Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Trenton and Princeton

The following ballad has been written from the dictation of a lady who remembers hearing it sung by a child to the British troops, who accidentally overheard her and urged her to repeat it to them, with which she complied, much to their amusement.

ON December the sixth,

And the twentieth day,

Our troops attack’d the Hessians,

And show’d them gallant play.

Our roaring cannon taught them

Our valour for to know;

We fought like brave Americans

Against a haughty foe.

The chief were kill’d and 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 it 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,

“O! hide us! hide us! do!

The rebels will devour us,

So hotly they pursue.”

O, 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.