Abram Hull was a captain in the United States Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, 25th July, 1814, and interred on the battleground, near to the spot where he fell, with the fallen on both sides. The battleground was consecrated as a cemetery, and is now kept in order by the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society.
Headstone of Abraham Hull. Photo by James Lemon on Find a Grave
Not that thou wast an enemy do I desire
Thy grave shall be no mound of weeds or mire ;
My country’s enemies are mine, and I would fight
With tireless arm to guard her sacred right.
Not that thou wast an enemy and I forget
The fierce incursion—unforgiven yet.
But that thou wast a mother’s son, I’d keep,
For mother-love, thy bed in thy last sleep.
Lay e’er, my son, in stranger-land a foe,
I would some mother-breast should pity know,
Some kindly hand should smooth, as I do now,
His last long pillow, and upon his brow
Drop gentle tears for one so brave and young,
Nor leave, for enmity, a warrior’s dirge unsung.
Source: The Dominion Illustrated, 17th August 1889
Sculpture of General George Drummond in Drummond Hill Cemetery, 1995 Image courtesy of Niagara Falls Public Library.
Fought 25th July, 1814
Upon this hill where now we gently tread, ’Mid graves and stones—memorials of the dead, Where greenest turf and sweetest flowerets smile, And whispering leaves to sacred thoughts beguile— Where gathering free, with none to break our peace, From meaner thoughts we claim a short surcease. We pause, and list to awful memories far When from this height boomed forth the roar of war. Soft contrast this to that fierce day and night, When surge of battle hither rolled in might ; When shot and shell ploughed all the trampled ground, And wounded, dead, and dying dropped around. Pharsalia, not upon thy dreadful plain Lay in more frequent heaps the gory slain ! But, O proud contrast ! there Ambition fought, And personal ends the conquering Cæsar sought ; But here, ’twas Patriotism fired the fight, And Drummond struck to save our dearest right.— Drummond, whose name still lives in proud Quebec, Shall saved Niagara’s foot be on thy neck ? Can Lundy’s Lane untrue to Drummond live, Or grudge thy memory all she had to give ?— Thy right, O Canada, thy Drummond sought, And from high justice all his valour caught. He traversed not another’s right To Be, But sternly guarded thy sweet liberty. What asks the patriot more? He knows but this— His country and her welfare very his. Her honour his, her greatness all his care ; Quick to defend, her woes his willing share ; Her name his pride, her future but his own ; Each word and deed, seed for her harvest sown. What asks the patriot more? For her to live, Or gladly for her life his own to give. Such were thy sons, O Canada, that fought for thee, Sprung from the boundless West, or utmost sea. Such are thy sons to-day—the same their sires— Or French or British quick with loyal fires. Here on this holy hill their bodies lie As thick as stars that stud the winter sky. Here on this hill baptized indeed with fire, As from an altar may their flames aspire. O Canada ! Thou of the seven-fold bond ; Let evermore such sons in thee be found ; Let evermore thy sons thy guardians be, High-souled and pure, CONTENT IF THOU BE FREE.
S.A.C. 21st July, 1889
Source: The Dominion Illustrated, vol. III, No. 59, August 17, 1889
