Colonel Leslie's Expedition to Salem

Yet thus tho' skill'd in victory's toils, They boast, not unexpert, in wiles: For gain'd they not an equal same in The arts of secrecy and scheming? In strategems show'd mighty force, And moderniz'd the Trojan horse, Play'd o'er again those tricks Ulyssean, In their samed Salem-expedition? For as the horse, the Poets tell ye, Bore Grecian armies in his belly; Till their full reckoning run, with joy Their Sinon midwised them in Troy. So in our ship was Leslie bold Cramm'd with three hundred men in hold; Equipp'd for enterprize and sail, Like Jonas stow'd in womb of whale: To Marblehead in depth of night, The cautious vessel wing'd her flight. And now the Sabbath's silent day Call'd all your Yankies off to pray; Removed each prying jealous neighbour, The scheme and vessel fell in labour; Forth from its hollow womb pour'd hast'ly The Myrmidons of Col'nel Leslie: Not thicker o'er the blacken'd strand The frogs' detachment rush'd to land, Equip'd by onset or surprise To storm the entrenchments of the mice. Thro' Salem strait, without delay, The bold battalion took its way, March'd o'er the bridge in open sight Of several Yankies arm'd for fight, Then without loss of time or men Veer'd round for Boston back again; And found so well their project thrive, That every soul got back alive.