Fast and faster worked the gunner, Soiled with powder, blood and dust, English bayonets shone before him, Shot and shell around him burst; Still he fought with reckless daring, Stood and manned her long and well, Till at last the gallant fellow Dead—beside his cannon fell. With a bitter cry of sorrow, And a dark and angry frown, Looked that band of gallant patriots At their gunner stricken down. “Fall back, comrades, it is folly Thus to strive against the foe.” “No! not so,” cried Irish Molly; “We can strike another blow.” Quickly leaped she to the cannon, In her fallen husband’s place, Sponged and rammed it fast and steady, Fired it in the foeman’s face. Flashed another ringing volley, Roared another from the gun; “Boys, hurrah!” cried gallant Molly, “For the flag of Washington.” Greene’s Brigade, though shorn and shattered, Slain and bleeding half their men, When they heard that Irish slogan, Turned and charged the foe again. Knox and Wayne and Morgan rally, To the front they forward wheel, And before their rushing onset Clinton’s English columns reel. Still the cannon’s voice in anger Rolled and rattled o’er the plain, Till there lay in swarms around it Mangled heaps of Hessian slain. “Forward! charge them with the bayonet!” ’Twas the voice of Washington, And there burst a fiery greeting From the Irish woman’s gun. Monckton falls; against his columns Leap the troops of Wayne and Lee, And before their reeking bayonets Clinton’s red battalions flee. Morgan’s rifles, fiercely flashing, Thin the foe’s retreating ranks, And behind them onward dashing Ogden hovers on their flanks. Fast they fly, these boasting Britons, Who in all their glory came, With their brutal Hessian hirelings To wipe out our country’s name. Proudly floats the starry banner, Monmouth’s glorious field is won, And in triumph Irish Molly, Stands beside her smoking gun. THE SOUTH IN THE REVOLUTION BY ROBERT YOUNG HAYNE If there be one State in the Union, and I say it not in a boasting spirit, that may challenge comparison with any other, for an uniform, zealous, ardent, and uncalculating devotion to the Union, that State is South Carolina.