Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829.
By War SongThomas O. Folsom (1802–1827)
I
Of thundering signal gun?—
Hark! for the sound bursts through once more,
Rending night’s robe of dun.
It is the welcome sound,
The joyous call to war,
For the near bugle screams around
The cry to arms—hurrah!
And banquet pleasures spring,
Bring out the trusty sword and steed,
Our proud old banner bring;
The drum is rolling loud,
Clatters the ponderous car,
And mustering warriors onward crowd
And blithely shout—hurrah!
On the long gleaming line,
Proudly the buoyant plume will dance,
And burnish’d bayonet shine;
The soldier’s heart will leap
As trumpets ring afar,—
They summon him away to reap
His wreaths of fame—hurrah!
Rush on with gun and glaive,
For freedom ’t is ye strike below
The banner of the brave;
On—on, until they fly,
Their fiercest daring mar—
’T is well! fling down the brand and cry
The victor shout—hurrah!