Ye festive throngs who here are seen
Let Washington be now your theme
That Son of Mars with courage bold
By whom we Independence hold
Whose easy nature ever taught
Whose noble soul was ever fraught
With courage bold.
Proud Albions sons with lofty sway
Thinking to take our rights away
With Bombshell and land cannon roar
They landed on our peacefull shore
Exulting in the prospect gay
Of conquering great America
Without control
Ye hardy Sons of Liberty
Your Hero at the head we see
March out to meet those British boys
To know the reason of their noise
Those British Lions hideous roar
Salute our Hero on the shore
With Lofty scorn
Come on my friends you generous few
Resolved on Death or pierce them through
Let Liberty that jewel bright
Excite your courage to the fight
As if one soul had moov’d them all
They nobly answered we will fall
Or rise like Men
The Eagle with her Olive Branch
with Arrows keen & courage staunch
Our Hero now to them displays
How choose you War or Peace he says
War war they Cry.d. Huzza for War.
Now take your choice with many a scar
your just Reward.
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved. Contact us for information about using this image.
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This poem by Consider Dickinson (1761-1854) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, showed the admiration that Americans felt toward George Washington. Washington's leadership turned him into a hero for the young nation. His decision to leave the army and return to private life after the Revolutionary War earned him the love and respect of his countrymen. Many mourned his death in 1799.