The Rifleman's Song at Bennington

Defeated in Jersey, the English turned with increased vigor
to the task of securing the line of the Hudson. An army under
General Burgoyne, starting from Canada, was to march down the
Hudson to Albany; a second, under Colonel Saint Leger, was
to descend the Mohawk valley and unite with Burgoyne; while
a third, under Sir William Howe, was to ascend the river to
Albany, thus completing the conquest of New York. Burgoyne
began his advance early in June with an army of eight thousand
men; but soon ran short of supplies, and finally, on August 13,
detached an expedition to the little village of Bennington,
where the Americans had collected horses and stores. Word of
its approach was sent forward and Colonel John Stark prepared
to give it a warm reception.

THE RIFLEMAN'S SONG AT BENNINGTON

Why come ye hither, stranger?
Your mind what madness fills?
In our valleys there is danger,
And danger on our hills!
Hear ye not the singing
Of the bugle, wild and free?
Full soon ye'll know the ringing
Of the rifle from the tree!
The rifle, the sharp rifle!
In our hands it is no trifle!

Ye ride a goodly steed;
He may know another master:
Ye forward come with speed,
But ye'll learn to back much faster,
When ye meet our mountain boys
And their leader, Johnny Stark!
Lads who make but little noise,
But who always hit the mark
With the rifle, the true rifle!
In their hands will prove no trifle!

Had ye no graves at home
Across the briny water,
That hither ye must come,
Like bullocks to the slaughter?
If we the work must do,
Why, the sooner 'tis begun,
If flint and trigger hold but true,
The quicker 'twill be done
By the rifle, the good rifle!
In our hands it is no trifle!