Lyr ADD: St Clair's Defeat (Bob Gibson Version)

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: St Clair's Defeat (Bob Gibson Version)
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Nov 19 - 10:40 PM

Thanks, Joe. That solves THAT problem (of many years standing!) for me. By the way, it was also called "The Battle of the Wabash" for some reason -- the US Regular Army lost 25% of its entire active duty force!

Subject: ADD: St Clair's Defeat (Bob Gibson Version)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Nov 19 - 11:43 PM

ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT
(as sung by Bob Gibson)

‘Twas November the fourth
In the year of ninety-one
We had a strong engagement
Near to Fort Jefferson
St. Clair was our commander
Which may remembered be
But we left nine hundred comrades
In that dreadful territory

The Indians attacked our force
Just as the day did dawn
The arrows fell like deadly rain
As we were set upon
One hundred men lay writhing
Before our startled eyes
While horrid yells of savages
Resounded through the skies

‘Twas at Bunker Hill and Kennebec
Where many a hero fell
Likewise at Canandaigua
It is I the truth can tell
But such a bloody carnage
May I never see again
As happened near Fort Jefferson
All on that river plain

Three hours more we fought them
Till then we had to yield
Nine hundred of our comrades
Lay stretched upon the field
Says Major Clark, “My heroes
We can no longer stand
We will strive to form in order
And retreat the best we can”

The word retreat being passed around
There rose a dismal cry
Then helter skelter through the woods
Like wolves and sheep they fly
This well appointed army
Which had fought so brave before
Now fled before the savage
And his bloody kind of war

Alas the dead and dying
How awful to relate
The tomahawk and scalping knife
It was to be their fate
But pity more the wounded
Who were taken in that fray
To writhe in torment at the stake
To close that awful day

‘Twas November the fourth
In the year of ninety-one
We had a strong engagement
Near to Fort Jefferson
St. Clair was our commander
Which may remembered be
But we left nine hundred comrades
In that dreadful territory

New words and musical adaptation by Bob Gibson
© Robert Josiah Music

Source: https://www.bobgibsonfolk.com/song-st-clairs-defeat/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huunUIGdKqk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Clair's Defeat
From: GUEST,Big Wayne
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 10:42 AM

Thanks to Don for these lyrics!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Clair's Defeat
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 08:04 PM

Check out the forum. There was an old thread there that cover's a good bit. Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: ST. CLARE'S DEFEAT
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 06:57 PM

"ST. CLARE'S DEFEAT"

'Twas November the 4th in the year of '91,
We had a strong engagement near to Fort Jefferson,
Sinclair was our commander which may remembered be,
For we left 900 comrades in that dreaful Territory.

At Bunker's Hill and at Kennebec where many a hero fell,
Likewise at Canandaigua the truth to you I'll tell,
But such a bloody carnage may I never see again,
As happened near Fort Jefferson all on that river plain.

The Indians attacked our force just as the day did dawn,
The arrows fell like deadly rain as we were set upon,
900 hundred men fell writhing before our startled eyes,
While horrid yells of savages resounded to the sky.

3 hours more we fought them 'til then we had to yield,
900 of our comrades lay stretched upon the field,
Says Major Clark, "My heroes, we can no longer stand,
We'll strive to form in honor and retreat the best we can."

The word "retreat" being passed around, there rose a dismal cry,
Then helter-skelter through the woods like wolves and sheep they fly,
This well-apointed army which but a day before,
Now fled before the savage and his dreadful kind of war.

Alas, the dying and wounded---how awful to relate,
To the tomahawk and scalping knife it was there dreadful fate
But pity more the wounded who were taken in that fray,
Who (To) writhed in torment at the stake to close that awful day.

Repeat first verse

thats as close as I recall


Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Clair's Defeat
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 06:38 PM

No, but I'm trying to reconstruct them from memory.

Subject: Lyr Req: St Clair's Defeat
From: GUEST,Big Wayne
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 03:51 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to Bob Gibson and Hamilton Camp's version of St. Clair's Defeat?