Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-02-16
An Incident in tho Life Of tho Author
Of Home, Sweet Home"

An Incident In tho Life Of tho Author
of"Home. Sweet Home"
The Savannah, (Ga.) Neacs is re-
minded OF an incident in the life of
the author of "Homc, Sweet Home" !"
which occurred in Georgia many
years ago, and which proved that
the question of the authorship of
that world-popular lyric is not con-
fined exclusively to the litcra,i of
either Europe or this country.
AT the time Of the troubles in this
State, growing out of the removal
of the Cherokee Indians about the
year 1886, John Howard Payne,
then in search of material for a
contemplated work on the Aborig-
ines of America, was guest Of
John Ross, Head Chief of the Chero-
kee nation, who resided in Tennes-
see, just over the Georgia line. A
troop, called the Georgia Guard,
under the command, we believe, Of
Colonel, afterward General Bishop,
had been organized for the protec-
tion Of settlers on the Indian from
tier. Northern emissaries, pretend
ed missionaries, had been among
the Indian tribes stirring up trouble
and instigating them to hostilities
against the whites. News reached
the camp Of the Georgia Guard that
one of these characters was at that
time in Ross's house, endeavoring
to persuade the Indians not to leave
the State in compliance with the
Federal Government. Such inter
ference being regarded as danger
Gus to the peace and safety of the
white settlements, a detachment Of
the mounted guard proceeded, in
the night, to Ross's house, where
they surprised Mr.. Payne, and, re-
gardless of his explanations and
protests, took him prisoner. In
the dark and stormy night he was
made to mount his horse and ac-
company the guard some ten or fif-
teen miles through wild noun
famous country to their camp.
The troop was composed of young
mountaineers, who, with their
strong prejudices against the Yam
kee missionaries, as the, were call
ed, were not inclined to be very
civil or obliging to their captive
From them Mr.. Payne could learn
nothing satisfactory in regard to
the charges against him, why he
was deprived of his liberty, nor
what disposition they designed to
make of him. Under these circum-
stances, as his horse stumbled and
plunged in the thick darkness over
rough path, while his captors
sang their boistcrous songs or enjoy
ed their rude jokes, often at his ex-
pcnse, his meditations were of 4
sombre and melancholy character.
At one time natural vocalist broke
forth in in "Home, Sweet Home. y
He sang it remarkably well, and as
the rich, pure tones of his fine tenor
voice swelled upon the midnight
air, and woke the echoes of the
silent woods, his companions ceased
their boisierous conversation, while
some good voices joined in the cho-
rus. Ifthc touching melody "sooth-
ed tie savage breast" and struck a
sympathetic chord in the hearts of
his rude captors, it stirred the pro-
foundest sensibilitics of the unhap-
by captive, and all unseen by them,
the tears flowed down his cheeks as
lie rode forward in silence.
As the song ceased and the ech-
oes of the chorus died away in the
distance, the poet checked his horse
until the singer came up with him.
They rode along side by side for
a few yards, the young man still
humming the air he had just been
singing, while Mr.. Payne's mind
was, perhaps, contrasting his pres
ent situation with happier scenes
of the past, associated with his i'm
mortal song. At length he ventur-
cd to address his guard.
"You have an excellent voice,
young man."
"Wcll, ycs," he replied, 81 can
sing a considerable of a stave when
| try"
"You sang Home, Sweet Home,
Just now, remarkably we'll"
"That's because l like that song
Whenever l sing it, it makes me
feel good, somehow"
"Do you know who wrote it?"
"No; l don't know who rit it, but
he must n been a monstrous smart
man, whoever lie was"
"You will, perhaps, be surprised
when inform you that the author
Of that song is now addressing YOU
"What!"
81 am the writer of the song you
just sung"
At this statement the young noun
tainccr, with loud laugh, lay back
in his saddle aud shouted to his
comrades: "What do you think
boys? Old saddlebags here says
he rit Home, Sweet Homc,' and
got it out Of the western Songster
morc'n year ago"
1t was useless after that for tho
poet to make any explanations. The
"Wcstcrn Songstcr" settled thu
question of authorship, and Mr.
Payne was glad when some Incl
cident changed the topic of conver
sa,ion, and he ceased to be the OBJ
icct of the coarse. ridicule Of hi:
| .,lo aud unfaalinp nprSacutOrS