The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-04-22

7. B. READS LAST POEM.

Pr l"Nt
This beautiful poem, which was read BY Mr. Mur
aoch, at the Opera House, on the evening Of tb
DAY on which it was written, has been publsbe,
with m introduction by Bayard Taylor, who saws i
deserves to rank with Young Lochinvar,, ant
brownlng's How they Brought the Good New
from dhent to AK" This is high praise from |,
poet who has himself written some of tb. mis-,
sical of English verses, and will doubtless rr,tf,
those who heard it from the lips of Mr.. Murdoch
as well as those who were not thus favored. Tn,
following is the poem: -..-. -... "'
UP from the South at break of day. T..
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay.
Inc aHrlghted air with a shudder bore
III Like herald In haste to the chieftain's door.
L Inc e terrible grumble and rumble and roar,
teiiing the battle was on once more ! -g
And Sheridan twenty miles away.
And wider still those biIlows of war u.s.
Numbered along the horiz on's bar, ri......
And louder yet into Winchester rolled
ihe roar OF that red sea uncontrolled, '-.
Making the blood of the listener cold .'EL.
AS ne thought of the stake in that fiery fray,
And Sheridan twenty miles away. .'r g.. ...
But there is road from Winchester town. .t'.
good, broad highway leading down; ... %
And there, through the flush of morning light.
steed, as black as the steeds of night, .
Was seen to pass with an eagle flight
As If he knew the terrible need -
He stretched away with his utmost speed;
hill rose and fell, but his heart was CAV,
With Sheridan fifteen miles away o'''H ,r..5
Still sprung from those swift hoofs. thund.rinr
South, "'
The dust, like the smoke from the cannon s mouth,
Or the trail of comet sweeping faster and faster
Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster; -
lne heart OF the steed and the heart of the master
Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls
Impatient to be where the battle field calls;
Every nerve of the charger strained to full play
with Sheridan only ten miles away. -,
Under his spurning feet the road ..-.
Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed, ..-..n
And the landscape sped away behind -
Like an ocean flying before the wind;
And the steed, like bark fed with furnace ire.
Swept on with his wild eyes full of fire.
But 10 he Is nearing his hearts desire
He Is snufing the smoke of the roaring fray,
With Sheridan only five miles pway.
The first that the General saw were the groups
Of stragglers, and then the retreatine troops
w hat was done-what to do-a glance told him both,
linen striking his spurs with terrible oath,
de dashed down the line mid storm of huzza.,
And the wave of retreat checked its course there
because -
W., ~" VI the unsteI Compelleu lt Co pause.
foam and with dust the black charger was gray
he seemed to the whole great army to say:
4" have brought you Sheridan all the way
From Winchester down to save day" -
Hurrah, hurrah, for Sheridan!
Hurrah, hurrah, for horse and man! .,f ~
And when their statues are placed on high,
Under the dome of the Union sky,
The American soldiers Temple of Fame,
There with the glorious Generals name,
BE it said in letters both bold and bright: .-
@ Here is the steed that saved the day,
By carrying Sheridan into the fight,
From Winchester-twenty miles away!"