The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-01-25

though his union did not prove felic-
itous one to either Of the parties, sus-
tanned though it was for several years,
it is creditable to each to say that they
always manifested toward each other
the most remarkable magnamimity.--
He frequently spoke Of her as the
biggest thing on earth" and Of his
indebtedness to her for all the famo he
had acquired, while shc, in his darkcr
days, proved her generosity in the
most substantial manner. 'AI !Et'
1t was in his Kentucky homo that
Captain Cutter wrote his great poem
of'The Song OF Steam" which, at the
time, was spoken ofby the European
magazines as the greatest poem Of the
age, and which has since seen print in
almost every language in the civilized
world, He related the circumstances
under which this poem was written .-
1t was late at night, after d day hard
work. Ho sat down at his table in a
"funny humor," as hetermed it, which
was. by the way, an unusual one to
the poet, who was Of o melancholy
temperament. Tho inspiration seized
him, and he threw off what he regard
cd as ahumorous production. Think
ing lightly of his production, be left it
on the table retired, and on waking
tho next morning found Governor
Morehead, of Kentucky, seated on his
bedside reading italoud, and pronoun-
cling it the finest poem he had ever
seen. 1t was sent to the local paper,
and first saw light in the Licking Val.
ley Register Captain Cutter often
expressed the wish that he could re.
call all the poetry he had ever written
excepting the "Song of Steam" and isE
PluribuS Unum," upon which he de-
sired his reputation to rest. Z y
1t was the writcr's fortune, in 1949,
to introduce Captain Cutter to a min
strel troupe, on which occasion he, for
the fret time, heard sung the music
set to "E PluribaS Unum," by Mrs
Pendleton, Of Baltimore. He sat and
cried Ikea huge baby, as he was. ~
II was from his Kentucky home
that he enlisted for the Mexican war.
He had been making speeches in favor
OF it, but with no thought Of going
himself. He was amazed at finding
his commission as Captain, and final.
ly accepted his position, assigned to
the I'd kentucky, commanded by Col
Mckee and Lieutenant Colonel Hen
ry Clay, jr., both Of whom fell at Buena
Vista, in that bloody battle, the latter
dying in Captain Cutters arms. -
Henry Clay, as a testimonial Of his af.
fectionate remembrance Of Captain
Cutter, presented him with a costly
ring, containing a lock of the hair Of
his lamented son. On this memento
of Mr. Clay, Captain Cutter placed in,
estimable value. His career as q SOL
der, though croditablo to his courage,
was marked by acts of insubordina-
ton which at one time brought him
before q urt-martial, which dismissed
him, and ordered him homoin disgrace
But he declined to como on the terms
proposed, sought the presence of Gen
eral Zachary Taylor, who rcinstated
him, greatly to his satisfaction. AT.
ter General Taylor's election to tho
Presidency, he gave the Captain a
handsome place in one of the depart
ments of the Government; but which
he did not long retain: 2
The I'd Kentucky lost all its field
officers at the battle of Buena Vista,
which gave it the name fthe" Orphan
Regiment" AT the close of the war,
with the bodies of It's line officers en-
route for the State in which it was
raised, it was welcomed at New Or.
leans with a grand ovation and a
speech by the famous S. s. Prontiss. -
Captain G. often spoke of this speech
as the most eloquent he ever heard,
and quoted the opening thus; ''Yes-
you poor fellows you-you gave'em
grape at Buena Vista and we'll give
you grape, but it shall be the gIape of
the banquet" w ' ;,
This leads me to recount q pleasant
story which Captain G. related, as to
how it happened that he did not make
a speech on a touching OCCASION
When Colonel Clay died in Captain
Cutters embrace on the battle. field,
the Captain retained possession of
that officers side arms, and held them
In spite Of many remonstrances on the
part of some who persisted in demand
ing them. He brought them home on
his return from the war, and was sore
ly puzzled as to tho manner in which
he should present them to the illus
trious father. After much dclibera-
ton he went to the store and purchas.
ed o very large white linen handker-
chief-carefully embodied the side
arms-pinncd up the package-and
dispatched to Mr. Clay that he was
ready to send them by express. Mr..
Clay's reply was that Captain Gutter
must come himself 'l't Z. ao'
The Captain went to Lexington,
sent q message to Mr.. Clay, announ-
eing himself, and in short time q
carriage came and conveyed him to
Ashland. He was ushered into an
anto room. where, after few minutes
waiting, Mr.. Clay entered with coun.
tenanee pale and an expression of in
tense melancholy. In his fingers he
held newly -plucked pose, and slowly
advancing, offered HE hand to Captain
Gutter who said 30 Mr.. Clay. there
arc your sons side arms!' Mr.
Clay approached the side table,
slowly onplnned and unfoldod the
wrappings, took up tenderly the
,rnnnnna Fthnndlnd them. and put.