ON December, the sixth And the twentieth day, Our troops attacked the Hessians, And show'd them gallant play. Our roaring cannon taught them Our valor for to know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. The chiefs were kill'd or taken, The rest were put to flight, And some arrived at Princeton, Half-fainting with affright. The third of January, The morning being clear, Our troops attack'd the regulars, At Princeton, we do hear. About a mile from Princeton, The battle is begun, And many a haughty Briton fell Before the fight was done. And what our gallant troops have done We'll let the British know; We fought like brave Americans Against a haughty foe. The British, struck with terror, And frighted, ran away: They ran across the country Like men in deep dismay, Crying to every one they met, "Oh! hide us! hide us! do! The rebels will devour us, So hotly they pursue." Oh, base, ungenerous Britons! To call us by that name; We're fighting for our liberty, Our just and lawful claim. We trust in Heaven's protection, Nor fear to win the day; When time shall come we'll crown our deeds With many a loud huzza! Our foes are fled to Brunswick, Where they are close confined; Our men they are unanimous, In Freedom's cause combined. Success to General Washington, And Gates and Putnam, too, Both officers and privates, Who liberty pursue. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...KEEPING UP WITH THE SIGNS by MADELINE DEFREES MIDSUMMER BIRDS by ROBERT FROST ODE TO THE BROWN PAPER BAG by JAMES GALVIN DAWN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ON A TUFT OF GRASS by EMMA LAZARUS |