Classic Poem

It was in quarters we lay as you quickly shall hear,
Lord Paget came to us and bid us prepare,
Saying, " Saddle your horses, for we must march soon,
For the French they are lying in the town of Sahagun.

We saddled our horses, and away we did go
Over rivers of ice and mountains of snow,
To the town of Sahagun our course we did steer,
'Twas the 15th Hussars, my brave boys, never fear.

We rode all that night until daylight did break,
When eight of those French on a bridge we did take;
But two got away and rode off to Sahagun,
To inform the French there that the English were come.

The French they turned out of the town of Sahagun,
Well armed and well mounted, full nine hundred strong;
So long did they cry for Napoleon their king,
But three cheers from the 15th made the vineyards to ring.

They formed themselves up, and the fight did begin,
And thought to dismay our brave Englishmen;
With our glittering broadswords right on them we flew,
They turned threes about and away they did go.

We soon overtook them as they rode at full speed,
Cut through the brass helmets they wore on their heads;
" Have mercy! have mercy!" so loud did they cry,
" Have mercy, you English! or else we must die."

In the snow in the vineyards many Frenchmen lay dead,
Three hundred were taken, the rest of them fled;
Their colonel likewise was taken in the field,
'Twas the 15th Hussars made the Frenchmen to yield.

Lord Paget came to us, and thus he did say,
" Ithank you, brave 15th, for your valour this day,
Come, dismount your horses, and feed every one,
And we shall be ready to fight them again."

The 21st of December was a glorious day,
When three hundred of the 15th made the French run away;
Although they consisted of nine hundred and more,
'Twas the 15th Hussars, my brave boys, never fear.

The Spaniards turned out of the town of Sahagun,
With bread in their hands, and large jugs of wine;
With hearts full of joy no language could express,
Saying, " Long live the English and down with the French."

Here's a health to our colonel, and long may he live,
Likewise to our men, and our officers brave;
With a full flowing bowl we'll drink and we'll sing
Success to the 15th, and God save the King.