Sir Peter Petrified

On the Modern Sir Peter Parker's Expedition to Kent Island in Chesapeake Bay.

--1814--

Sir Peter came, with bold intent, To persecute the men of Kent His flag aloft display'd: He came to see their pleasant farms, But ventured not without his arms To talk with man or maid.

And then the gallant colonel Reed Said, "we must see the man indeed; He comes perhaps in want-- Who knows but that his stores are out: Tis hard to dine on mere sour krout, His water may be scant."

He spoke--but soon the men of Kent Discover'd what the errand meant, And some, discouraged, said, "Sir Peter comes to petrify, He points his guns, his colors fly, His men for war array'd!"

Secure, as if they own'd the land, Advanced this daring naval band, As if in days of peace; Along the shore they, prowling, went, And often ask'd some friends in Kent Where dwelt the fattest geese?

The farmers' geese were doom'd to bleed; But some there were, with colonel Reed, Who would not yield assent; And said, before the geese they take, Sir Peter must a bargain make With us, the boys of Kent.

The Britons march'd along the shore, Two hundred men, or somewhat more; Next, through the woods they stray'd: The geese, still watchful, as they went, To save the capitol of Kent Their every step betray'd.

The british march'd with loaded gun To seize the geese that gabbling run About the isle of Kent: But, what could hardly be believed, Sir Peter was of life bereaved Before he pitch'd his tent.

Some kentish lad, to save the geese, And make their noisy gabbling cease Had took a deadly aim: By kentish hands sir Peter fell, His men retreated, with a yell And lost both geese and game!

Now what I say, I say with grief, That such a knight, or such a chief On such an errand died!!! When men of worth their lives expose For little things, where little grows They make the very geese their foes; The geese his fall deride:

And, sure, they laugh, if laugh they can, To see a star and garter'd man For life of goose expose his own, And bite the dust, with many a groan-- Alas! a gander cry'd-- "Behold, (said he,) a man of fame Who all the way from England came No more than just to get the name Of Peter Petrified!"

Sir Peter Parker, commander of the British Frigate Menelaus, was prominent for a month in the blockading squadron in Chesapeake Bay during the summer of 1814. After the burning of Washington he was ordered down the bay "but Sir Peter said he 'must have a frolic with the yankees before he left them' and on the 30th of August after dancing and drinking they proceeded to the sport and made a circuitous route to surprise Col. Read encamped in Moore's fields not far from Georgetown X Roads on the eastern shore of Maryland. The Colonel was fully apprised of their proceedings.... The ground was obstinately contended for nearly an hour when the enemy retreated leaving thirteen killed and three wounded on the field. It is ascertained that they carried off seventeen others among whom was Sir Peter who, with several others, are since dead."--Niles' Register.