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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


"OLD FORT MEIGS [APRIL 28-MAY 9, 1813]" by ANONYMOUS

First Line: OH! LONELY IS OUR OLD GREEN FORT
Last Line: "WHEN WE FOUGHT HERE WITH HARRISON, / A LONG TIME AGO"
Subject(s): "FORT MEIGS, BATTLE OF (1813);HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY (1773-1841);WAR OF 1812;"

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.



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