Poem “The Battle of Lexington” by Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833)

[Unbridled Liberty]

Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833)
Abandoned as an infant by his African father and white New England mother, Haynes was raised as a servant in the house of Deacon David Rose in Granville, Massachusetts. Educated in the local school and at home by the minister and his wife, Haynes grew up to be a bookish and devout man. A patriotic American, he joined the local militia when he turned 21 in 1774, and went on to see action in various battles, including the siege of Boston and Ethan Allen's assault on Ticonderoga. Afterwards he pursued a long career as a preacher in Vermont, publishing an account of his ministry and two of his sermons in 1820.

"The Battle of Lexington"
3
The Nineteenth Day of April last
We ever shall retain
As monumental of the past
Most bloody shocking Scene
4
Then Tyrants fill'd with horrid Rage
A fatal Journey went
& Unmolested to engage
And slay the innocent . . .
6
At Lexington they did appear
Array'd in hostile Form
And tho our Friends were peacefull
there
Yet on them fell the Storm
7
Eight most unhappy Victims fell
Into the Arms of Death
Unpitied by those Tribes of Hell
Who curs'd them with their Breath
8
The Savage Band still march along
For Concord they were bound
While Oaths & Curses from their
Tongue
Accent with hellish Sound
9
To prosecute their fell Desire
At Concord they unite
Two Sons of Freedom there expire
By their tyrannic Spite
10
Thus did our Friends endure their Rage
Without a murm'ring Word
Till die they must or else engage
And join with one Accord
11
Such Pity did their Breath inspire
That long they bore the Rod
And with Reluctance they conspire
To shed the human Blood
12
But Pity could no longer sway
Tho' 't is a pow'rfull Band
For Liberty now bleeding lay
And calld them to withstand
13
The Awfull Conflict now begun
To rage with furious Pride
And Blood in great Effusion run
From many a wounded Side
14
For Liberty, each Freeman Strives
As its a Gift of God
And for it willing yield their Lives
And Seal it with their Blood
15
Thrice happy they who thus resign
Into the peacefull Grave
Much better there, in Death Confin'd
Than a Surviving Slave
16
This Motto may adorn their Tombs,
(Let tyrants come and view)
"We rather seek these silent Rooms
Than live as Slaves to You"
(1775)