Cameos of American History - Flag of Taunton Green

Hezekiah Butterworth

The grand years have numbered one hundred and ten
Since the first flag of freedom ascended the sky,
And the fair Green of Taunton made heroes of men,
As men saw the ensign unfolding on high.

The motto of "Union and Liberty" rolled
Out into the sun-tide's vermilion and gold;
And loud cried those heroes of liberty bold,
"We'll defend with our valor and virtue and votes
The red flag of Taunton,
That waves o'er the Green."

'Twas autumn, bright autumn, and glimmered the weir,
The Taunton flowed full on that beautiful day,
And kirtled wives gathered the flag-pole anear,
'Mid the old men at prayer and the children at play.

They saw the red flag in blue Liberty's dome
Wave o'er the valley, Equality's home,
And they heard the men say, while their own lips were dumb,
"We'll defend with our valor and virtue and votes
The red flag of Taunton,
That waves o'er the Green."

The Taunton flowed swift through the shimmering weir,
Past the rock where the Northmen came in from the Bay.
In the forest the red leaves were falling and sear,
Where Annawan perished. The stone church to-day —

The loveliest church e'er the traveller saw,
With its sentinel pines and its ivy-wreathed tower —
Stands hard by the place where the women in awe
Heard their husbands cry out in that glorious hour,
"We'll defend with our valor, our virtue and our votes,
The red flag of Taunton,
That waves o'er the Green."

The old parson stood by the church near the Green,
And looked to the sky on that sun-flooded day;
The gray, rocky hill-side encircled the scene,
And shaded streams rolled o'er the rocks to the Bay.

He lifted his hand, like a white cross, in prayer,
And said, as the flag like an angel's wing spread,
"It is God who has written those words on the air;
By the hand that has led you ye still shall be led.
Long may valor and virtue defend with their votes
The red flag that Taunton
Has waved o'er the Green!"

"Behold," said the parson, " its folds in the sky,
In the eyes of the sun; do you know what you do?
The hand that sets Liberty's watchword on high
Must to valor be pledged, and to honor be true.
 
Ye have set yonder flag for a sceptreless hand:
While God ye shall honor, your nation shall stand,
And when ye forsake Him shall perish the land.
Defend with your valor and virtue and votes
The flag ye have lifted
To-day o'er the Green."

"Peace!" How calmly the night of the past noon-tide shone
On the orchards of Taunton that glorious day,
As the mellow word rung like an altar-bell's tone.
"Peace, peace, men of Taunton ! 'tis time we should pray.

O Thou whom all sceptres dost strengthen or break!
Yon flag to the hand of thy providence take:
In battle victorious, in peace glorious make,
Defended by valor and virtue and votes,
The flag we have lifted
To-day o'er the Green."

The red flag of Taunton at old Brandywine
Gave place to the flag of the stripes and the stars,
And the bold words of "Union and Liberty" shine
No more as. of old, 'mid the smoke-cloud of wars.

Here Liberty reigns, and her triumphs increase,
And our Union of States is the empire of peace,
And the sentinel's watch 'neath the flag does not cease,
But virtue defends it with valor and votes,
Like the heroes of Taunton
That stood on the Green.

The grand years have numbered one hundred and ten
Since the old flag of freedom ascended the sky,
And the fair Green of Taunton made heroes of men,
As men saw the ensign unrolling on high.

An hundred and ten, and the new summer fills
Her gold horns of plenty, and banners the hills,
And the spirit of old still the patriot thrills,
Still calling for valor and virtue and votes,
While a million flags fly
For that one on the Green.

Author's Note: The first flag of liberty was unfurled on the Green, at Taunton, Mass. — Prebble.