And pile the field with Britishers,
Beneath their hissing hail !

Hence, hither, too, our Regulars

Assembled for the fight;
And gay-plumed Volunteers — 0, Mars !

A grand, terrific sight !
And on his steed, to do or bleed,

Our President was here :
And every man did shout " Hurra ! "

And not a soul did fear !

A cloud of dust flew down the street —

A horse and rider in it : —
'Twas rather warm to run a race.
But surely he would win it !
Cats, pigs did leap from out their sleep.
And dogs did bark amain.
And children cried, and women screamed.
And geese confessed their pain !

But on the furious horseman rushed,

A soldier, minus hat;
The streams of heat abundant gushed —

He did n't stop for that !
" They 're coming ! " was his only word.
Hoarse, choked with dust : " they're coming !
And on he passed to where, right fast.
Was heard a distant drumming.
He gained the Yankee lines, and shrieked
" They 're coming ! " — as he fell !



IVYWALL. 149

They took him up, with instant care,

And begged him further tell —
But vainly : though with brandy plied,

No other word he spoke
Save "Coming! Coming!" — ^while the drumming

Loud and louder woke !

At length, along the turnpike-road.
The Red-Coats came, indeed :
They reached the little bridge, but there

We checked their daring speed.
Whene'er they tried, we swept aside

Their ranks with cannon-ball : —
Till pity spread throughout our troops.
To see so many fall !

In mercy, we resolved to run.
