Light clouds, like crimson banners, trailed bright across the east,
As the great sun rose in splendor above a conflict ceased,
Gilding the bloodless triumph for equal rights and laws,
As with the smile of heaven upon a holy cause.
Still, wave on wave of verdure, the emerald hills arise,
Where once were heroes mustered from men of common guise,
And still, on Freedom's roster, through all her glorious years,
Shine the names of Ethan Allen and his bold volunteers!
Mary A. P. Stansbury.
The Continental army at Cambridge, meanwhile, was busy day and night, drilling and getting into shape. It was at this time that "a gentleman of Connecticut," whose name, it is said, was Edward Bangs, described his visit to the camp in verses destined to become famous. They were printed originally as a broadside.
THE YANKEE'S RETURN FROM CAMP
[June, 1775]
Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we see the men and boys,
As thick as hasty pudding.
Chorus—[Yankee Doodle], keep it up,
Yankee Doodle, dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.
And there we see a thousand men,
As rich as 'Squire David;
And what they wasted every day
I wish it could be savèd.
The 'lasses they eat every day
Would keep an house a winter;
They have as much that, I'll be bound,
They eat it when they're a mind to.
And there we see a swamping gun,
Large as a log of maple,
Upon a deucèd little cart,
A load for father's cattle.