Chapter XII: Storming the Redoubts

On the night air there floating comes, hoarse, war-like, low and deep,
A sound as tho' the dreaming drums were talking in their sleep.

"Fall in! Fall in!" The stormers form, in silence, stern and grim,
Each heart full-beating out the time to Freedom's battle hymn.--

"Charge! _en Avant_!"--The word goes forth and forth the stormers go,
Each column like a mighty shaft shot from a mighty bow.

And tumult rose upon the night like sound of roaring seas,
Mars drank of the Horn of Ulphus and he drained it to the lees!

Now by fair Freedom's splendid dreams! it was a gallant sight
To see the blows against the foes well struck that Autumn night!

Gimat, and Fish, and Hamilton, and Laurens pressed the foe,
And Olney--brave Rhode Islander!--was there, alas! laid low.

Viominil, and Noallies, and Damas, stout and brave,
Broke o'er the English right redoubt a steel-encrested wave.

St. Simon from his sick couch rose, wooed by the battle's charms,
And like a knight of old romance went to the shock of arms.

[But they who bore the muskets, who went charging thro' the flame,
Deserve far more than ever will be given them by Fame--

Then let us pour libations out!--full freely let them flow
For the men who bore the muskets here a century ago!]

And, then, the columns won the works, and then uprose the cheers
That have lasted us and ours for a good one hundred years!

And there were those amid the French filled with a rapture stern
And long the cry resounded: "Live the Regiment of Auverne!"

Long live the Gallic Army and long live splendid France,
The Power that gives to History the beauty of Romance!

Upon our right commanded one dearer by far than all,
The hero who first came to us and came without a call;

Whose name with that of his leader all histories entwine,
The one as is the mighty oak, the other as the vine;

The one the staff, the other the great banner on its lance--
Now, need I name the dearest name of all the names of France?

Oh, Marquis brave! Upon this shaft, deep-cut thy cherished name
Twin Old Mortalities shall find--fond Gratitude and Fame!

THE TWO LEADERS.

Two chieftains watch the battle's tide and listen as it rolls
And only HEAVEN above can tell the tumult of their souls!

Cornwallis saw the British power struck down by one fell blow,
A Gallic spearhead on the lance that laid the Lion low.

But the Father of his Country saw the future all unrolled,
Independence blazed before him written down in text of gold,

Like the Hebrew, on the mountain, looking forward then he saw
The Promised Land of Freedom blooming under Freedom's law;

Saw a great Republic spurring in the lists where Nations ride,
The peer of any Power in her majesty and pride;

Saw that young Republic gazing through her helmet's gilded bars
Toward the West all luminous with th' light of coming stars;

From Atlantic to Pacific saw her banners all unfurled
Heard sonorous trumpets blowing blessed Peace with all the world?

Roused from this glorious vision, with success within his reach,
In few and simple words he made this long-resounding speech:

"The work is done, and well done:" thus spake he on this sod,
In accents calm and measured as the accents of a God.

God, said I? Yes, his image rises on the raptured sight
Like Baldur, the fair and blameless, the Goth's God of the Light!