E 415 T58 X RHYMES OF THE ROUTS : PALO-ALTO; RESACCA DE LA PALMA, MONTEREY, P.UENA VISTA, VERA CRUZ, CEtlRO GORDO, SACRAMENTO, &-. B Y L E W I S F . THOMAS, AUTHOR OF " INDA," AND OTHER POEMS. ' Jlrma virumque mno." ALSO, iMIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM: BY THOMAS S. DONOHO, AUTHOR OF "MOEXA," AND OTHER POEMS. WASHINGTON, D. C. : PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM ADAM, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. RHYMES OF THE ROUTS, IN MEXICO: o^ BY LEWIS F. THOMAS, ' ^ AUTHOR OF " INDA," AND OTHER POEMS. Anna virumquc an, v^ *.+ . , ^'^C v % *. -^^ % ]Vf A* V> D^N ; ft O; ^ AUTHOR. OF "MOENAV" AND" OTHER POEMS. V x -NS , , V^T JN \> ~W..v~^ * f '&+^ - V.y feWgHED^Y WILLIAM ADAM,. v . ^* PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. ^ > * t , ,..,*>,,., vx ,^ > v . , %% :- k ', s, *"**- ADVERTISEMENT. The following paem, " RHYMES OF THE ROUTS." was originally published irf the Washington Saturday Evening News, and the demand for it, having soon exhausted the edition of the paper, it was deemed expedient to present it to the public in a more permanent and acceptable form ; hence its appearance in its* present style. The MIDSUMMER DAY'S DftEAtf, which also first appeared in the same paper, has excited so much interest from the novelty of the subject, and the intrnflc merit of the performance, that its republication has been thought advisable. THE PUBLISHER, RHYMES OF THE ROUTS, i INSCRIBED TO THE PRESIDENT AND ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, BY THE AUTHOR. PALO ALTO RESACCA. Let the welkin ring with shouts, Let the cannon loudly roar, For such vict'ries and such routs As were never known before ! When the eagle of the North Was at Mexic's vulture flown, And the stars and stripes went forth, O'er the fields of his renown. For the carrion-craven fled, At our war-bird's battle cry, And his Aztec legions sped Swift as meteors in the sky ! To the PALO ALTO groves, Where the chapparal grows rank, And the wild deer freely roves By the Rio Grande's bank ; There the Green and White and Red,* Aztec's emblem of belief, Were by bold ARISTA led, Who in threat 'ning terms and brief Bade our glorious flag come down, And be humbled to his band, And our gallant TAYLOR own Mexic's right o'er all the land ! But our noble leader said That his march was o'er that field ; And the valiant troops he led There would* perish e'er they'd yield ! And he marshall'd his brave men, To his foeman's three to one, And a dreadful battle then On the eighth of May begun. With the cannon's thunder peal, RHYMES OP THE ROUTS. And the rifle's ringing crack, y* 4- And the clattering of steel, Were the Aztecs driven back ; And the Yankees' triumph shout O'er the battle's din rose high, As their banner bright streamed out In the pride of victory! For their enemies in dread At the terrors of the fight, Left their wounded and their dead. And their safety sought in flight. But a gallant foe, next day, Good LA VEGA, void of fear, At RESACCA bade them stay, And controlr*d their wild career : All in vain the Northern ranks Like a whirlwind on their foe Rush'd, scat'ring front and flanks, As a whirlwind scatters snow. Loud the wounded shriek'd with pain, As tfre trampling steeds dash'd by, That no more would know the rein Of their riders left to die. Then their Horse and Foot flew fast, And whole legions in dismay, Where the river hurried past, Leap'd despairing in its spray : And the Rio Grande's tide Had that day a crimson flow, For its ev'ry wave was dyed With the blood of Mexico. MONTEREY. O Monterey ! O Monterey ! Sweet city far renown'd, Once in thy princely palaces Vice-regal pomp was found. Thy halls with mirth rang loud and free, And thou wast happy then, As through the gay fandango whirl'd Fond women and brave men ! And mid thy lime and orange groves, Full many a tale was told Of heart-warm love and constancy, In merry days of old ; And many a fierce fought field was won, By thy proud chiralry, When battling 'gainst the Spaniih Do, They itruck for Liberty. RHYMES OF THE ROUT*. But Monterey ! O Monterey ! The stranger's in thy halls, And high his star-gem'd banner floaU Above thy battered walls ! He joins thy maidens in the dance, He woos them in thy groves, And spite thy olden warrior fame, Thy palaces he roves. Sad day for thee, when from the North The Alleghanians came, And on thy forts and turrets pour'd A devastating flame. Then roar'd the mad artillery, And rained the iron hail, And wild above the conflict's clash Uprose the shriek and wail ! The sulphury clouds of smoke loom'd on, A huge black mourning pall ; For then, indeed, had many dead, Their ghastly funeral ! Thy lancers bravely met the storm, Quick flash'd thy musket's flame ; But vain thy courage : who can stand The Northern's rifle-aim? The whirling thunder-bolts of war With dreadful havoc flew, And forc'd a death encumber'd way Thy walls and bastions through ! Thy streets with blood ran reeking red, Thy slain were heap'd in piles, As in our conquering hero led His thrice victorious files. . Then Aztec's vanquished troops march 'd forth In slow and sad array ; And Freedom's banner flouts the breeze O'er fallen Monterey ! BUENA VISTA. Twas on the Sabbath day, twice holy made To each who claims to be Columbia's son, The day whose recollections ne'er can fade, The birth-day of illustrious WASHINGTON ! On hill-sides rocky, stretch'd on either hand, From BUENA VISTA'S vale of lovely sight, There form'd in war's array a gallant band, In numbers few, but terrible in might. All silently they stood, and saw their foe, In force full four times greater than their own, Advancing in strong phalanx, firm and slow, RHYMES OF THE ROUTS. By SANTA ANNA led, of old renown. They came in pomp ; their colours gayly spread, Fife, drum, and trumpet playing thrilling tones, Lances and bayonets bristling overhead, And huge artillery rumbling o'er the stones. Proudly they marshall'd in that lovely glen, And soon sent forth red battle's deadly ire, Where stood undaunted TAYLOR and his men, Who now, with loud huzzas, returned their fire. Sharp rang the rifle, and the ball sped fast, Lance cross'd with bayonet, and sword with sword, The wounded steeds, mad neighing, hurried past, As the loud cannon its dread thunder pour'd. From noon till eve fierce was the battle's shock, At night it ceased ; the soldier, panting-warm, Sank to repose ; his bed the flinty rock, His only pillow his dead comrade's form. The next day's sun rose on a horrid sight, Dissever'd heads, and limbless trunks ; the dead, And dying wounded, strew'd in ghastly plight, And the whole field with dreadful carnage red. But hark the reveille! to arms ! to arms ! Again the conflict! the swift moving flanks The musket's volley arid the dire alarms Of broken columns, and of scatter'd ranks The groan, the shriek, the yell of horrid death, Mixed with the clamor of quick-clashing steel, And the loud roaring of the cannon's breath All wild war's horrors in one scene reveal ! A parley sounds ; the Aztecs send a truce, And bid the Alleganians yield or die A weak device, the foeman's paltry ruse " Taylor surrenders never /" the reply. Once more the horrid carnage was renew'd, Death seemed to hold a carnival that day, And from the smoky cloud above, to brood, With his attendant vultures, o'er his prey ! Bravely till night, they fought ; the Aztecs then Broke in despair and fled on ev'ry hand, Trampling each other down, both steeds and men, Strewing their dead for miles along the land. Thus Angostura's field was lost and won, And Victory grac'd the banner of the free : Henceforth shall Buena Vista's pass be known Immortal as the old Thermopylae ! VERA CRUZ. See, rising boldly from the deep gulfs tide, ULLOA'S castle, looming in its pride, .RHYMES OF THE ROUTS. With bastions, bulwarks, towers and turrets crown'd, And donjon keeps, deep hidden under ground. Death-dealing engines blacken o'er its walls, And its dread armour Valour's self appals. Behind, the far-famed holy city lies, Its cross-capp'd steeples pointing to the skies, Mirth in i-ts halls, and music in its streets, Love in its bovvers, health in its cool retreats. The sweet guitar, by gallant's fingers play'd, Wakes nightly there the love-lorn serenade, And from the lattice peer dark sparkling eyes, While music's strains are echoed soft in sighs. Behold, approaching o'er yon silv'ry bay, Columbia's fleet, witn pennons streaming gay, Bearing, alas, Death's ministers of woe, To change Joy's scene to aching Sorrow's show ! The boats are lower'd, fill'd with a daring band, The oars are plied, they hasten to the strand, Eager they leap into the foaming spray, And through the breaking billows force their way; They gain the shore, and form in battle-line, And, briefly resting, on their arms recline. Loud rolls the drum, they heed its martial sound, And march that city to beleaguer round. O'er hills of sand their plans of siege they trace, The forts they rear, the pond'rous mortars place, And all war's dreaded implements of ill, That man invents his brother man to kill. Now flies the gleaming rocket through the air, The cannon belches forth its lurid glare, Sending its metal globes, with horrid aim, The booming bomb whirls from its mortar's flame, To burst, and scatter desolation round ; The battle-ships, moor'd at the anchor-ground, Join in the siege, and loudly -echo back The deep mouth 'dthunderings of the shore attack. On that devoted city day by day, Death's iron showers kept up a fearful play, In vain its Castle's armament of might Essay 'd to turn the fortunes of the fight. The broken roofs, the shatter'd walls, the dead, Kill'd in their chambers, slumbering in bed, Or slain while hastening to the church to pray God's mercy to protect them in the fray ! Homes, hearth's, and hearts, by war made deso late, All warned the city to beware its fate. The trumpet sounds a truce ; the gates ope wide, And Aztec's tjroops march out in humbled pride. RHYMES OF THE ROUTS. Fire thousand men upon the sandy plain Laid down their arms, ne'er to be used again : By noble SCOTT, Columbia's legion led, O'er VERA CRUZ their starry banner spread, And from her lordly castle bade it wave, The light, the hope, the glory of the Brave. Now 'neath its folds, peace, order, quiet reign ; Faith and Religion all their rights maintain ! CERRO GORDO. On CERRO GORDO'S side, With banners streaming wide, In martial pomp and pride, Stood Mexic's chivalry. In SANTA ANNA'S name, Their chief, of hero-fame, They rais'd the oriflame Of Aztec's Heraldry. Down in the vale below, March'd steadily and slow, Their Alleghanian foe, All stern and silently. They form'd upon the plain, Till, at the trumpet's strain, They slorm'd the heights amain, With dauntless bravery. Now in bold escalade, The Foot swift charges made, But soon their speed was staid By fires, pour'd fearfully. The Mexics, by the rock, - Protected from their shock, With many a jeer and mock, Scoff'd at our soldiery. From breastwork, and from fort, Or guarded sally port, They deem'd it only sport, With their artillery, To sweep our climbing men, ,Back ta the craggy glen, Never to climb again, In death's dread revelry. Their pastime was but brief; For SCOTT, our noble chief, To th' Infantry's relief Fast sped his cavalry ; Wild rushing up the sleep, O'er rocks they fearless leap, That overhang the deep And dread declivity. RHYMES OF THE ROUTS. On dashed our Foot and Horse ; In their impetuous course, Pouring resistless force Upon the enemy. Now peal'd the cannon's tone, Now came the flash, the groan, The yell, the dying moan, And all war's misery! Proud SANTA ANNA fled, Full half his troops left dead, Or forth as pris'ners led, To Northern gallantry. Loud o'er the Aztec's rout, Right joyously rang out The Alleghanians' shout, For their great victory ! SACRAMENTO. In rich CHIHUAHUA,! far away, Where glitter SACRAMENTO'S tower*, O'erlook'd by mountains bleak and gray, That rise from lovely vales of flowers ; Where grazing flocks the herdsman tends, And the gay sportsman hunts the deer, And village maiden coyly lends Her sweetest smile his eve to cheer ; War's blast is sounded o'er the plains Now flocks and deer may freely roam- Herdsman and sportsman catch the strains, And hasten to defend their home. From many thousand miles afar, The Northerns came, a hardy clan, Led by the soldier-pet of War, The dashing, daring, DONIPHAN ! Entrench'd upon their mountain height, His foe's superior numbers stand, Dauntless, he dares the unequal fight, And conquers battling hand to hand ! On farther CALIFORNIA'S field, Whose shore the fair Pacific laves, The gallant Alleghanians wield Their dreaded and victorious glares. O who can stand the iron clutch, The warklike prowess, matchless might Of free, brave men, when nobly such As STOCKTON, KEARNEY, FREMONT fight? PGEAN. Unfurl our stainless orifiame ! Its silver stars should shine on high. 10 RHYMES OF THE ROUTS. And its bright stripes like meteors gleam, To light us still to victory ! O'er every city, hill, and plain, Where met the foe our country's host, That emblem-banner flies amain, Proclaiming deeds we well may boast ! While stars shine from yon Blue o'erhead, That flag shall type its hue their light, While snow is white, and blood is red, Those streaming stripes be red and white, And 'neath that standard's folds, the Free Shall triumph over land and wave ; Shall win the World to Liberty, And guard the birthright of the Brave ! Great Taylor ! Gonfalon* of might, Well hath that standard met thy care ; On many fields of hottest fight, Thou wast its Saviour; be its heir Heir to its glory long since ]az ^o^int^n> X X-' r%% . ing j^outh alone. ,^ ^ n woos4he"%Sacred I^ine^! " ^ . ^Hpotireditnfer S ivc;.v. ^ **>'+ *\ ^+* ,+ < > Vtynevefrwas W^lotToJive .- K N ^ WhereVeaTWarW'lban^and'FashioTVshine^.i^^ - -_ Of cour^feswl^write him dow.n a ^'^ "*^ ^>^*V , *Vr- a * ut.yawnnotyef, my solcrmP friend, ^ ^ ^ *X l, X x V^ ' .n a fool ! % *^%'" *4K ^\ncKthough a fool my^hero be, ^ '^ ^ * . .*% ^ ^^Pe^'lra^s^hou^Sy It at Kfst c(5ty r cs^j % ^ N. ^^^ "XA sage may % ch^nce to ofFen less -*4\l Nk Can humble means bring noble use ? -* * *^** [ Rrnember ytsop Vgold^n^db^! ^, -. 0t >1 -% V v^ ^ , tc '* N m . J^ *N ^ * ^W- *> V*^ ** -JJV "^ ^v..^* . . - VV ' N .~* K -v\ MIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM. The lattice window once again : O how I love a rambling strain, Now angular, now winding back ; The dearest path I ever knew Is that the field or forest through, But pshaw ! the formal city's track, Where Mathematics rules the line, And mars the whole with nice design ! Well, youth of pleasure's gentle smile, I've left thee now a weary while, But thou, methinks, wilt little feel it, The window-seat is shady rest, That ponderous tome a merry guest, For all thy changing looks reveal it ! And if thou liberate thine eyes, A varied scene before thec lies. Art thou perusing gay romance Of haughty Spain, or courteous France ? Or Shakspeare's wild and witty page ? Is't verse ? For seldom shineth joy So fair as o'er the poet boy, Whom dreams of melody engage ! No : " Voyages in Southern Seas !" How findest thou delight in these ? The inconsistences of man, A bending slave, since time began, To Fashion's autocratic ruling, Resolved he will no better learn, And living on, the rod to earn, Like dunces vainly doomed to schooling ! These thoughts, as well they may, excite Pain first, then laughter's sunny light. For Pity, hearing tale so sad Of nations going fashion-mad, Will first the honest bosom enter, But soon appears the silly part, And Laughter occupies the heart, And shakes it to its very centre ! Thus felt the youth, while reading o'er The customs of a'savage shore. How, mid the South Sea Isles afar, They mark the form with flower and star, And wondrous labyrinthian lines, Tattooed upon the tender skin,- " To tell the quality within," As rank alone too often shines Like lamps of horn, wliose sober rays Would fail to dazzle public 14 MIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM. Ah me ! so very fierce the sun ; And yet he has an arc to run Of nearly half the cloudless sky ! All nature droops before his path, And e'en a poet owns his wrath, Though poets boast of dauntless eye : The leaden volume sinks apace, And sleep breathes heavy o'er his face. O Sleep, thou art indeed Death's brother, Arid so resemble ye each other, We cannot instantly decide ; But look again, and now we trace The spirit joys and sorrows grace Soft Sleep, to marble Death denied. The gleam of light, the sudden shade, Whence come they thus, to sport and fade ? The fairy Visions visit Rest, \By day or night they haunt the breast, And past or future scenes reveal ; Then Approbation's smile in sweet, Or Terror shrieks around Deceit, And wounds him with her poisoned steel. How happy Virtue then appears ! But Vice, all agony and tears ! The boy dreams on, and smiles are there, Forsooth the Vision whispers fair : Alternately, the waters blue, The bounding boat, the dashing spray, The misty mountains far away, Delight and lure his eager view! " Land ho !" He gains the pebbly shore It is ! so strange yet known before ! And now he flies the Southern Sea, And lo ! can wonder ever be Incredible and wild as this ! He saw a Form, resembling man, It wore upon its head a pan, Which kitchens would not find amiss, A large black pan, perhaps a pot, To keep the head poor dumpling ! hot. And frequently the Form removed This ornament it dearly loved, This boiler, generating steam, When round the forehead sight of dread ! Was seen a line of ghastly red, Enough to make a maiden scream ! Mayhap the token of a fight : 4+ The Creature said its " hat" wasTight MIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM. 15 l)ut only this the dreamer knew, ***COFT LIBRARY The " hat" seemed awkward, heavy too, Nor gave the head a kind protection, And baldness swept away the hair, As if 'twere sin to lavish there The gifts of Nature's true affection* " Tis fashion!" Thus the Figure cried, And moved along with foppish pride ! It moved with pain : the dress was laced Remorseless round its slender waist, Above suspendered, strapped below ; And peeping from the scanty suit Appeared the corn-producing boot, Wilh lofty heel and shovel toe : But twitching up it's starchy collar) It looked as if applause should follow ! The vision changed ; my hero saw A sight that filled his soul with awe ! A " Temple," framed in front of glass ; Replete with exquisite perfume ; With mirrors, giving back the bloom Of dainty flowers of rarest class ; With paintings, very soft and sweet, Of lovers at their ladies' feet: And papers, with " important news," And now and then a timid Muse, O'er battlements of lard and cheese ; Then boxes, basins, scissors, snuff, Combs, brushes and in fact enough The Auctioneer himself to please. But what amazed the dreamer there ? The Figure, in a curious chair ! Despondently reclining back, Its throat exposed, while stands alack ! 'Twas this alarmed his panting heart ! A sturdy man, who stern surveyed The sharpening of a shining blade, In haste to act the murderer's part ! No : Fashion now commands her slave The useful, manly beard to " shave !" 'Tis done, the metamorphose done, And trips away the ivomaned one, And swears, and rubs its purple chin, But must return, again, again, 'And bear the sacrificial pain, A penace for a silly sin. Nor this alone, for tooth, throat, ear, Confirm their keenest suffering here. M MIDSUMMER DAY'S DREAM. M O Fashion !" thought the dreaming youth, " Man bends to thee, reviling truth, Grace, dignity, and serious sense! And day by day but farther strays From Wisdom's fair and flowery ways, Still cheated by a vain pretence!" He starts : and where the magic spell ? What idU talcs our visions UU !