Songs and Poems from the War of 1812 United States vs the Macedonian   Further Reading British and Canadian Songs American Songs More 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

British Poems War In Disguise One Stephens, a lawyer, and once a reporter, Of war and of taxes a gallant supporter, In some way or other to Wilberforce kin, And a member, like him, of a borough bought in, Who a Master in Chancery since has been made, Wrote a pamphlet to show that Jonathan's TRADE Was a 'War in Disguise;' which, though strange at first sight, Events have since proved may have been but too right; For when Carden the ship of the Yankee Decatur Attacked without doubting to take her or beat her, A FRIGATE she seemed to his glass and his eyes; But when taken himself, how great his surprise To find her a SEVENTY-FOUR IN DISGUISE! If Jonathan thus has the art of disguising, That he captures our ships is by no means surprising; And it can't be disgraceful to strike to an elf Who is more than a match for the devil himself. –Puss EDITOR'S NOTE: After the capture of the HMS Macedonian, captained by Capt. John S. Carden by USS United States, captained by Stephen Decatur Jr., in the autumn of 1812, this epigram appeared in Cobbett's Political Register, an English publication.   Brother Jonathan's Epistle to Johnny Bull, 1814 O, Johnny Bull, my joe, John, your Peacocks keep at home, And ne'er let British seamen on a Frolic hither come, For we've Hornets and we've Wasps, John, who, as you doubtless know, Carry stingers in their tails, O, Johnny Bull, my joe.   Epistle of Brother Jonathan to Johnny Bull O, Johnny Bull, my joe, John, Behold on Lake Champlain, With more than equal force, John, You tried your fist again; But the cock saw how 'twas going, And cried 'Cock-a-doodle-doo,' And Macdonough was victorious, O, Johnny Bull, my joe!