New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.
An Incident in the Life Of the Author of
''HOme. Sweet HOme.''

| IlOmcs sweet I1OBles'
! The Savannah (Georgal Ne,cs is remind
| ed OF an incident in the life of the author of
| Home, 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 confined excu-
| sively to the Gterati of either Europe or this
country.
At the time of the troubles in this State.
| growing out of the removal of the Cher
okee Indians about the year 1886, John
Howard Payne, then in search of mate
rial for contemplated work ON the abo-
| regimes OF America was guest of John
| Ross, head chief of the Cherokee nation.
who resided III Tennessee, just over the
| Georgia line. A troop called the Georgia
Guard, under the command, we believe. of
! Colonel (atterward General) Bishop, had
been organized for the protection of settlers
on the Indian frontier. Northern emissaries.
pretended missionaries, had been among the
indian tribes stirring up trouble, and insti-
eating them to hostilites against the
whites. News reached the camp of the
Georgia Guard that one of these characters
was at that time at Ross house endeavorine
10 persuade the Indians not to leave the
state III compliance with the federal govern
ment. Such interference being regarded as
dangerous to the peace and safety of the
white settlements, a detachment of the
mounted guard proceeded i'll the night TO
Ross house, where they surprised Mr.
rayne' and, regardless of his explanations
ana protests, took him prisoner. In the
dark and stormy night he was made to
mount his horse and accompany the guard
some ten or fifteen miles through a wild
mountainous country to their camp
Inc troop was composed of Young noun
taineers, who, with their strong preiudices
against the Yankee missionaries. as they
We're called, We're not inclined to be very
civil or obliglng to their captive. From
them Mr.. Payne could learn notbino sails
factory III regard to the charges against
INN, why he was deprived of his liberty.
nor what disposition they designed to make
Oh him. Under these circumstances. as his
morse stumbled and plunged in the thick
darkness over rough path, while his cap
TORS sang their boisterous songs or enioytd
theif rude jokes, often at his expense. his
neultatlons We're of a sombre and melan-
choly character. At one time natural vo-
calist broke forth i'll Home. Sweet Home
lie sang it remarkabl V well. and as the rich.
pure tones OF his fine tenor voice swellcd
upon the midnight air, and woke the echoes
OF the silent woods, his COMPANIONS ceased
their bolsterous conversation. while some
good voices joined in the chorus. If the
touching melody "SoOthed the sayaue
breast, and struck a sympathetic chord In
the hearts of his rude captors it stirred the
protounuest ScnsibiltieS of the unhannv
captive, and all unseen by them the toms
flowed down his cheeks as he rode forward
Ill silence.
AS the song ceased and the echoes 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 few
yards, the young man still humming the
ar ue had just been singing. while Mr. |
Payne's mind was, perhaps, contrasting his