The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-01-18
ttrom the Cincinnati Times.
"Reminiscences of Capt. Geo. w.
..I...,.r r.,.. .,..i. Cutter. .r. .r....
BY ]. r.. $. BoNp.

The recent death of "The Poet"
Is he liked to be called by those who
addressed him, brings to recollection
many lively "reminiscences of his in
tellectual and personal characteristics.
He was eminently simple hearted
man, and knew little of the world, and
freely spoke Of. his career with child
like simplicity. He was denied the
of q liberal education in
his youth, being the son of a Canadian
gentleman, who was in the position of
Indian agent in the wilds Of Canada,
and a Boston woman for his mother,
and one of large family of children,
either twelve or fourteen in number,
most Of whom are still living, scatter |
ed from Canada, through Pennsylva-
MIA, and one or more in California.
When a youth of eighteen he emigra-
ted to Terre Haute, Indiana, and after
a course of law study with kinsman,
at that time distinguished lawyer Of
the State, he was admitted to the prac-
tice of his profession. Having consid-
cradle talents as a speaker, he soon
took an active part in politics, and was
elected to the Legislature before he
reached his majority. He often rela-
ted his first nights adventures in the
Capital Of the State, which, as he re-
marked, gave him a wife, and cost
him his reelection, as the sober Quak-
ers of his county of Vigo did not APP
prove of his conduct. ...,.,r....
The Captain, on his arrival at the
Capital, visited the theater, where
Mrs. A. Drake was announced to ap-
pear in one of her favorite characters.
He was seated about the center of the
parquette, when, in the performance of
a part of the play, the actress fell upon
the stage and the curtain was dropping
upon her arm, which was inadvertent-
ly extended beyond the line of the
curtains fall. The Captain, in his in
nOcence, fearing her arm would be
crushed, with sudden jumpalighted
upon the stage over the heads of the
spectators and held up the curtain un-
til the arm was removed. He was in
vited behind the scenes-made the ac-
quaintance of his future wife, Mrs. A.
Drake, to whom he was soon married.
Losing caste with his Quaker friends
for having married an actress, he did
not return to his constituents, but re-
moved to CovingtOn, KY, where, in q
luxurious home, with abundant leis-
ure, he devoted himself to poetry. AL
though this union did not prove a fe-
licitOus one to either of the parties,
sustained though it was for several
years, it is creditable to each to say
that they always manifested toward
each other the most remarkable mag
nanimity. He frequently spoke of her
as the biggest thing on earth," and
of his Indebtedness to her for all the
fame he had acquired, while she, in
his darker days, proved her generosity
in the most substantial manner.
1t was in his Kentucky home that
Captain Cutter wrote his great poem of
"The Song of Steam," which at the
time was spoken of by the European
magazines as the "greatest poem of the
age" and which has since seen print
in almost every language in the civil
lied world. He related the circum-
stances under which this poem was
written. 1t was late at night after
days hard work. He sat down at his
table in a "funny humor," as he
termed it, which was, by the way, an
unusual one 10 the poet, who was of
melancholy temperament. The inspi-
ration seized him, and he threw off
what he regarded as a humorous pro-
ductiOn. Thinking lightly of his per-
formance, he left it on the table, re-
tired, and on waking the next morn
ing found Governor MOrehead, of KY,
seated on his bedside reading it aloud,
and pronouncing it the finest poem he
had ever seen. 1t was sent to the To-
cal paper, and first saw light in the
Licking Valley Register. Capt. Cutter
often expressed the wish that he could
recall all the poetry he had ever writ
ten excepting the "Song of Steam 1"
and " + Pluribus Unum," upon which
he desired his reputation to rest.
1t was the writer's fortune in 1910,
to introduce Capt. Cutter to a minstrel
troupe, on which occasion he for the
first time heard sung the music set to
(" + Pluribus Unum," by Mrs. Pendle-
ton, of Baltimore. He sat and cried
like a huge baby, as he was.
1t 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 him
self. He was amazed at finding his
commission as Captain, and finally ac-
cepted his position, assigned to the
Second Kentucky, commanded by Col.
Mckee and Lieut.. Col. Henry Clay,
Jr., both of whom fell at Buena Vista,
in that bloody battle, the latter dying
in Capt. Cutters arms. Henry Clay,
as a testimonial of his affectionate re-
membrance of Capt. Cutter, presented
him with q costly ring, containing a
lock of the hair of his lamented son.
On this memento of Mr.. Clay, Captain
Cutter placed inestimable value. His
career as a soldier, though creditable
to his courage, was marked by acts OF
INSTRUMENTATION which at one time
brought him before court-martial
which dismissed him, and ordered him
home in disgrace. But he declined tC
come ON theterms proposed, sought the
presence of Gen. Zachariah Taylor,
who reinstated him, greatly to his sat
isfaction, After Gen. Taylor's election
to the PresidoncyShe gavethe Captain