Loud rang the cheering in reply, but through the ranks there ran A murmur, for they felt it long until the fight began, Although they knew the tardiness was from a well-formed plan. For in their hurried council there our leaders planned the fight, That Herrick with three hundred men should march upon their right, And Nichols on the left with more spared from our scanty might, To join their forces in the rear, and there assault begin, While we upon their front advanced at signal of the din; And then let those who dealt their blows with fiercest vigor win. Our forces stood without a stir, in silence grim and dark, While like a statue on his steed so motionless sat Stark, When suddenly, with finger raised, the general whispered—“Hark!” We stood as silent as the grave, and as we bent to hear, Above the silence far away there came a lusty cheer; Some shots were fired—we knew our friends had joined upon their rear— “Now, hearts so warm, move like the storm!” said Stark, and led the way; “Green Mountain Boys, acquit yourselves like mettled men to-day! Take careful aim and waste no lead! the wolves are brought to bay!” Then came the crash of musketry loud pealing on my ear; I heard a whizzing sound go past—down fell a comrade near— There was a throbbing in my breast that seemed almost like fear— A shock, to see a stout young man, in all his youth and pride, One who had left the day before a fond and blooming bride, Thus done to death, the scarlet blood slow trickling from his side; And doubly strange that fearful sight to one who ne’er before, Amid the shouting of the hosts, and the cannon’s deadly roar, Had seen a fellow-mortal lie thus lifeless in his gore. But rage supplanted this at once—my heart grew strong again; Uprose grim wrath and bitter hate, and bitterer disdain. I longed to add a leaden drop unto that whizzing rain— The tenderness of youth I found forevermore had gone. My cheek was leaned upon my gun, the sight was finely drawn Upon a gold-laced officer who cheered the Hessians on; And, trembling in my eagerness to strike for home a blow, I sent the lead, as mother said, two fingers’ length below The ridge that marked the collar-bone, and laughed when fell the foe. There comes a pause within the fight—we see some horsemen group, And on the breastwork ridge take line, a dark and threatening troop— Compact they form, with sabres drawn, upon our force to swoop. Oh, now we smile a grimly smile, and wrath our bosom stirs; We newly load and careful prime our firelocks for the curs— For well we know their uniform, those Brunswicker chasseurs! They come at last whose doom was past long, weary months before— They come to meet the death that we to deal upon them swore When first the bearded robbers came for plunder to our shore.