  Fought March 30th, 1814. American Force, 4,000; British and Canadian, 340. Ten miles inland they ventured To the “Stone Mills” at Lacolle; Four thousand rough invaders, Our country to control. Canadians e’er rally quickly When dangers thicken round, And to duty’s call immediate Give no uncertain sound. The call was swiftly given, And the “Stone Mills” occupied, Loopholed and greatly strengthened, And the enemy defied. Of stern British and Canadians The little force formed round; Resolved at every hazard To hold their vantage ground. The foe moved up on every side, And made their grand attack; The old walls blazed in fierce return, And drove the proud foe back. Three guns were now brought forward The mill to batter down; The “Old Stone Mill,” the good old mill, In defiance still did frown. The gunners fell beside their guns, So hot, so fierce the fire The British poured upon them To prevent them drawing nigher. For two long hours the cannonade Stormed at the old mill walls— The good old mill, the brave old mill, That totters not nor falls. “Ho, Voltigeurs, and brave regulars! Form quickly side by side, And charge the foe’s battering guns,” The gallant Handcock cried. And they swept across the open Up to the cannon’s side— Those grand soldiers’ hearts were burning, As an army they defied. Swiftly through the infantry’s fire, Up to the cannon’s flame, So fearlessly they struggled, Charged and charged again. Those gallant men could do no more, And they fell back fighting still, Gaining once again the safety Of the sheltering mill. The fire was now redoubled, The old mill blazed and roared; A deadly hail from all the loops Upon the foe was poured. ’Twas all too hot for Wilkinson At Lacolle Mills that day, And he turned about in utter rout And swiftly fled away. Heroic Handcock! heroic men! Thy mem’ry shall not die— Canadians, join with me to-day, And shout it to the sky! Weave, then, a fadeless laurel wreath For those who nobly gave E’en life for British liberty, And this fair land to save. |
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