Monckton falls; against his columns leap the troops of Wayne and Lee, And before their reeking bayonets Clinton's red battalions flee; Morgan's rifles, fiercely flashing, thin the foe's retreating ranks, And behind them, onward dashing, Ogden hovers on their flanks. Fast they fly, those boasting Britons, who in all their glory came, With their brutal Hessian hirelings to wipe out our country's name. Proudly floats the starry banner; Monmouth's glorious field is won; And, in triumph, Irish Molly stands beside her smoking gun. SOLILOQUY OF ARNOLD. EDWARD C. JONES. HE plan is fixed; I fluctuate no more THE Betwixt despair and hope. As leaves the shore The hardy mariner, though adverse fate May merge his bark, or cast him desolate And, therefore, to the strong I yield this heart and hand. What else befits me? I have misapplied The nation's funds and ever gratified Each vaulting wish, though justice wept the deed; I must have gold. How else the clamorous cry Demands which haunt me more than dreams of blood These rocky ridges, how they shelve on high, Yes, 'tis your own Gibraltar, Washington! With few sulphurous clouds to blot these azure skies. -I see And yet a pang comes over me— I thought not then, oh, God! the stamp of shame Avaunt, compunction! Conscience, to the wind! Gold, gold I need-gold must Sir Henry find! Ere this autumnal moon has filled its horn, His honors must be nipped, his rising glories shorn. Ah! he securely rests upon my faith- THE BATTLE OF THE COWPENS. THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH. [In the autumn of 1780, Gen. Nathaniel Greene was appointed to the chief command of the American Southern army. The first action was fought at the Cowpens, where the English were defeated, losing over 800 men, while the Americans lost only 72.] O the Cowpens riding proudly, boasting loudly, rebels scorning, From the Cowpens, sore confounded, on that January morning, In the morn he scorned us rarely, but he fairly found his error, When his horsemen and his footmen fled in wild and pallid terror There we lay upon our rifles, slumber quickly coming to us, Spite the crackling of our camp-fires, and our sentries' heavy tramp. Morning on the mountain border ranged in order found our forces, Ere our scouts announced the coming of the foe; While the hoar-frost lying near us, and the distant water courses, Gleamed like silver in the sunlight, seemed like silver in the glow. Morgan ranged us there to meet them, and to greet them with such favor That they scarce would care to follow us again; In the rear, the Continentals-none were readier nor braver; Washington, our trooper peerless, gay and fearless, with his forces Waiting panther-like upon the foe to fall, Formed upon the slope behind us, where, on raw-boned country horses, Sat the sudden-summoned levies brought from Georgia by McCall. Soon we heard a distant drumming, near coming, slow advancingwas then upon the very nick of nine It Soon upon the road from Spartanburg we saw their bayonets glancing, And the moving sunlight playing on their swaying scarlet line. In the distance seen so dimly, they looked grimly—coming nearer There was naught about them fearful after all, Until some one near me spoke in voice than falling water clearer, "Tarleton's quarter is the sword-blade-Tarleton's mercy is the ball." Then the memory came unto me, heavy, gloomy, of my brother Who was slain while asking quarter at their hand; Of that morning when was driven forth my sister and my mother From our cabin in the valley by the spoilers of the land. I remembered of my brother slain, my mother spurned and beaten, Of my sister in her beauty brought to shame; Of the wretches' jeers and laughter, as from mud-sill up to rafter, Of the stripped and plundered cabin, leaped the fierce, consuming flame. But that memory had no power there in that hour to depress me— No! it stirred within my spirit fiercer ire; And I gripped my sword-hilt firmer, and my arm and heart grew stronger, And I longed to meet the wronger on the sea of steel and fire. On they came, our might disdaining, when the raining bullets leaden Pattered fast from scattered rifles on each wing; Here and there went down a foeman, and the ground began to redden; And they drew them back a moment, like the tiger ere his spring. Then said Morgan, "Ball and powder kill much prouder men than Georgia's They were trained in many battles, we in work-shops, fields and forges; But we have our homes to fight for, and we do not fear to die." Though our leader's words we cheered not, yet we feared not; we awaited, Strong of heart, the threatened onset, and it came; Up the sloping hillside swiftly rushed the foe so fiercely hated; On they came with gleaming bayonet, 'mid the cannon's smoke and flame. At their head rode Tarleton proudly-ringing loudly o'er the yelling Of his men who heard his voice's brazen tone |