William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Capture of BurgoyneH
Of Burgoyne and his army great,
Who so proudly did display
The terrors of despotic sway.
His power and pride and many threats
Have been brought low by fortunate Gates,
To bend to the United States.
Foreigners—by Contra-vention,2198
Tories sent across the Lake,1100
Burgoyne and his suite, in state,12
Sick and wounded, bruised and pounded,
Ne’er so much before confounded,528
Prisoners of war before Convention,400
Deserters come with kind intention,300
They lost at Bennington’s great battle,
Where Starke’s glorious arms did rattle,1220
Kill’d in September and October,600
Ta’en by brave Brown, some drunk, some sober,413
Slain by high-famed Herkerman,
On both flanks, on rear and van,300
Indians, settlers, butchers, drovers,
Enough to crowd large plains all over,
And those whom grim Death did prevent
From fighting against our continent;
And also those who stole away,
Lest they down their arms should lay,
Abhorring that obnoxious day;4413
The whole make fourteen thousand men,
Who may not with us fight again.14,000
Of Burgoyne’s legions’ whole amount,
Who came across the Northern Lakes
To desolate our happy States.
Their brass cannons we have got all—
Fifty-six—both great and small;
And ten thousand stand of arms,
To prevent all future harms;
Stores and implements complete,
Of workmanship exceeding neat;
Covered wagons in great plenty,
And proper harness, no way scanty.
Among our prisoners there are
Six generals of fame most rare;
Six members of their Parliament—
Reluctantly they seem content;
Three British lords, and Lord Belcarras,
Who came, our country free to harass.
Two baronets of high extraction
Were sorely wounded in the action.