221
James Bird
After fighting bravely in the battle of Lake Erie (1814), James
Bird deserted. He was court-martialed and shot. In 1814 Charles
Miner composed a ballad on Bird's fate and published it m his
paper, the Gleaner, at Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania. (For further
526 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
details, see Tolman and Eddy, JAFL xxv 379-383 ; Cox FSS 261 ;
Belden, BSM 296-97; Pound ABS No. 41 ; and Harold W. Thomp-
son's Body, Boots & Britches [Philadelphia, 1940], pp. 344-48.)
Though somewhat corrupt, the North Carolina text (20 stanzas)
is almost as long as Tolman and Eddy's (22), as long as Thomp-
son's, and longer than Belden's (19). Tolman remarks: "The
[original] ballad gives the facts of Bird's career accurately and
with considerable fulness," and asks : "Has this country produced
any historical ballad that has passed into tradition, which is more
interesting than this?"
'James Byrd.' Contributed by P. D. Midgett, Jr., Wanchese, Roanoke
Island, June 5, 1920.
1 Sons of freedom, listen to me,
And ye daughters too give ear.
You a sad and mournful story
As was ever told shall hear.
2 Hull, you know, his troops surrendered
And defenceless left the West ;
Then our forces quickly assembled
They inveighed us [The invader?] to resist.
3 Among the troops that marched to Erie
Were the Kingston Volunteers,
Captain Thomas still commander.
To protect our West frontier.
4 There was one among the number.
Tall and graceful in his mind [mien?].
Firm his steps, they looked undaunted,
Scarce a nobler youth was seen.
5 Tender were the scenes of parting ;
Mothers wrung their hands and cried.
Maidens wept their swain in secret.
Fathers strove their hearts to hide.
6 One sweet kiss he snatched from Mary,
Craved his mother's prayers once more.
Pressed his father's hands and left him,
For Lake Erie's distant shore.
7 Soon they came where noble Perry
Had assembled all his fleet.
There the gallant Byrd enlisted.
Hoping soon the foe to meet.
8 I [Aye,?] behold him seeing Perry —
In the selfsame ship he fights,
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 527
Though his missmoter [messmates?] all [fall?] around
him,
Nothing can his soul affright.
9 But behold, a ball has struck him —
See the crimson current flow !
'Leave the deck!' exclaimed brave Perry.
'No!' cries Byrd, 'I will not go I
10 'Here on deck I took my station.
Never will Byrd's colors fly;
I'll stand by you, gallant Captain,
Till we conquer or we die.'
1 1 Still he fought, though faint and bleeding.
Till our Stars and Strii^es,
Victory having crowned our efforts,
W'e did triumph o'er the foe.
12 And did Byrd receive a pension?
Was he to his friends restored?
No, nor never to his bosom
Clasped the maid his heart adored.
13 But then came most dismal tidings
From Lake Erie's distant shore.
Better if Byrd had have perished
'Mid the cannons' awful roar.
14 'Dearest parents,' said the letter,
'This will bring sad news to you.
Do not mourn your first beloved,
Though it brings sad news to you.
15 'I must suffer for deserting
From the brig Niagara.
Read this letter, brother, sister,
'Tis the last you'll have from me.'
16 Though [Lo?] he fought so brave at Erie,
Freely bled and nobly dared.
Let his courage plead for mercy,
Let his noble life be spared.
17 Sad and gloomy was the morning
Byrd was ordered out to die,
Where the rest dared to pity,
But for him would have a sigh.
528 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
18 See him march and bear his fitten [fetters?],
Hear them clang upon the ear.
See him step — he looks so manly,
For his heart never harboured fear.
19 See him kneel upon his coffin.
Since [Sure?] his death can do no good.
Speak— hark, O God ! they shot him !
See, his bosom streams with blood !
20 Farewell, Byrd, farewell forever ;
Home and friends you'll see no more.
But his' mangled corpse lie buried
On Lake Erie's distant shore.
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221
James Bird
'James Byrd.' Sung by Mrs. C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wanchese, Roanoke
Island in 1922. This is the only other ballad actually sung by Mrs. Tillett.
Cf. 27E.
Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: d. Structure: aa^ (4,4).