Cover Story: 'The American Soldier'

EDITOR'S NOTE:
It seems timely this Veterans' Day to reprint the following, which first ran in the Columbian Centinel, Issue No. 2,432, published in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 22, 1807.

Though it is not now very probable, the Peace of our country will be interrupted by the events which have lately excited so much sensibility; we yet hope the excitement will stimulate Americans to be better prepared for defensive and offensive War; by placing our sea coast in an impregnable state of defense; by the equipment of a formidable Navy; and by a more strict attention to the discipline of the Militia.

As one step to this last mentioned desideratum, let the "Minute Men" now in requisition, consider themselves as men in service; and aspire to every perfection of the soldier. Let them subject themselves to deprivations; to severe exercise; and discipline their minds to that hardihood so necessary in the field of battle. And let our citizens contribute their aid to the inspiration, by every encouragement in their power. If the following parody, the effect of a leisure moment, shall swell one bosom of the 100,000 in requisition, with heroic ardor, the selector will fell (sic) abundantly rewarded.

The Yankee soldier sees the foe,
His heart with steady joy beats high;
And onward now behold him go,
Resolv'd to conquer or to die.
On all sides should the bullets fly,
Wide spread, and loud the cannon's sound,
He sees unmov'd his comrades die,
Or bleeding on the chilly ground.
Still mark The Soldier's fearless eye,
As "forward," "forward," still he goes;
And hark! The war-shout rends the sky,
Now, now, he rushes on his foes.
For Yankee valor deepliest glows
In the dread hour of doubtful life –
When fierce the polish'd bay'nets close,
And man meets man in mortal strife.
And where are Warriors to be found,
To match the Yankee Soldier's might?
His brows shall be with laurels crown'd,
For he shall vanquish in the fight.
His foes shall be dispers'd in flight,
Or sunk in an untimely grave,
He will make good his country's right -
His Country's thanks shall crown the brave.