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26 Aug 05 - 07:16 PM (#1550614) Subject: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Dave Ruch Has anybody come across this, written by a William Banker Jr after the October 13, 1812 event? It starts as follows: When brave Van Rensselaer cross'd the stream Just at the break of day Distressing thoughts, a restless dream Disturb'd me where I lay I came across a full version of the text while doing some research today, and have been unable to find any other reference to the song here, or elsewhere online. |
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26 Aug 05 - 07:24 PM (#1550618) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenston (War of 1812) From: Dave Ruch Oops....that should have been Queenston (without the "w"). |
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26 Aug 05 - 07:52 PM (#1550634) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Q (Frank Staplin) There is a song sheet, "Battle of Queenstown," in American Memory, but it doesn't have the verse you quoted. Would you please give the source of your text, and possibly post the words? The general's name is Van Ransellaer. The Canadians have a song called "The Battle of Queenston Heights," melody by Alan Mills, apparently never sung. The words supposedly were written in the 1820s. Again, not the same words. Stan Rogers also wrote a song about the event. |
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26 Aug 05 - 09:28 PM (#1550681) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Dave Ruch Thanks Q. I just looked at the American Memory version, and it's completely different. The version I found is typed out in a 1940's letter from the City Historian of Batavia NY to the Buffalo (NY) & Erie County Historical Society; sort of a "here's one for your files". The text is taken from Burton Stevenson's book "Poems of American History", page 292 according to this letter. What struck my fancy was that the writer of the 1940's letter pursued the song lyrics after his colleague mentioned hearing his paternal grandmother sing a doleful ditty, concerning "when brave Van Rensselaer cross'd the stream", lines of which the colleague could recite but not sing. I'll post the full lyrics tomorrow. |
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26 Aug 05 - 09:50 PM (#1550689) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Midchuck Isn't this the same brawl which generated Stan's MacDonnell on the Heights? Great song. Peter. |
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27 Aug 05 - 05:29 PM (#1551068) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Dave Ruch Here it is, Q: THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTON |
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27 Aug 05 - 05:51 PM (#1551088) Subject: Lyr Add: THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTON From: Dave Ruch Oops..I hit the wrong button. THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTON When brave Van Rensselaer cross'd the stream Just at the break of day Distressing thoughts, a restless dream Disturb'd me where I lay But all the terrors of the night Did quickly flee away My opening eyes beheld the light And hail'd the new-born day Soon the murdering cannon's roar Put blood in all my veins Columbia's sons have trod the shore Where the proud Britain reigns To expose their breast to cannon's ball Their country's rights to save O what a grief to see them fall! True heroes, bold and brave The musket's flash, the cannon's glow Thunder'd and lighten'd round Struck dread on all the tawny foe And swept them to the ground I thought what numbers must be slain What weeping widows left! And aged parents full of pain Of every joy bereft The naked savage yelling round Our heroes where they stood And every weapon to be found Was bathed in human blood But bold Van Rensselaer full of wounds Was quickly carried back Brave Colonel Bloom did next command The bloody fierce attack Where Brock, the proud insulter, rides In pomp and splendor great Our valiant heroes he derides And dared the power of fate Here is a mark for Yankee boys So shoot me if you can A Yankee ball soon closed his eyes Death found him but a man They slaughtered down the tawny foe And Britons that were near They dealt out death at every blow The battle was severe Five battles fought all in one day Through four victories stood But ah! the fifth swept all away And spilt our heroes blood The tomahawk and scalping knife On them did try their skill Sound wounded, struggling for their life Did black barbarians kill Brave Wadsworth boldly kept the field Till their last bullets flew Then all were prisoners forced to yield What could the general do? Militia men! O fie for shame! Thus you your country flee Tis you at last will bear the blame For loss of victory When mild Van Rensselaer did command You would not him obey But stood spectators on the strand To see the bloody fray The number kill'd was seventy-four Prisoners, seven hundred sixty-nine Wounded, two hundred or more Who languished in great pain Some have already lost their lives And others like to go But few, I fear, will tell their wives The doleful tale of wo. Burton Stevenson's note prefacing the poem: "the capture of the 'Guerriere' had greatly encouraged the Americans, and General Stephen Van Rensselaer, in command of the northern army, determined to try another strike, at Canada. On October 13, 1812, he started to cross the Niagara River, with 600 men, but the crossing was mismanaged, the militia refusing to obey orders, and, after a gallant fight, lasting all day, the Americans were forced to surrender, to an overwhelming force, of British and Indians." |
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27 Aug 05 - 08:24 PM (#1551190) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Thanks for the poem. I wonder if it was ever printed elsewhere than in Burton Stevenson's book. The others don't mention that Indians fought with the British. |
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28 Aug 05 - 02:54 AM (#1551376) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: wildlone I am a re-enactor in the 41st foot. We portray the life of a soldier in the war of 1812. Both sides used native Americans during the war. Battle of Queenston Heights dave |
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29 Aug 05 - 11:54 AM (#1552243) Subject: RE: The Battle of Queenstown (War of 1812) From: Dave Ruch Now, to put a tune to it...... |