William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Battle of the Potomac, with the MalaysA
The forts of our enemy full in our view;
The frigate Potomac, John Downes, our commander,
Rode proudly at anchor, off Quallah Battoo.
Our boats was the word and our tackles were mann’d;
Six miles was the distance that now lay between
Our fine lofty ship and the enemy’s land.
And moor’d till the word of command should be given;
On deck we reposed with our swords for our pillows,
And committed our cause, with its justness, to Heaven.
The boatswain’s shrill pipe call’d each man to his post;
Our hearts arm’d with justice, our minds fully bent
To attack and destroy that piratical host,
Just twelve months before the memorable day,
When Shubrick led forth the Potomac’s so true,
To fight and to vanquish the hostile Malay.
To fight or to die, for our cause it was just;
Our muskets were loaded, and our bosoms were bared
To the strife or the storm, for in God was our trust.
“I charge you by all that is sacred below,
From the true paths of honour, or virtue, ne’er wander;
If mercy’s requested, then mercy bestow.
Sheath’d their swords in the breast of a female or child;
And may virtue and honour attend you this day;
Be you death to the arm’d, to the helpless be mild.
We left the Potomac, and steer’d for the shore;
Save the noise of the sea-beach, we heard not a sound,
Our rowlocks were matted, and muffled each oar.
And the gray streaks of morning began to appear;
But, by prudence and caution, we safely did land,
Though the waters were wild and the enemy near.
But bravely advanced to the forts of our foe;
We thought of no trouble, we thought of no dangers,
Determined, unless we in death were laid low,
So oft have sustain’d from those demons of hell;
Our work we commenced, and the bright conflagration,
Left but few of our foes the sad story to tell.
For mercy or quarter they never had shown;
And the blood of their victims forever they sought,
But the God of the Christians they never had known.
And the bullets like hail-stones were scattered abroad.
But still on their forts we continued to play,
To conquer our object, Potomac’s our word.
Beneath their rude ramparts stood firmly and brave;
Resolved that the stripes and stars of Columbia
E’re long on their ramparts triumphant should wave.
Then opened a path, and we entered their gates;
We paused but a moment, gave three hearty cheers,
Then hoisted the flag that is worn by the states.
And warn’d us the hour of departure was near;
Our wounded and slain we collected in peace,
And form’d, with our pikes and our muskets, a bier.
To our ship, that majestically rode on the wave;
To comfort the wounded, the dead to deplore,
And commit their remains to a watery grave.
Floats proudly along the smooth eastern waters;
Columbia! Columbia! the deeds of that day
Shall be told by thy sons, and be sung by thy daughters.
In the calm time of peace they are generous and kind;
Our crew for the brave and American Star
Are all in one voice and one body combin’d.
And nothing our cause or our progress impede;
May the Potomac, with glory and honour come home,
And her name ne’er be stain’d with an unworthy deed.