The yankie doodles intrenchments near Boston 1776

The yankie doodles intrenchments near Boston 1776

Anonymous etching
British Museum

Behind a well-made trench, fronted with palisades, appear the heads of its defenders; words issue from their mouths in long labels. One man stands on the top of the trench, his cap is inscribed "Death or Liberty", his coat and stockings are ragged, and he stands as if shivering with cold, his bayonetted musket tucked under his arm and pointing downwards; he says "I swear its plaguy Cold Jonathan; I don't think They'll Attack us, Now You". The other men, whose heads and shoulders only appear above the trench, say (l. to right.): "I dont feel bold today" (the speaker is dressed as a minister, with flat hat, lank hair, and bands). His neighbour says, "I fear they'll Shoot Again"; a man wearing a "Death or Liberty" hat says,

"How, Borgoine & Clinton
let us keep a good Sqint on
for if they come here
they'll warm us I fear"

Another man wearing a "Death or Liberty" cap says

"blast their Eyes
We'll have no Excise"

Another minister of puritanic appearance says,

"Tis Old Olivers Cause
No Monarchy nor Laws"

He holds a flag on which is a tree, inscribed "Liberty", surmounted by a fool's cap and flanked by two gibbets labelled "The Fruit". Another man wearing a "Death or Liberty" cap, says, "I fear Our Genll is Still a Labourer in Vain". The last man is in military uniform with epaulettes and a gorget; one hand is on a small cannon in an embrasure, the other holds a bottle which stands on a thick book, presumably a Bible; he says "The Spirit moves us in Sun-dry places &c. Yet I fear the Lord is not With us."
Beneath the design is etched,

"Behold the Yankies in there ditch's
Whose Conscience gives such griping twitch's
They'r ready to Be S--t their Brech's. Yankie Doodle do.

Next see the Hypocritic parson
Who thay all wish to turn an A--s on
Altho' the Devil keps the farce on. Yankie &c.

See Putnam that Commands in Chief Sir
Who looks & Labours like a thief sir
To get them daily Bread & Beef sir. Yankie &c.

Their Congress now is quite disjoint'd
Since Gibbits sis for them appointed
For fighting gainst ye Lords Annointed. Yankie, doodle" 1776
Etching

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(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
The artist appears to have been ignorant of Washington's appointment, 15 June 1775, as commander-in-chief. He took over the command or the troops round Boston on 3 July 1775, superseding not Israel Putnam (appointed fourth major-general June 1775) but Artemis Ward, Boston was evacuated by Howe on 17 Mar. 1776. Cf. BMSat 5392.
For the New England pine-tree flag, used before the stars and stripes, see BMSat 5336.
One of the few satires hostile to the Americans, cf. BMSat 5401, 6288.

(Additional note)
It has been suggested that this satire is not British, but American from the pro-Loyalist side. See E.P.Richardson, 'Four American Political Prints', American Art Journal, VI, November 1974, pp.36-44.