Colonel David Humphreys, of Derby, Connecticut, published this 'sonnet' in 1783.
Humphreys, born in 1752, joined the Patriots' Continental Line from New York. After graduating from Yale College in 1771, David took up residence with Colonel Phillips at Phillips Manor, New York. His first service was as a Major and an aide-de-camp to General Putnam in 1778. In 1780 David Humphreys was promoted to the rank of Colonel and served as an aide-de-camp to General Washington. At the end of the War, Humphreys accompanied George Washington to Mount Vernon. In later years, President Thomas Jefferson appointed David Humphreys as an ambassador to France. In 1786, Humphreys returned to the United States and served on the Connecticut Legislature.
Ye brave Columbian bands! a long farewell! Well have ye fought for freedom - nobly done
Your martial task - the meed immortal won - And Time's last records shall your triumphs tell.
Once friendship made their cup of suff'rings sweet The dregs how bitter, now those bands must part!
Ah! never, never more on earth to meet; Distill'd from gall that inundates the heart,
What tears from heroes eyes are seen to start!
Ye, too, farewell, who fell in fields of gore, And chang'd tempestuous toil for rest serene;
Soon shall we join you on the peaceful shore, (Though gulfs irremeable roll between),
Thither by death-tides borne, as ye full soon have been.
