The Battle of the Kegs

[Spanisharmada]

During the revolutionary war, while George Washington and Lafayette were in Valley forge, bunkered down there for the winter of 1778, while unimaginable numbers of rebel soldiers were deserting, and the only way not to lose was to not alert the British of the alarmingly low number of soldiers. In an attempt to knock out the Royal Navy, David Bushnell sent Kegs filled with gun powder down the Delaware which exploded on contact, so they could hit the British warships,and sink them. Un fortunately, the British spotted them, and sent 4 troops to investigate the kegs. 4 soldiers rowed out to investigate, and blew up when they hit the kegs. As a result whole broadsides went out to shoot the kegs, because they thought Continental troops were hidden in them. To keep up morale, Francis Hopkinsons wrote a ballad; the battle of the kegs:

 

 

Gallants attend and hear a friend

Trill forth harmonious ditty,

Strange things I'll tell which late befell

In Philadelphia city.

 

 

'Twas early day, as poets say,

Just when the sun was rising,

A soldier stood on a log of wood,

And saw a thing surprising.

 

As in amaze he stood to gaze,

The truth can't be denied, sir,

He spied a score of kegs or more

Come floating down the tide, sir.

 

 

A sailor too in jerkin blue,

This strange appearance viewing,

First damned his eyes, in great surprise,

Then said, "Some mischief's brewing.

 

"These kegs, I'm told, the rebels hold,

Packed up like pickled herring;

And they're come down to attack the town,

In this new way of ferrying."

 

 

The soldier flew, the sailor too,

And scared almost to death, sir,

Wore out their shoes, to spread the news,

And ran till out of breath, sir.

 

Now up and down throughout the town,

Most frantic scenes were acted;

And some ran here, and others there,

Like men almost distracted.

 

 

Some fire cried, which some denied,

But said the earth had quaked;

And girls and boys, with hideous noise,

Ran through the streets half naked.

 

Sir William he, snug as a flea,

Lay all this time a snoring,

Nor dreamed of harm as he lay warm,

In bed with Mrs. Loring.

 

 

Now in a fright, he starts upright,

Awaked by such a clatter;

He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries,

"For God's sake, what's the matter?"

 

At his bedside he then espied,

Sir Erskine at command, sir,

Upon one foot he had one boot,

And th' other in his hand, sir.

 

 

"Arise, arise," Sir Erskine cries,

"The rebels--more's the pity,

Without a boat are all afloat,

And ranged before the city.

 

"The motley crew, in vessels new,

With Satan for their guide, sir,

Packed up in bags, or wooden kegs,

Come driving down the tide, sir.

 

 

"Therefore prepare for bloody war;

These kegs must all be routed,

Or surely we despised shall be,

And British courage doubted."

 

The royal band now ready stand

All ranged in dread array, sir,

With stomach' stout to see it out,

And make a bloody day, sir.

 

 

The cannons roar from shore to shore.

The small arms make a rattle;

Since wars began I'm sure no man

E'er saw so strange a battle.

 

 

The rebel dales, the rebel vales,

With rebel trees surrounded,

The distant woods, the hills and floods,

With rebel echoes sounded.

 

The fish below swam to and fro,

Attacked from every quarter;

Why sure, thought they, the devil's to pay,

'Mongst folks above the water.

 

 

The kegs, 'tis said, though strongly made,

Of rebel staves and hoops, sir,

Could not oppose their powerful foes,

The conquering British troops, sir.

 

From morn to night these men of might

Displayed amazing courage;

And when the sun was fairly down,

Retired to sup their porridge.

 

 

A hundred men with each a pen,

Or more upon my word, sir,

It is most true would be too few,

Their valor to record, sir.

 

Such feats did they perform that day,

Against these wicked kegs, sir,

That years to come: if they get home,

They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.