sound. 
 
 21. Stanza /j, line i. Gen. Anthony Wayne was born at 
 Waynesborough, Chester County, Penn., Jan. i, 1745, died at 
 Erie, Penn., Dec. 14, 1796. His grandfather, Anthony Wayne, 
 a native of Yorkshire, England, emigrated to Wicklow, Ire- 
 land, and in 1722 to Pennsylvania. 
 
 22. Stanza 14, line ij. See Lossing's Pictorial Field Book 
 of the Revolution^ i., 742. 
 
 2j, Stanza ij, line ^. Washington was at West Point July 
 25-Nov. 28, 1779. Before this his headquarters were at New 
 Windsor, near Newburgh, June 23d, where presumably the 
 plan against Stony Point was matured. On July 1st General 
 Wayne was appointed to the command of the light infantry of 
 the line, and was stationed near Dunderberg, between Fort 
 Montgomery and the main army under General Putnam at 
 Smith's Clove, far in the rear of Haverstraw. 
 
 24. Stanza 16, line j. For the story of Pompey, see Los- 
 sing's Field Book of the Revolution^ i., 744. 
 
1 5 4 ^^'^ SHING TON. 
 
 2^. Stanza i6, line 28. Peter Muhlenberg was born at 
 Trappe, Penn., Oct. 11, 1746, sou of Henry Melchior Muhlen- 
 berg, D.D., founder of the German Lutheran Church in 
 America. He was ordained in England, and preached at 
 Woodstock, Va., where, at the breaking out of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, he formed a regiment of his parishioners. He 
 participated in several battles, and was made brigadier-general 
 in 1777, and major-general at the close of the war. He served 
 in Congress, and was collector of the port at Philadelphia when 
 he died, Oct. i., 1807. 
 
 26. Stanza t6, line jj. Maj. John Stewart received a medal 
 from Congress for his bnivery. 
 
 2y. Stanza 16, line 37. De Fleury was descended from 
 Cardinal De Fleury, prime minister to Louis XV. He came to 
 America soon after 1776, and Washington obtained him a com- 
 mission. For his gallantry at Brandyvvine Congress gave him 
 a horse. For his gallantry at Stony Point Congress gave him 
 a medal. Lieut. -Col. De Fleury returned to France soon 
 after this. 
 
 28. Stanza 16, line 42. Gibbon and Knox were lieutenants. 
 They were brevetted captains. 
 
 2g. Stanza 16, line 48. Butler was a colonel, Murfey a major. 
 
 JO. Stanza 17, line 22. Fishbrow and Archer were General 
 Wayne's aides, 
 
 j>/. Stanza ly, line jy. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, of 
 the seventh foot, was in command of the British force. 
 
 j2. Stanza 77, line 41. Wayne received the thanks of Con- 
 gress and a gold medal. 
 
 jj. Stanza 18, line jo. Maj. -Gen. Robert Howe was de- 
 layed in his attack on Verplanck's Point, and Clinton reinforced 
 the garrison. 
 
 ^4. Stanza 18, line 3. The works at Stony Point were de- 
 stroyed on the night of July i8th, after the removal of ord- 
 nance and stores. The British took possession again July 
 20th. Some of the ordnance was sunk by the British on its 
 removal on a galley to West Point. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH 
 
 1. Stanza /, line i. The name West Point describes a prom- 
 ontory on the west bank of the Hudson, distant about fifty 
 miles north of New York. On top is a level plateau one 
 hundred and fifty-seven feet above tide water. The ground 
 covered by the United States reservation is traced legally to 
 the Congreve Patent of May 17, 1723, which calls it "The 
 Stony Point on the west side of Hudson River opposite to 
 Matler's Rock, and the Moore Patent of March 25, 1747, 
 both of which were deeded to the United States for $11,065 
 Sept. 10, 1790. An additional tract was purchased in 1824, 
 and the State of New York ceded jurisdiction over these por- 
 tions of its territory, taken from Cornwall township, Orange 
 County, in 1826. An enlargement of the reservation was 
 purchased in 1889, The acreage at present is 2330 acres. 
 Population about 1600. 
 
 2. Stanza /, line 20. Hudson's Half Moon, anchored at 
 Cohn's Hook, about two miles south of West Point, Sept. 14, 
 1609. 
 
 J. Stanza /, line 24. Buttermilk Falls are sometimes called 
 Highland Falls. 
 
 4. Stanza 2, line i. North of Anthony's Nose the Noch- 
 peems held the chieftaincy in three villages of the Keskist- 
 koncks, Pasquasheck, and Nochpeem on the Hudson. The 
 155 
 
156 WASHINGTON. 
 
 principal village, Canopus, was named from their Sachem, who 
 lived on a hill in the southeast part of the present town of 
 Putnam Valley. See Ruttenber's Indian Tnbes of the Hudson 
 River, p. 80. 
 
 J-. Stanza 2, line ij. Shatemuc means Swan's Neck, and 
 refers specially to the shape of the Hudson as it winds around 
 West Point and Constitution Island. 
 
 6. Stanza 2, line 20. The English rule succeeded to the 
 Dutch in 1664. Patents then were issued from the English 
 crown. See note on Stanza i, line i. 
 
 7. Stanza j, line 75. Gen. Samuel H. Parsons arrived 
 January, 1778. He was a native of Connecticut, and after the 
 war, in 1787, he was appointed one of the judges of the 
 Northwestern Territory. He was drowned in the Ohio, in 
 December, 1789. 
 
 8. Stanza J, line I y. Lieutenant-Colonel (afterward Colonel) 
 La Radiere, was one of four French engineers secured by 
 Franklin and Deane, and commissioned by Congress. Radiere 
 died in the service in 1780. 
 
 g. Stanza j, line ig. Col. Thaddeus Kosciuszko executed 
 La Radiere's plans. Kosciuszko was born in Lithuania in 
 1736, of an ancient and noble family, educated at the military 
 school of Warsaw and in France. Franklin recommended him 
 to Washington, who made him an aide. In October 1776, 
 Congress appointed him colonel of engineers. In 1794 Poland 
 made him military dictator. Imprisoned by the Russian 
 Empress Catherine, he was released by Paul, whose honors he 
 refused. In 1797 he visited the United States. Congress voted 
 him a grant of land. Returning to Switzerland, he died there 
 Oct. 16, 18 1 7. His remains were taken to Cracow. 
 
 10. Stanza j>, line 22. Fort Putnam, on Mount Independ- 
 ence, six hundred feet above tide water, was built by Col. 
 Rufus Putnam's Massachusetts regiment, and it was named for 
 the Colonel in the spring of 1778. 
 
 //. Stanza J, line 24. Samuel Wyllys was commissioned 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 1 57 
 
 colonel from Connecticut July i, 1775. Samuel B. Webb was 
 commissioned colonel from Massachusetts June i, 1777. 
 
 12. Stanza 3, line 27. The name Fort Arnold was changed 
 to Fort Clinton in 1780. 
 
 13. Stanza 4, line 12. The headquarters of General Wash- 
 ington were at West Point, July 25-Nov. 28, 1779. 
 
 14. Stanza 4, line ig. John Nixon was born at Farmingham, 
 Mass., March 4, 1725, was one of the Minute Men at Lexing- 
 ton, and headed his regiment at Bunker Hill, 1775. He was 
 commissioned a brigadier-general Aug. 9, 1776. On account 
 of ill-health he resigned his commission in 1780. He died 
 March 24, 181 5. 
 
 75. Stanza 6, line i. Major Henry Lee, of Virginia (1756- 
 18 16), noted for the legion which he commanded. The ex- 
 ploit at Paulus's Hook occurred Aug. 18, 1779. 
 
 16. Stanza 7, line I. Generals Sullivan and James Clinton 
 defeated the Indians and Tories at Newtown, now Elmira, 
 Aug. 29, 1778. 
 
 77. Stanza 8, line i. The engagement here celebrated took 
 place Sept. 23, 1779, ^t night. 
 
 j8. Stanza 9. Charleston fell May 12, 1780. The Battle of 
 Camden was fought August 6th. The barracks at Fort 
 Arnold were burned in the winter of 1 779-1 780. 
 
 ig. Stanza 10. The engagement at Springfield, N. J., oc- 
 curred June 23, 1780. The French fleet arrived in July. 
 Washington and Rochambeau conferred first, Sept. 21, 1780. 
 
 20. Stanza 11, Benedict Arnold born Jan. 3, 1740, died 
 at London, June 14, 1801. 
 
 21. Stanza 12. John Andre born, 1771. 
 
 22. Stanza 7j>, line s- Teller's Point divides Croton Bay 
 from Haverstraw Bay, on the Hudson. 
 
 2j. Stanza 14, line 10. Crompond, now Yorktown, West- 
 chester County, a railway station and post-office, six miles 
 east of Peekskill. Here a party of sentinels under Captain 
 Boyd caused a detention. 
 
158 WASHINGTON. 
 
 24. Stanza 14, line ly. The present bridge over the Croton 
 River, near the Croton dam, stands east of Pine Bridge. The 
 Americans kept a strong guard there, as it was the chief point 
 of communication between the lines. 
 
 2^. Stanza 16, line jo. Andre was executed Oct. 2, 1780. 
 His remains were removed Aug. 10, 1821, from Tappan, and 
 buried in Westminster Abbey, near his monument, Nov. 28, 
 1821. 
 
 16. Stavza 77, line 14. This fete. May 31, 1782, is de- 
 scribed in Boynton's Hist, of West Point, 
 
 2^. Stanza j8, line 21. Col. Sylvanus Thayer, born at Brain- 
 tree, Mass., 1785, studied at Dartmouth and West Point, 
 where he was graduated, 1808. He served on the Canadian 
 frontier and in Norfolk, Va., in the war of r8i2. He made a 
 military trip to Belgium and France. Returning in 181 7, he 
 was appointed superintendent of the West Point Military 
 Academy, and remained there until 1833, when he was ap- 
 pointed to construct the defences of Boston harbor. He was 
 retired in 1862, and died September 7, 1872. 
 
 28. Stanza ig, line i. Major Dade, with 117 men, was 
 attacked by the Seminole Indians, Dec. 28, 1835, and all but 
 four were killed. The party was marching from Tampa Bay, 
 Florida, to relieve General Clinch at Fort Duane, near Orange 
 Lake. The Seminole war was occasioned by the government's 
 attempt to remove the Seminoles from Florida to land west of 
 the Mississippi. 
 
 2g. Stanza ig, line 8. Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick was born 
 in Connecticut, Sept. 13, 1813 ; graduated at West Point, 1837 ; 
 served in Mexico ; was wounded at Antietam, and killed in 
 the battle of the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864. 
 
 JO. Stanza ig, line ij. Capt. Roger Alden (i 754-1 836) was 
 aide to General Greene, and later ordnance keeper at West 
 Point. 
 
 ji. Stanza ig, line 14. Alexander Ramsay Thompson 
 (1794-1837) served in the war of 1812. Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 159 
 
 1837, he was killed at Okee-cho-bee in Southern Florida in 
 leading a desperate charge of his regiment against the Seminole 
 Indians. 
 
 32. Stanza jg, line i^. Maj.-Gen. Winfield Scott (1786-- 
 1866). Captain in r8o8 ; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1812. Served 
 in the war of 1812. Brigadier-General, 1814 ; Major-General, 
 1814 ; commander-in-chief, 1841. Served in the Mexican war. 
 He entered the city of Mexico Sept. 14, 1847. 
 
 jj. Stanza ig, line 16. Brig.-Gen, Robert Anderson (1805- 
 1871). Graduated at West Point, 1825 ; served in Indian and 
 Mexican wars; commanded Fort Sumter, Charleston, S. C, 
 when it was bombarded thirty-six hours by the Confederates 
 under General Beauregard, and surrendered April 14, 1861 ; 
 Brigadier-General, May, 1861, and soon retired for ill health. 
 
 j4. Stanza ig, line 18. Gen. Quincy Adams Gilmore (1825- 
 1890), a noted engineer. 
 
 SS- Stanza ig, line 20. Gen. George Armstrong Custer 
 (1839-1876) noted in the civil war; slain by the Indians in 
 Montana. 
 
 j(5. Stanza ig, line 24. Gen. Ulysses Simpson Grant (April 
 27, 1822-July 23, 1885) graduated at West Point, 1843 ; served 
 as Lieutenant in the Mexican war, in California and Oregon. 
 Captain, 1853, then farmer and clerk. Colonel of 21st Illinois 
 in 1 861 ; General and commander-in-chief of the Army, 
 1864-1869. President of United States, 1869-1877. Made 
 tour of the world, 1 878-1 880. 
 
 J7. Stanza ig, line 24. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman 
 (Feb. 8, 1820-Feb. 14, 1891) graduated at West Point, 1840 ; 
 lieutenant ; served in the Mexican war ; 1853, in business and 
 practised law. Colonel of i6th Infantry, 1861 ; Brigadier- 
 General in 1 861 ; Major-General in 1862 ; made the march 
 through Georgia to the sea, 1S64; Lieutenant-General in 
 1866 ; General in 1869 ; retired Feb. 8, 1884. 
 
 jS. Stanza ig, line 24. Gen. Philip Henry Sheridan 
 (March 6, 1831-Aug. 5, 1888) graduated at West Point 1853 ; 
 
1 60 WA SHING TON. 
 
 lieutenant and captain, Colonel of 2d Mich. Cavalry, 1862 ; 
 Brigadier-General, July i, 1862 ; Major-General, April, 1863 ; 
 won the battle of Winchester, Va. ; Lieutenant-General, 
 1869; commander of the Army, 1883; made General while 
 dying, 1888. 
 
 jg. Stanza ig, line 28. Gen. Robert Edward Lee (1807- 
 1870), son of " Legion Harry" Lee. Graduated from West 
 Point, 1829, second in a class of forty-six. Lieutenant in the 
 Mexican war ; commanded West Point, 1852-55 ; Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of 2d Cavalry ; made commander-in-chief of Con- 
 federate forces in Virginia, 1861 ; surrendered to Gen. U. S. 
 Grant at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865 ; afterward president 
 of Washington College, Va. 
 
 40. Stanza ig, line 28. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant 
 Beauregard (18 18-1893) was graduated second in the class of 
 1838 at West Point, engineer ; served in Mexican war ; fired 
 on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861 ; held various commands in 
 the Confederate service, and surrendered to General Sherman, 
 1865. 
 
 41. Stanza ig, line 2g. Maj.-Gen. George Brinton Mc- 
 Clellan (1826-1885) graduated second in the class of 1846 at 
 West Point; served in Mexican war and in the West ; Major- 
 General, 1861, and commander-in-chief until relieved after the 
 battles of the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia, Nov. 7, 1862. 
 He was a candidate for the Presidency in 1S64 ; was governor 
 of New Jersey, 1879-1882. 
 
 42. Stanza ig, line jo. Maj.-Gen. Henry Wager Halleck 
 (1816-1872) was graduated third in the class of 1839 ; served 
 in the Mexican war ; Major-General, 1861; commander-in- 
 chief, 1862-1864. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH 
 
 /. Stanza 2^ line 4. Maj.-Gen. Francis John, Marquis de 
 Chastellux, came to America with Rochambeau. He traveled 
 extensively, and wrote a journal which was published — twenty- 
 four copies in French, and an English version in 1787. 
 
 2. Stanza J ^ line ig. The Constitution of the State of New 
 York was adopted April 20, 1777. The Second Constitution 
 was ratified by the people Jan. 15-17, 1822. The Third 
 Constitution was adopted Nov, 3, 1846. 
 
 J. Stanza 4, line 12. Enoch Crosby, born in Harwich, 
 Mass., Jan. 4, 1750, served in Northern campaign of 1775, and 
 after his return was engaged in the " secret service." He was 
 a resident of Southeast, Putnam Co. 
 
 4. Stanza 4, line 24. The Wharton House is now owned 
 by Mr. Samuel Huestis, 1893. 
 
 5. Stanza ^, line ^. Col. Matthew V. B. Brinckerhoff oc- 
 cupied a house at the angle of the old post road and the new 
 road to Fishkill Hook. 
 
 6. Stanza 7, line 13. Table Rock is a rocky bluff which 
 commands a fine view south, situated on the southwestern end 
 of Mount Taurus, about eight hundred feet above the Hudson. 
 
 7. Stanza y, line 20. This is a local tradition. The spring 
 is often identified with that which supplies the pump directly 
 east of the railway station, 
 
 8. Stanza y^ line 21. Maj.-Gen. Daniel Butterfield, born in 
 Utica, N. Y., Oct, 31, 1831, graduated 1849 at Union College, 
 merchant in New York City, Colonel of 12th N. Y, Infantry, 
 
 II 161 
 
1 62 WA SHING TON. 
 
 i860, led advance over Long Bridge into Virginia, in actions 
 in Virginia, Brigadier-General 1861, Major-General 1862, 
 wounded at Gettysburg, where he was chief of staff, with Gen- 
 eral Sherman in his campaign ; commanded in New York 
 harbor, 1865-69 ; head of Sub-Treasury in New York ; married 
 Sept. 21, 1886, in London, Mrs, Julia L. James, of New 
 York ; president of bank at Cold Spring, where he resides dur- 
 ing the summer at Cragside on the slope of Mount Taurus. 
 
 9. Stanza 7, line 26. The date referred to is May i, 1889, 
 the centennial of Washington's inauguration as President of 
 the United States in New York, 
 
 10. Stanza 7, line sg. At this time Benjamin Harrison was 
 President of the United States. 
 
 //. Stanza 7, line 32. An allusion to courtesies extended to 
 General and Mrs. Butterfield, when they were traveling in 
 Russia, 
 
 12. Stanza <?, line 2. George P, Morris, an American poet 
 and journalist, born in Philadelphia, Oct. 10, 1802, removed to 
 New York, wrote many popular ballads, resided at Undercliff, 
 at the base of Mount Taurus, Cold Spring, where he died, 
 1864. He was also brigadier-general in the New York 
 militia. 
 
 /J, Stanza 8, line 12. The West Point Foundry was incor- 
 porated 1818, and placed at Cold Spring. 
 
 14. Stanza 8, line 2j. Hon. Gouverneur Kemble was for 
 years president of the foundry company. He represented the 
 district in Congress, 1837-1839, 1841-1843. 
 
 /J. Stanza 8, line 2j. Capt. Robert P. Parrott, inventor of 
 the Parrott gun, was identified with the foundry many years. 
 He died much lamented, 1877. 
 
 16. Stanza 8, line 24. James K. Paulding's family resided 
 many years at Cold Spring. Mr. Paulding was a noted novel- 
 ist, and also Secretary of the Navy, 1838-1841. 
 
 ly. Stanza 9, line 13. Arnold's expedition occurred in 
 January, 178 1. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 163 
 
 18. Stanza 10, line ^. Morgan checked Tarleton at Cow- 
 pens, N. C, Jan. 17, 1781. 
 
 ig. Stanza ii^ line 4. The Yorktown campaign was 
 matured by Washington and Rochambeau at interviews, one 
 at Newport, March 6, 1781, the other at Wethersfield, Conn., 
 May 21, 1781. 
 
 20. Stanza ii, line 41. General Arnold captured New 
 London, Conn., Sept. 6, 1781. He took Fort Griswold on the 
 opposite side of the Thames, and massacred the commander. 
 Colonel Ledyard, and sixty of the garrison after the surrender. 
 
 21. Stanza 12, litte i. The siege of Yorktown, Va. , began 
 Sept 28, 1781. 
 
 22. Stanza 12, line 7, The Duke de Lauzun had a corps 
 of five hundred horsemen. 
 
 2^. Stanza 12^ line 14. The charge was made toward the 
 evening of Oct. 14, 1781. 
 
 24. Stanza 12, line i^. Col. Alexander Hamilton com- 
 manded a battalion of light infantry. The other officers are 
 Major Nicholas Fish, of New York. Capt. Aaron Ogden, of 
 New Jersey, who led the van ; Col. John Laurens of South 
 Carolina, Major Gibbs, commander of Washington's Life- 
 Guard ; Colonel Gimat, La Fayette's aide. 
 
 2^. Stanza 12^ line ig. The French officers here mentioned 
 are Maj.-Gen. the Baron de Viomenil, who commanded the 
 French detachment of grenadiers and chasseurs ; Count Ma- 
 thieu Dumas, one of Rochambeau's aides ; Count De Deux- 
 Ponts, who led the grenadiers ; Count Charles De Lameth, the 
 adjutant-general ; De Sireuil, a very young captain of yagers, 
 wounded three times. 
 
 26. Stanza ij, line 10. Major-General O'Hara represented 
 Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, son of the first Earl of Corn- 
 wallis, who entered the British army, 1759. Afterward he was 
 Governor of India and Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. 
 
 27. Stanza /j>, line ig. Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Lincoln had 
 been obliged to surrender at Charleston, 1780, to Sir Henry 
 Clinton. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH 
 
 /. Stanza 7, line j>. Orange County was one of the ten 
 original counties into which New York State was divided, 
 Nov. I, 1683. 
 
 2. Stanza /, line 11. The Palatine immigrants were in New - 
 burgh in 1709. Those who found their way to England in 
 1708 were sent to Quassaick, below Newburgh. They were a 
 part of the Swiss contingent in the allied army under the Prince 
 of Orange. Of these ten thousand were sent to America by 
 England, and located mainly in Columbia and Ulster Counties. 
 A patent was issued for Newburgh, Dec. 18, 1719. About 
 1750 the Dutch and Huguenots came in. 
 
 J. Stanza 2, line 26. The monument was erected July 22, 
 1822, in memory of those who fell at the battle of Minnisink, 
 July 22, 1779. 
 
 ^. Stanza J, line 2. George Clinton, July 26, 1739-April 
 20, 1812, governor of New York 1777-1795 and 1801-1804 ; 
 vice-president of the United States, 1805-1812. 
 
 5. Stanza ^^ line 4. James Clinton, Aug. 9, 1736-Dec. 22, 
 1812. 
 
 6. Stanza 3, line S- DeWitt Clinton, March 2, 1769-Feb. 
 II, 1828. Commissioners for the Canal Route were appointed 
 in 1 8 10. Governor Clinton began the Canal at Rome, July 4, 
 1817. He entered a packet-boat at Buffalo, Oct. 26, 1S25, 
 
 164 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 1 65 
 
 and arrived at New York Nov. 4th. To this canal New York 
 owes much of its commercial supremacy. 
 
 7. Stanza 3, line 12. The full names of colonels are Col. 
 Lewis Du Bois, Col. William Allison, Col. John Hathorn, 
 Col. Jesse Woodhull, Col. James Clinton, Col. Jonathan 
 Hasbrouck. 
 
 <?. Stanza 4, line 4. Plum Point, at the north bank of Mur- 
 derer's Creek, contains eighty acres. Captain Machin's battery 
 had fourteen guns. Chevaux de frise stretched across to 
 Pollepel's Island, 1776. 
 
 g. Stanza 4, line 7. For a romantic account of the naming 
 of Pollepel's Island (Polly Pell, or Mary Pell), see Stories of 
 the Hudson^ G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 
 
 JO. Stanza 4, line 20. Washington's headquarters were at 
 the Ellison House, New Windsor, June, 1779, from the autumn 
 of 1780 through the summer of 1781. 
 
 11. Stanza 5, line j. The Hasbrouck House takes its name 
 from Jonathan Hasbrouck, grandson of one of the Huguenot 
 founders of Newburgh. It was completed in 1770. Wash- 
 ington resided there from the spring of 1782 until August 18, 
 1783. 
 
 12. Stanza 6, line 10. Washington's reply is dated May 22, 
 1782. 
 
 ij. Stanza 7, line 28. Maj.-Gen. Alexander McDougall 
 commanded the First Division, including the First Brigade (2d 
 and 4th Conn, and R. I. regiments), under Colonel Swift, and 
 the Second Brigade (ist, 5th, 9th Conn.) under Brigadier- 
 General Huntington. 
 
 14. Stanza 7, line jo. Maj.-Gen. Arthur St. Clair (a native 
 of Edinburgh, Scotland) commanded the Second Division, in- 
 cluding the First Brigade (ist and 2d N. Y. regiments) under 
 Colonel Courtland, and the Second Brigade (ist and 2d N, J.) 
 under Colonel Dayton. 
 
 75". Stanza 7, line 34. Maj.-Gen. William Heath was a 
 native of Roxbury, Mass. Burgoyne's captured army was in his 
 
1 66 WA SHING TON. 
 
 custody. From 1779 ^^ commanded on the Hudson until the 
 close of the war. He published interesting Memoirs. He 
 died in 1814, the last survivor of the major-generals of the 
 Revolution. 
 
 16. Stanza y ^ line j6 . Maj. -Gen. Lord Stirling commanded 
 the First Division, including the First Brigade (loth Mass., 
 ist and 2d N. H. regiments) under Colonel Tupper (?), and 
 the Second Brigade (ist 4th and 7th Mass.) under Colonel 
 Sheppard. 
 
 77. Stanza 7, line jg. Maj. -Gen. Robert Hovi^e (of North 
 Carolina) commanded the Second Division, including the First 
 Brigade (2d, 5th and 8th Massachusetts regiments) under Briga- 
 dier-General Patterson, and the Second Brigade (3d, 6th and 
 9th Mass.) under Colonel Greaton, 
 
 18. Stanza 8, line 13. Crompond is now Yorktown post- 
 office. The lakes Mohegan and Mohansic are in Yorktown 
 township, Westchester County, about six miles east from 
 Peekskill. 
 
 ig. Stanza 9, line 2. The American army was at Peekskill 
 to receive the French Sept. 14, 1782. Rochambeau remarked 
 to Washington, " You have formed an alliance with the King 
 of Prussia. These troops are Prussians," On the 20th the 
 French were reviewed ; on the 21st the Americans. On the 
 24th the French encamped at Crompond, The American 
 camp was at Verplanck's Point, The French broke camp 
 October 22d. The Americans began their march to New 
 Windsor October 26th, 
 
 20. Stanza 9, line 11. Sachoes' brook, probably now Arden's 
 brook, which empties into the Hudson. 
 
 21. Stanza g, line 28. The State Camp for the instruction 
 of the National Guard of the State of New York, at Roa Hook, 
 was opened in 1883. 
 
 22. Stanza 9, line ^4. Rev. Geo. Whitefield preached in the 
 parlors of the Birdsall mansion on the south side of Main 
 Street near Division Street, Peekskill, removed many years 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 1 67 
 
 ago. Whitefield's visit to Peekskill was about 1770. Garrick 
 said that Whitefield could make his audience weep or tremble 
 merely by varying his pronunciation of the word Mesopotamia. 
 
 ^j. Stanza 9, line j8. Chauncey Mitchell Depew was born 
 April 23, 1834, at Peekskill. A graduate of Yale College, a 
 lawyer, and Railroad president ; his oratorical gifts made him 
 popular and influential at home and abroad. 
 
 24. Stanza jo, line 11. Washington called this meeting 
 March ii, 1783. It was held, and he addressed the officers 
 March 15th in the Temple, or New Building, at New Wind- 
 sor. The proposed mutiny which he averted was secretly in- 
 spired by General Gates, whose aide-de-camp, Maj. John 
 Armstrong, drafted the address to the officers, which excited 
 Washington's alarm. 
 
 ^5. Stanza 10, line ly. The date of the circular varies with 
 the time of emission to the governors of the several States. 
 They were requested to communicate it to their respective 
 legislatures. 
 
 26. Stanza 10, line 28. Nathaniel Parker Willis (1807-1867), 
 journalist and poet, was a friend of George P. Morris, and 
 occupied a country-seat, '* Idlewild," at Cornwall, four miles 
 south of Newburg. 
 
 2^. Stanza, 10 line jo. Rev. E. P. Roe, a retired Presby- 
 terian clergyman, who wrote many popular semi-religious 
 novels, 1878-1888, had a country residence at Cornwall. 
 
 28. Stanza 11, line j. Cessation of hostilities was publicly 
 proclaimed April 19, 1783. 
 
 2g. Stanza Ji, lineq. Adams was afterward vice-president 
 with Washington, and succeeded him as President, 1797-1801. 
 Franklin became president of Pennsylvania and delegate to 
 the Federal Constitutional Convention. He died 1790. Henry 
 Laurens had been president of the Continental Congress, 1776- 
 1778, had been captured by the British while on a mission to 
 Holland, and imprisoned until 1781 in the Tower of London. 
 The last years of his life were devoted to agriculture. He died 
 
1 68 WASHINGTON. 
 
 in 1792, and his remains were, at his request, cremated. John 
 Jay was afterwards chief-justice of the United States under 
 the Constitution whose adoption he advocated, and governor 
 of New York. From 1801 to 1829, the time of his death, he 
 lived in retirement at Bedford, N. Y. 
 
 JO. Stanza 11, line 11. The British Commissioners were 
 Richard Oswald, of Scotland, who had passed many years in 
 America, Alleyne Fitzherbert, British Minister at Brussels, 
 and Henry Strachey, under-secretary of State. 
 
 J/. Stanza 11, line i^. The treaty was signed in Paris, Nov. 
 30, 1782. 
 
 ^3. Stanza 11, line 2^. The Temple or Public Building at 
 the encampment at New Windsor, erected Jan. 9-March 6, 
 1783. General Heath, in his Memoirs, says : " Upon an emi- 
 nence the troops erected a building, handsomely finished, with a 
 spacious hall sufficient to contain a brigade of troops on Lord's 
 days for public worship, with an orchestra at one end ; the 
 vault of the hall was arched ; at each end of the hall were two 
 rooms conveniently situated for the issuing of general orders, 
 for the sittings of Boards of officers, court-martials, etc. , and 
 an office and store for the quartermaster and commissary's de- 
 partments. On the top was a cupola and flag-staff, on which 
 a flag was hoisted occasionally for signals, etc." 
 
 jj. Stanza 11, lineBj. Rev. John Gano (1727-1804), pastor 
 of the First Baptist Church, N. Y. City, 1762-1788, an ardent 
 patriot, who served some time as chaplain to General Clinton's 
 New York brigade. 
 
 J4.. Stanza 11, line 32. William Billings, born in Boston, 
 Oct. 7, 1746, died there Sept. 26, 1800 ; earliest of American 
 composers, produced a number of patriotic pieces, popular in 
 the camp of the Revolutionary army. 
 
 jj. Stanza 12, line 14, The Society of the Cincinnati was 
 organized June 19, 1783, at the Verplanck House, two miles 
 northeast of Fishkill-on-Hudson. In 1890 there were State 
 societies in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New 
 
NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 1 69 
 
 Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, and 439 living 
 members. 
 
 ^6. Stanza 12, line 2j. Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus served 
 as Consul at Rome, B.C. 460, but, owing to popular tumult, re- 
 tired to his farm. The successes of the -^qui and Volsci led 
 to his appointment as dictator, 458. The delegates, who were 
 sent to announce his appointment, found him ploughing his 
 own fields. His campaign against the enemy was successful. 
 At its close he returned to Rome, and laid down his dictatorial 
 power, after having held it only fourteen days, and returned 
 to his farm. Appointed dictator again in 439, he delivered 
 his country from Spurius Melius, a plebeian knight, who was 
 aiming at kingly power. He retired again from his dictator- 
 ship after a term of twenty-one days. 
 
 ^7. Stanza /j, line 3. The Hasbrouck House was deeded 
 to the State of New York, 1849, and by an act of the Legisla- 
 ture placed in the care of a board of trustees. 
 
 38. Stanza ij, line 16. Society of Sons of the Revolution 
 incorporated, 1883. 
 
 J9. Stajiza 14. Washington entered New York, Nov. 25, 
 1783, bade farewell to his general officers Dec. 4, 17S3, re- 
 signed his commission Dec. 23, 1783, at Annapolis, served as 
 President, 1789-1797, and died Dec. 14, 1799.