History & Politics

Old Fort Meigs

by Anonymous (American Ballads and Songs) traditional and anonymous; 17th–19th century

From Poems of American History (1908)

History & Politics

Oh! lonely is our old green fort,
Where oft, in days of old,
Our gallant soldiers bravely fought
'Gainst savage allies bold;
But with the change of years have pass'd
That unrelenting foe,
Since we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.

It seems but yesterday I heard,
From yonder thicket nigh,
The unerring rifle's sharp report,
The Indian's startling cry.
Yon brooklet flowing at our feet,
With crimson gore did flow,
When we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.

The river rolls between its banks,
As when of old we came,
Each grassy path, each shady nook,
Seems to me still the same;
But we are scatter'd now, whose faith
Pledged here, through weal or woe,
With Harrison our soil to guard,
A long time ago.

But many a soldier's lip is mute,
And clouded many a brow,
And hearts that beat for honor then,
Have ceased their throbbing now.
We ne'er shall meet again in life
As then we met, I trow,
When we fought here with Harrison,
A long time ago.

MLA

Anonymous (American Ballads and Songs). “Old Fort Meigs.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-american-ballads/90/.

Chicago

Anonymous (American Ballads and Songs). “Old Fort Meigs.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-american-ballads/90/.

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