such strain as that which follows, and which we owe to brave and generous George Dennison!
George Dennison was himself a follower of Marion. He belonged to the race of troubadours, though living too late for the sort of life which they enjoyed, and for the fame which crowned their equally eccentric lives and ballads. He sang for the partisans, the gallant feat even in the moment when performed, and taught to the hearts of a rude cavalry, the lurking hope of remembrance in song when they themselves should never hear. In the deep thickets of the wood, in the wild recesses of the swamp, when the day's march was over, when the sharp passage at arms was ended, whether in flight or victory,—his ballads, mostly extempore, cheered the dull hours and the drowsy bivouac, while his rough but martial lyrics inspired the audacious charge, and prompted the bold enterprise and the emulous achievement. Ah! brave and generous George Dennison, we shall borrow of the songs of thy making. We shall prolong for other ears the echoes of thy lively lays, and the legends which we owe to thee, who art thyself unknown. For verily, thou hadst the heart and courage of a true and gallant partisan; and thou couldst sing with the natural voice of a warm and passionate poet; and thou couldst share the sufferings, and soothe the sorrows of a comrade, with the loyalty of a knightly friendship; and thou couldst love with all the tender sweetness that lies in the heart of woman; and thou couldst cling in fight to thy enemy, with the anger of a loving hate; and thou didst not love life too much for honor; and thou didst not fear death so much but thou couldst brave him with a laugh and a song, even in the crossing of the spears! Verily, George Dennison, I will remember thee, and preserve thy rude ballads, made by thee for thy comrades' ears in the swamps of Carolina, so that other ears shall hear them, who knew thee not. Thou shalt tell them now, of the life led by thee and thy comrades, for long seasons, when thou hast followed the fortunes of the famous Swamp Fox:
