Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-05-12
SHERIDANS RIDE.
THE HISTORY OF THE WRITING OF t.
BUCHANAN READS FAMOUS POEM

Il
A splendid lyric which has been uni
versally pronounced one of the most
fervently patriotic that ever enriched
any language or land was composed in
Cincinnati on the morning of October
81, 1864. A somewhat trifling minor
circumstance which cannot be general
ly known, was the cause of its produc-
ton at that time. How its author
might have sung later its theme of glo-
ry, no mortal can tell.
Mr.. Cyrus Garrett, brother-in-law of
Thos. Buchanan Read, with whom the
artist and his family some time resided
on West Eighth street. that morning
discovered in Harper's Weekly spir-
tied drawing by Thos. Mast, represent
ing Gen Philip Sheridan mounted and
tearing madly along the road, far
ahead of his escort" to join his troops,
twenty miles away.
While at his breakfast, che did not
dream of the terrible route and disaster
| lowering at that moment over his ar
N.Y." but as he rode out of Winchester
the vibrations of the ground, under
heavy discharges of artillery in the dis
tance, gave him the first intimations
of danger. Five anxious hours the des-
perate struggle went on before Sheri
dan arrived upon the field. Encoun-
tering, as he neared it, some of his re-
treating soldiers, he swung his cap over
his head and shouted "Face the other
way, boys face the other way 7" as he
galloped to the front. Under his quick
commands the broken ranks were re-
formed, and for two hours more the
tired soldiers who had eaten nothing
since the night previous, obeyed the in
spiration of his presence aud that won
! derful victory followed. The first pic
tured illustration of that famous ride
Mr. Garrett held before Mr.. Reads
eyes.
"Look at this, my boy! Isn't there
poem in it There's chance for
you-write one"
The poets dark eyes centered on the
picture. There are moments which
time itself measures. Perhaps with a
swell of enthusiasm, more than poet
ic aff1atus, the blood of a patriot already
dashing in his veins faster and faster
he thus replied to Mr.. Garrett: cay,
but poem is not to be written in a
minute, nor as easily as you can order
new coat at Sprague's I"
George Gil6llan has declared that
the secret of Thomas Campbell's sue
cess as poet, was that of enthusiasm
subdued requirement for success that
is not often understood, as the critic
adds. If in CampbelPs case, the same
must be true of many personal expert
ences and exploits
Notwithstanding his prompt allusion
to the tailor, by any other theory than
subdued enthusiasm, would be anoma-
lous, Mr. Read was at the moment in
spired, and as though Mr.. Nast's draw
ing had been camera, rejecting the
whole twenty miles of that dashing
ride in a moveless mystery of the poe
try of motion. The witty caricaturist
probably has never fancied himself to
have been the medium" of immortal
verse which converted the victor's wild
olive leaves on Phil Sheridan's brow
to flowers of amaranth.
Mr.. Read retired and wrote the poem.
Emerging two or three hours later
from his labratory of thought, he read
"Sheridan's Ride" to delighted fam
lily circle.
1t appears that James E. Murdoch,
| a frequent guest at Mr. Garrett's house,
and Mr.. Davis, war correspondent of
Harpe,''s, both chanced to be present.
Then to Mrs. Read was assigned the
pleasant task of copying the poem in
large text in order that the tragedian
might readily memorize it for that even
ing's programme at Pixies Opera
House, the older structure which q
twelvemonth later, like fairy fabric,
dsparted in shower of burning fakes
on the streets of Cincinnati. Leaving
Mr.. Murdoch vigorously committing
the lines with appropriate gesticulation
Mr.. Read and Mr.. Davis sauntered
forth to call on various friends. To
one of them, as they entered, the poet,
with radiant face exclaimed: "Well,
l struck off new poem this
morning 1t is fresh from the oven %
Naturally, from the appreciative con-
fdant, suitable inquiries and congratu-
lations followed, with confession of
pleased curiosity.
A grand ovation to Mr.. Murdoch,
whose devotion to his country had
been evinced by many labors of love,
occurred on that very evening. The
oe ecasion was Illuminated with the in
teIlect of Cincinnati's favorites and the
spleudor of her fashion. Mayor Len.
Harris advanced to the footlights with
Mr.. Murdoch, and read tasteful in
troductory address. Mr.. Murdoch's
response expressed his deep gratitude
for the honor conferred upon himself,
and he opened his recitations with By
ron's impassioned lament over Greece,
following it by Reads poem, Drift
ing," thus casting dreamy and SEN
suous spell over the audience. The
great tragedian then requested permis-
sion to read poem which on that
mornings dawn was uncreated. Then
"Sheridan's Ride" in which Mr.. Muir
ldoch's grand tones thrilled the vast
throng of listeners The crowning fea-
ture Of the evening was the presenta.
ton of a flag by the hero of Lookout
Mountain to the tragedian, who, on re-
ceiving it, pressed the margin reverent.
ly to his lips, and made graceful re-
. sponse.
In considering the first meager re-
ports of the victory at Cedar Creek
which it is declared was due to the
personal presence of General Sheridan
alone, who by that desperate ride met
; the pillows of war in time to turn them
back, we can accord to T. Buchanan
J Reads genius the power Of prophetic
light. 1t has been claimed by a poet