William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Battle of BenningtonR
Though the days of the heroes are o’er;
Long lost to their country and cold in their grave,
They return to their kindred no more.
The stars of the field, which in victory pour’d
Their beams on the battle are set,
But enough of their glory remains on each sword
To light us to victory yet!
Of thy fields and thy mountains so fair,
Did she ever intend that a tyrant should print
The footsteps of slavery there!
No! Freedom, whose smiles we shall never resign,
Told those who invaded our plains,
That ’tis sweeter to bleed for an age at thy shrine,
Than to sleep for a moment in chains.
In the day of distress by our side;
Nor the heroes who nourish’d the fields with their blood,
Nor the rights they secured as they died.
The sun that now blesses our eyes with his light,
Saw the martyrs of liberty slain;
O, let him not blush when he leaves us to-night,
To find that they fell there in vain!