Battle of the Kegs

by Francis Hopkinson

Battle of the Kegs. July. 1778.
https://www.loc.gov/item/rbpe.14500900/.

Sung to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”

Gallants attend, and hear a friend,
  Trill forth harmonious ditty;
Strange things I'll tell, Which late befel,
  In Philadelphia City.

'Twas early day, as poets say,
  Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood on a log of wood,
  And saw a site surprising.

As in amaze, he stood to gaze,
  The truth can't be denied, sir
He spied a score - of kegs, or more,
  Come floating down the tide, sir,

A sailor too, in jerkin blue,
  The strange appearance viewing,
First damned his eyes, in great surprise,
  Then said,…some mischief's brewing.

These kegs now hold the rebels bold,
  Pack'd up like pickled herring:
And they're come down to attack the town,
  In this new way of ferrying.

The soldier flew, the sailor too,
  And, scared almost to death, sir,
Wore out their shoes, to spread the news,
  And ran till out of breath, sir.

Now up and down, throughout the town,
  Most frantic scenes were acted:
And some ran here, and some ran there
  Like men almost distracted,

Some fire cry'd, which some deny'd,
  But said the earth had quaked;
And girls and boys, with hideous noise
  Ran through the town half naked.

* Sir William he, snug as a flea,
  Lay all this time a snoring,
Nor dreamt of harm, as he lay warm,
  In bed with Mrs. Loring.

Now in a fright, he starts upright,
Awak'd by such a clatter;
  He rubs his eyes and boldly cries,
‘For God's sake what's the matter?’

At his bed side, he then espy'd,
  Sir Erskine† in command, sir,
Upon one foot he had one boot,
  And t'other in his hand, sir.

Arise! Arise! Sir Erskine cries;
  The rebels.…more's the pity….
Without a boat, are all on float,
  And ranged before the city.

The motley crews, in vessels new,
  With Satan for their guide, sir,
Packed up in bags, or wooden kegs
  Come driving down the tide, sir.

Therefore prepare for bloody war;
  These kegs must all be routed;
Or surely we despis'd shall be;
  And British courage doubted.

The royal band now ready stand,
  All rang'd in dread array, sir,
With stomach stout to see it out,
  And make a bloody day, sir.

The cannons roar, from shore to shore,
  The small arms make a rattle:
Since wars began I'm sure no man,
  E'er saw so strange a battle.

The Rebel‡ vales , the rebel dales,
  With rebel trees surrounded;
The distant woods, the hills, and floods,
  With Rebel echoes sounded.

The fish below swam to and fro,
  Attacked form every quarter;
Why sure, thought they, the devil's to pay
  'Mongst folk above the water.

These kegs 'tis said, tho' strongly made,
  Of rebel staves and hoops, sir,
Could not oppose their pow'rful foes,
  The conquering British troops, sir.

From morn to night, these men of might
  Display'd amazing courage;
And when the sun was fairly down,
  Retir'd to sup their porridge:

An hundred men with each a pen,
  Or more upon my word, sir,
It is most true, would be too few,
  Their valor to record, sir.

Such feats did they perform that day
  Upon these wicked kegs, sir,
That years to come, if they get home,
  They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.

* Sir Wm. Howe.
† Sir W. Erskine.
‡ The British officers so fond of the word rebel, that they often applied it most absurdly.