From Gray:
Printed in The Bird of Birds, 1818. This ballad celebrates the capture of the British brig Boxer (Captain Samuel Blyth) by the American brig Enterprise, under the command of Lieutenant William Burrows, on September 5, 18 13. Early in the engagement Blyth was killed and Burrows mortally wounded. The Boxer was brought as a prize into Portland harbor. "No incident in this quasi-civil war touched the sensibilities of the people more deeply than the common funeral of the two commanders, — both well known and favorites in the service, buried, with the same honors and mourners, in the graveyard at Portland overlooking the scene of the battle" (Henry Adams, History of the United States, VII, 283). The order of the funeral procession may be found in the Columbian Centinel (Boston) of September 11, 1813. The same issue contains an account of the fight, extracted from the Portland Argus.
Painting by John Bentham-Dinsdale (1927-2008) circa 1970.
Direct link:
Temporarily disabled. Sorry. Please use the contact form in the sidebar.
Come all ye sons of Freedom,
Come, listen unto me,
I'll relate to you an engagement
Which happened on the sea,
Between the Enterprise and Boxer,
Two noble ships of fame,
Though the Enterprise is but small
Soon made the Boxer tame.
It was off Portland harbor
We cruised for a space,
When meeting a British sloop of war,
To them we showed our face.
We sent to them a challenge,
Wishing for them to see.
But they refused to accept of it
And face their enemies.
All on third of September,
It being a glorious day,
We fell in with the Boxer,
And had a bloody fray.
It being about Meridian
When we to them drew near,
We up with Yankee Colors,
And gave to them three cheers.
As we were sailing near that harbor,
With a sweet and pleasant gale,
The saucy Boxer hovering round,
And proudly spread her sail.
Until the Enterprise box'd her,
And quickly made them see
That, we all were Yankee heroes
Just from America.
So now we've gain'd the VICTORY,
My Yankee hearts of steel,
Let's save our enemies lives,
Who now to us must yield.
When we came on board my boys,
'Twould grieve your hearts full sore,
To see those proud Englishmen
Lay bleeding in their gore.
Come now our fight is ended,
And we'll go home with speed,
To join those Americans
Who've done such warlike deeds.
Then we'll join in choruses,
And this shall be our song,
"Good luck attend our Navy
In hopes 'twill flourish long."
It's now in Portland harbor
Our lucky ship does lay,
May God bless Lieutenant Burrows,
And all his warlike band.
Now we'll go on shore my boys,
Where Liberty does dwell,
It's one of the greatest blessings,
That nothing can excel.
Songs and Ballads of the Maine Lumberjacks, Gray (1924)