Songs and Poems from the War of 1812 The Battle of Lundy's Lane   Further Reading British and Canadian Songs British Poems American Songs American Songs 3 The Battle of New Orleans, by Jimmy Driftwood American Poems More American Poems Miscellaneous Statements   Return to Songs and Poems Index

More American Songs The Battle of Lundy's Lane O'er Huron's wave the sun was low, The weary soldier watch'd the bow Fast fading from the cloud below The dashing of Niagara. And while the phantom chain'd his sight, Ah! little thought he of the fight– The horrors of the dreamless night, That posted on so rapidly. Erie and Champlain Hail to the day which in splendour returning, Lights us to conquest and glory again! Time, hold that year! Still the war-torch was burning, And threw its red ray on the waves of Champlain. Roused by the spirit that conquered for Perry, Dauntless Macdonough advanced to the fray; Instant the glory that brightened Lake Erie Burst on Champlain with the splendour of day. Loud swells the cannon's roar On Plattsburg's bloody shore, Britons retreat from the tempest of war, Prevost deserts the field, While the gallant ships yield; Victory! glory, Columbians, huzza!   The Battle of Baltimore The gen'ral gave orders for the troops to march down, To meet the proud Ross, and to check his ambition; To inform him we have decreed in our town That here he can't enter without our permission. And if life he regards, he will not press too hard, For Baltimore freemen are ever prepared To check the presumptuous, whoever they be, That may rashly attempt to evade our decree.   American Recruiting Song of the War of 1812 Brave sons of the West, the blood in your veins At danger's approach waited not for persuaders; You rushed from your mountains, your hills, and your plains, And followed your streams to repel the invaders.   Siege of Plattsburg The British naval defeat and the subsequent retreat of Sir George Prevost's army were the subject of one of the most popular American songs written and sung during the War of 1812. It was written and sung by Micajah Hawkins of the proprietor of a theatre in Albany, and sung by him in the character of a black sailor: Backside Albany stan' Lake Champlain, Little pond half full o' water; Plat-te-burg dar too, close 'pon de main; Town small–he grow bigger, do', herearter. On Lake Champlain Uncle Sam set he boat, An' Massa Macdonough he sail 'em; When Gineral Macomb make Plat-te-burg he home Wid de army, whose courage nebber fail 'em. On 'lebenth day Sep-tem-ber, In eighteen hun'red and fourteen, Gubbernor Probose and he British soj-er Come to Plat-te-burg a tea-party courtin'; And he boat come too, arter Uncle Sam boat. Massa 'Donough, he look sharp out de winder; Den Gineral Macomb (ah! he always a-home) Cotch fire too, sirs, like a tinder. Bang! bang! bang! den de cannons 'gin to roar, In Plat-te-burg and all 'bout that quarter; Gubbernor Probose try he han' 'pon de shore, While he boat take he luck 'pon de water; But Massa Macdonough knock he boat in the head, Break he heart, break he shin, 'tove he caff in, An' Gineral Macomb start ole Probose home– To't me soul den I muss die a laffin'. Probose scare so he lef' all behine, Powder, ball, cannon, tea-pot, an' kittle; Some say he cotch a cole–trouble in he mine 'cause he eat so much raw an' cole vittle. Uncle Sam berry sorry, to be sure, for the pain, Wish he nuss heself up well an' hearthy, For Gineral Macomb and Massa 'Donough home When he notion of anudder tea-party!