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    1. The Boxer and the Enterprise

    From the recording Bound Away

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    (Printed in The Bird of Birds, 1818.) Songs & Ballads Of The Maine Lumberjacks / Roland Palmer Gray p149 Revised by Fred Gosbee 2013 using the tune "Portsmouth"
    There were many sea battles in the War of 1812 but none captured the public imagination like this one. Both captains were young, both had their first command, both were killed in the battle and are buried side-by-side in Portland, Maine. I added some lines to make that clear. The tune was a popular march of the times.

    Lyrics

    Come all ye sons of Freedom,
    Come, listen unto me,
    I 'll tell of an engagement
    Which happened on the sea,
    Between the Enterprise and Boxer,
    Two noble ships of fame,
    Though the Enterprise is but small
    Soon she made the Boxer tame.

    We sailed out of Portland harbor
    In a sweet and pleasant gale,
    The saucy Boxer hovering round,
    She proudly spread her sail.
    It being about Meridian
    When we to them drew near,
    We hoisted Yankee Colors,
    And gave to them three cheers.

    It was on the third of September,
    It being a glorious day,
    The Enterprise and Boxer,
    Had their a bloody fray.
    Until the Enterprise box'd her,
    And quickly made them see
    That we were Yankee heroes
    Just from America

    So now we¹ve gain'd the victory,
    My Yankee hearts of steel,
    But heavy was the price we paid,
    To force our foes to yield.
    For in the fight was Burgess hit
    He got his mortal blow
    Alas our young commander
    Shall see Portland town no more.

    When we came on board the Boxer
    ŒT would grieve your hearts full sore
    To see all those proud Englishmen
    Lying in their gore
    And there upon the quarterdeck
    Where officers do tread
    Their young captain, Samuel Blyth,
    Was found among the dead.

    In a Portland cemetery
    Those two young heroes lie,
    God bless Lieutenant Burrows,
    And Captain Blyth likewise
    From the roaring din of battle,
    The province of the brave,
    They slumber for eternity
    In the silence of their grave.

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