Chester (song)

When God inspir'd us for the fight, Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc'd, Their ships were Shatter'd in our sight, Or swiftly driven from our Coast.

The Foe comes on with haughty Stride; Our troops advance with martial noise, Their Vet'rans flee before our Youth, And Gen'rals yield to beardless Boys.

The song was later provided with religious (as opposed to patriotic) words by Philip Doddridge, and in this form is a favorite of Sacred Harp singers.

20th century American composer William Schuman employed the tune in his New England Triptych (1956) and later expanded it into his Chester Overture.

[1] The anthem features as background music in the 2008 strategy videogame Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.