The enterprises of Trenton and Princeton shall be regarded as the dawnings of that bright day, which afterward broke forth with such resplendent lustre.'-Hamilton. 1. TRAMP!-tramp! Tramp!-tramp! 'What rushing band with thundering tread Along the bridge disordered led, With rapid and alarming stamp, Now hurries o'er the tide ? Waking the pattering echoes far and wide? On-on they come tumultuous come! With rattling arms, and clamoring drum: Till all the wooden arches round Challenge aloud the intruding sound, And clank for clank, and stamp for stamp rebound!' Thus spake a stranger to the crowd A skulking, and half-hidden knave From out the group this answer gave: 'It is the rebel band, In arms, audacious, to withstand 'Base renegade! 't is false!' replied With locks all wintry-white, and waving: 'No rebels these a righteous monarch braving; The holiest cause that ever prayers Alas! with other armor scarce, or none: Unheard was every prayer: At last should rend the galling links asunder? My kindred share their country's fate: 'Whence haste they now, thus spent, forlorn, Half-armed, half-clad, on winter-morn, With bleeding feet unshod, and torn? And, as their wheeling ranks advance, Why turn they back the anxious glance, As if some danger tracked them near?' 'Alas! their dearest hopes are crossed: Defeated, driven, the city lost, Surrendered every fort and post, Before them, shame and fear: Behind, with all the royal host, Cornwallis stops the rear: Despair, disgrace In every face; No glance along their panic lines With still unshrinking courage shines, Save his, in whom they trust alone, The gallant chief that leads them on: But he is WASHINGTON! Oh! that he now would turn, and stand ! Drive back th' invaders to the waves ! One freeman on his native sod Can match a score of slaves: All is not lost or if it be, And show the world though crushed at Her path to power so ghastly dread, They're gone! why should they list to A beacon steady in the storm's turmoil : II. Tramp!-tramp! Tramp!- tramp! 'Hark! again the martial stamp On the hollow bridge resounds, From the steepy shore rebounds, Peopling thick with sounds the air; Mid shouting horns and glittering armor See! in dazzling pomp advancing, [fair! Banners flaunting, horses prancing, Seas of plumes in billows dancing, And far away the frosty bayonets glanHark! harmonious music, sent [cing! From many a breathing instrument, Pouring from their mellow throats Streaming hoards of golden notes: That the ear Which turns to hear, Cloyed at last with luscious treasure, Sickens with delirious pleasure, Till rattling bugle-call, and cymbal-clash Startle the host- and arms and armor With sudden glory there! [flash, While ever and anon At which the busy knave once more 'It is the royal host Sent from England's distant coast 'Silence that raven's horrid croak!' 'A goodly sight!' the stranger cried: First in the glittering course, Clattering with irregular beat O'er their heads, their breezes braving, Ah! while I watch yon mighty host I see the horse with crushing feet 'Tis brothers' blood ye seek to shed: The curse of Cain will brand your head, And ghosts of all the murdered dead Your visions will pursue! Be generous in your pride of power! Ere this has deadliest havoc made Invaders' ranks among; For Freedom is a tigress, bayed: 'Beware!-touch not her young!' They're gone beyond the hills afar : Swell the last clarion-notes of passing war, And all again is still! IIL. "Tis night along the Delaware 'Tis merry Christmas night; And all the holiday may share, Save yonder band of patriots there, Preparing for the fight. Extended on the opposing coast Is quartered all the royal host, Wide-spread in many a post. 'Now!' the patriot captain said, 'Clip their wings ere they are spread!'* Rattling hail, and drizzling sleet 'Gainst their freezing faces beat: But storms, as well as armies, fail To make the breast where freedom lodges quail: Lo! in many a shallow boat Thick-crowded on the stream they float, With horse and cannon laden low, Fast whitening in the driving snow; With darkness, storm, and foes before, While round them, with alarming roar, Fragments of massive ice rush crashing on the shore! IV. "T is night along the Delaware'Tis merry Christmas night, And all the holiday may share: The Hessian ranks throw off their care, And Trenton rings right merrily With strangest warrior-minstrelsy: "Glory greet the roving band! 'What though banished far to roam 'Soldiers ever find a home! "When unwelcome thoughts o'ercome, 'Still with drinking, 'Banish thinking! Glory greet the exiled band! 'Let the toast be Father-land! 'Till peep of morning light: 'Fill high the can! A thousand men surrender there, What now can save the little band? Too frail an army's weight to bear Would yet all passing boats withstand: Before, around them all the land Is mastered by the foe: And were it not, the moistening sky Will lay the ragged rebels low!' Oh! God of suffering right, be with them now! VI. 'Tis morn along Assànpink stream, At midnight fell a sudden cold, That froze the yielding earth to stone Oh, sure from pitying Heaven it came! And back with all their force they rolled, Safe-shielded by the treacherous flame: But whither are they gone? Hark! cracking cannon in the rear, No matter! dangerous still: And Heaven will teach them skill! Hark their leader's trumpet-tones of cheer! 'One stout blow will set us clear; Literally true. The first report that stuns his ear, Then cannon oped the dreadful revel- His bloody work to do: And deeds were done so foul, alas! In face of heaven had shuddered to pursue. Their daring leader goes- But God defends the right; To Freedom gives the conqueror's But claims a hero for his prize; For shattered in the front of fight, Devoted MERCER lies! might, A stubborn remnant yet maintain With all the wreck of fight. Cornwallis comes with thundering speed, The rebels, in his grasp at night, At once he sounds retreat; VII. Applauding shouts the land rang round: Of triumph, and of victory! [found, Then hope first pierced the gloom proAnd then the stars, which rose in shame When the young banner 'gan to fly, First peeped through trouble's cloudy sky And sparkled on the eye! And joy the bright alliance crowned Then broke th' auspicious day! As hope new arms to courage gave Fast rolled successes wave on wave, All brightly gilt with glory's morning ray: The Lion, blinded, in despair, Slunk baffled to his lair: While boldly high The Eagle, with a scream of joy, Soared sunward with unquailing eye, And flapped his wings for victory! And as the vapors fold by fold Before the light retreating rolled, Lo! Freedom on the lofty stand Of Alleghanian mountains towered, and blazed, Sole sovereign of the land: Long, long from man in mists concealed, Then first with every charm revealed, Her form august she raised; August, yet gracious, and her brows were bound FROM the time of the chimerical cruisings of Old Ponce de Leon in search of the Fountain of Youth; the avaricious expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez in quest of gold; and the chivalrous enterprise of Hernando de Soto, to discover and conquer a second Mexico, the natives of Florida have been continually subjected to the invasions and encroachments of white men. They have resisted them perseveringly but fruitlessly, and are now battling amidst swamps and morasses, for the last foothold of their native soil, with all the ferocity of despair. Can we wonder at the bitterness of a hostility that has been handed down from father to son, for upward of three centuries, and exasperated by the wrongs and miseries of each succeeding generation! The very name of the savages with which we are fighting, betokens their fallen and homeless condition. Formed of the wrecks of once powerful tribes, and driven from their ancient seats of prosperity and dominion, they are known by the name of the Seminoles, or 'Wanderers.' Bartram, who travelled through Florida in the latter part of the last century, speaks of passing through a great extent of ancient Indian fields, now silent and deserted, overgrown with forests, orange groves, and rank vegetation, the site of the ancient Alachua, the capital of a famous and powerful tribe, who in days of old could assemble thousands at bull-play and other athletic exercises 'over these then happy fields and green plains.' 'Almost every step we take,' adds he, over these fertile heights, discovers the remains and traces of ancient human habitations and cultivation.' About the year 1763, when Florida was ceded by the Spaniards to the English, we are told that the Indians generally retired from the towns and the neighborhood of the whites, and burying themselves in the deep forests, intricate swamps and hommocks, and vast savannahs of the interior, devoted themselves to a pastoral life, and the rearing of horses and cattle. These are the people that received the name of the Seminoles, or Wanderers, which they still retain. Bartram gives a pleasing picture of them at the time he visited them in their wilderness; where their distance from the abodes of the white man gave them a transient quiet and security. This handful of people,' says he, possesses a vast territory, all East and the greatest part of West Florida, which being naturally cut and divided into thousands of islets, knolls, and eminences, by the innumerable rivers, lakes, swamps, vast savannahs, and ponds, form so many secure retreats and temporary dwelling places that effectually guard them from any sudden invasions or attacks from their enemies; and being such a swampy, hommocky country, furnishes such a plenty and variety of supplies for the nourishment of varieties of animals, that I can venture to assert, that no part of the globe so abounds with wild game, or creatures fit for the food of man. 'Thus they enjoy a superabundance of the necessaries and conve |