On to their earthworks we drove them, shaking with ire and dismay; There they made stand with a purpose to beat back the tide of the day. Onward we followed, then faltered; deadly their balls whistled free. Where was our death-daring leader? Arnold, our hope, where was he? He? He was everywhere riding! hither and thither his form, On the brown charger careering, showed us the path of the storm; Over the roar of the cannon, over the musketry’s crash, Sounded his voice, while his sabre lit up the way with its flash. Throwing quick glances around him, reining a moment his steed— “Brooks! that redoubt!” was his order: “let the rest follow my lead! Mark where the smoke-cloud is parting! see where their gun-barrels glance! Livingston, forward! On, Wesson! charge them! Let Morgan advance!” “Forward!” he shouted, and, spurring on through the sally-port then, Fell sword in hand on the Hessians, closely behind him our men. Back shrank the foemen in terror, off went their forces pell-mell, Firing one Parthian volley: struck by it, Arnold he fell. [Illustration: “FIRING ONE PARTHIAN VOLLEY.”] Ours was the day. Up we raised him; spurted the blood from his knee— “Take this cravat, boys, and bind it; I am not dead yet,” said he. “What! did you follow me, Armstrong? Pray, do you think it quite right, Leaving your duties out yonder to risk your dear self in the fight?” “General Gates sent his orders—” faltering the aide-de-camp spoke— “You’re to return, lest some rashness—” Fiercely the speech Arnold broke: “Rashness! Why, yes! tell the general the rashness he dreaded is done! Tell him his kinsfolk are beaten! tell him the battle is won!” Oh, that a soldier so glorious, ever victorious in fight, Passed from a daylight of honor into the terrible night; Fell as the mighty archangel, ere the earth glowed in space, fell— Fell from the patriot’s heaven down to the loyalist’s hell! _SIEGE OF FORT HENRY._ [Illustration: GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE.] In 1771, a stockade fort was erected at the mouth of Wheeling Creek, in what was then the district of West Augusta, in Virginia, to protect the settlers against a threatened invasion of the savages. It was called Fort Fincastle, and is said to have been planned by George Rogers Clarke. The original garrison was twenty-five men; but though this was afterwards ordered to be doubled, it is doubtful if the command were ever obeyed. In 1776, when the colonists rebelled against the crown, and West Augusta was divided into the counties of Ohio, Youghiogheny, and Monongahela, the name was changed to Fort Henry, in honor of Patrick Henry, then governor of Virginia.