| Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829. | | | | War Song | | By Thomas O. Folsom (1802–1827) |
| | | IS it the welcome roar | |
| Of thundering signal gun?— | |
| Hark! for the sound bursts through once more, | |
| Rending night’s robe of dun. | |
| It is the welcome sound, | 5 |
| The joyous call to war, | |
| For the near bugle screams around | |
| The cry to arms—hurrah! | |
| |
| From beauty’s straining arms | |
| And banquet pleasures spring, | 10 |
| 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 | 15 |
| And blithely shout—hurrah! | |
| |
| The early dawn shall glance | |
| On the long gleaming line, | |
| Proudly the buoyant plume will dance, | |
| And burnish’d bayonet shine; | 20 |
| The soldier’s heart will leap | |
| As trumpets ring afar,— | |
| They summon him away to reap | |
| His wreaths of fame—hurrah! | |
| |
| Lo! yonder comes the foe— | 25 |
| 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— | 30 |
| ’T is well! fling down the brand and cry | |
| The victor shout—hurrah! | | | | |
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