Ballads of valor and victory being stories in song from the annals of America / by Clinton Scollard and Wallace Rice [electronic text]

The Havannah Taken

(June 6-August 14, 1762)

The Havannah ho! the Havannah ho! King GEORGE of England cries, Who fights/or me, now Spain with France Is joined in great emprise?

Stout ALBERMARLE have I sent out, Sailing from Portsmouth Town, And close by the walls of Morro Castle He steadfastly sits down.

Come, you who on the yesterday Gave the Canadas to me, Come forth to-day, and gain the Havannah Over the foamy sea!

Now, I who fought for you with France, Says ISRAEL PUTNAM bold, Will fight as yesterday at Quebec A gainst proud Spain's stronghold;

And we who lopped that Lily of France Will pluck this Flower of Spain! And thereupon this bold PUTNAM Goes sailing the foamy main.

The Havannah ho! the Havannah ho! He sails until he hears From all the shore about Morro Castle ALBERMARLE'S mighty cheers.

What lies beleaguered in the town Will neither do nor dare; Stout ALBERMARLE has hard and fast The snarling Spaniard there.

Come now, says ISRAEL PUTNAM bold, Wolves have I caught be/ore; Give me a sword, give me a pistol, And I will catch one more.

Stout ALBERMARLE gives him a pistol, A sword in hand also; And side by side the stout and bold At the Wolf of Spain they go.

They fight him in, they fight him out, They clip each fang and claw; From Monday noon till Saturday's moon That wicked beast they draw.

Hold hard! hold hard!cries the snarling Spaniard, Though two to one we be, Here is my flag, here is my sword, And here my treasury.

Stout ALBERMARLE he takes the sword, The treasure, too, he takes; Its station high above the Havannah Spain's once proud flag forsakes.

Loud mourns King CHARLES this frosty fate, Loud mourns LEWIS of France, The Canadas —the Havannah —gone! They join in a doleful dance.

Bold PUTNAM and stout ALBEMARLE, What measures fair they tread!—Quebec and Morro Castle lost Leave foes full ill bestead.

King GEORGE of England long laughs he As PUTNAM'S hand he takes, He laughs at France, laughs loud at Spain As ALBEMARLE'S he shakes.

So always shall the enemy Bend low his boasty pride, When ALBERMARLE and PUTNAM, too, Go fighting side by side.

Ten thousand year let it be clear, Ten thousand year and a day, Ere those who take the Havannah. Bear them another way!