The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-15

have been sitting face to face to-day, the
whole afternoon, with the man who vouches
for the above written words. He is a strong
positive character, just passing three-score-
and-ten, years crowded with wonderful ex-
perences. AS he told this story, he warmed
| with the fire of the event. and his blood was
hot with indignation, for he had Just read
statement that Sheridan got drunk at Win
chester and did not go to the battlefield,
where the poets pen has pictured him.
'Ah, but I'll put an end to all cavil about
this story" said he. WHAT have told you
| l got directly from General Eckert himself,
who sat with his hand on the key, arranged
and watched every stage of Sheridans ride
| from Washington to Cedar Greek. lie now
manages the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, and will bear witness to these facts.
But have a letter from Sheridan He and
| were then, and are now, friends, When |
! heard of the ride, wrote to ask him about
| it and to inquire ii | had not ridden the
same horse that carried him up the valley
while with him at Chattanooga. Mr. Mur-
! dock soon found among his papers the iden-
| tlcal letter which General Sheridan wrote in
reply.
Il need not tell you how highly it is
| priced" said the veteran, FOR you will see
| how carefully it has been kept through all
| these years.
WHO is there who has read this country's
| history that does not know James +. Muir
/ doch-the actor, the reader, the man? Ii is
| he who tells this story and furnishes this
| clinching evidence of the truthful founda-
| ton of t. Buchanan Reads poem. Thou
sands who have watched his matchless repre-
| sentation OF Hamlet, or sat under the spell
| OF his dramatic readings, will be glad to
| know that, although he is passing seventy
three, he is still in excellent health and
spirits He is tall, robust man. with
clean-shaven face that shows the broad, dis
tinct lines of his strong countenance to the
best advantage. His wealth of iron-gray
hair and his general carriage combine to
make him very striking character.
Although an old man when the war was
| going on, he spent great deal of time with
the army in connection with the sanitary
commission and in the hospitals. He was Il
iavorte at the headquarters of many gener-
ais, and witnessed a great deal OF the inner
features OF army life.
The story OF Sheridans ride above written.
was but 1.-THE OF the good things he told
me- The recital of this matter naturally led
up to all the incidents connected with it.
81 was not with Sheridan" he said, "at
this time but was at the headquarters OF the
Army OF the Cumberland. Soon after the |
battle of Cedar Creek | came up to Cincin- |
natl, and was visiting Mr.. Cyrus Garrett /
whom we called Old Cvcops' He was r. !
Buchanan Reads brother-in-law and with |
him the poet made his home. The ladies of |
Cincinnati had arranged to give me recap !
ton, that finally turned into an ovation. |
HdO gwen d SIedb IldHy TGduluoS 10 raise !
funds to assist their Soldiers Aid Society, |
and they were going to present me with a |
silk flag. Pixies Opera-house had been Sc |
cured, the largest place of amusement in |
the city. and they had made every arrange /
ment to have the reception very dramatic |
event, The morning of the day it was to
take place Read and | were, as usual, taking J
our breakfast late We had just finished, !
but were still sitting at the table chatting.
Mr. Garrett, the brother-in-law, who was a
business man and guided by business habits, !
came in while we were thus lounging. He
wore an air of impatience and carried pa
per i'll his hand. He walked directly up to
Read, unfolded copy of Harper's Weekly
and held it up before the man so singularly /
gifted as both poet and painter
The whole front of the paper was covered
from cloud OF dust that rolled from the
highway as he dashed along, followed by a
few troopers
Read, see what you have missed. You ought
to have drawn that picture Yourself and got
the credit for it, it is ust in your line.
The first thing you know somebody will
write a poem on that event. and then you
will be beaten all round
Read looked at the picture rather quizzi-
cally. look which interrupted by saying:
Old Cyclops is right, Read. the subject and |
the circumstance are worth a poem.
"Oh no., said Read; that theme has been !
written to death There is Paul RsVere's |
Ride" 'Iochinvar," Tom Hoods wild |
Steed of the Plains" and half dozen other |
poems of like character
"Filed with the idea that this was good
chance for the gifted man, said; Read, you |
are losing great opportunity. If had such |
a poem to read at my reception tonight it
would make great hit. ~
but, Murdoch, you cantS ler poem
as you would a coat. | can't write anything
in few hours that will do either you or me
any credit he replied rather sharply.
Il turned to him and said Read, two or
three thousand of the warmest hearts III On
cinnati will be in Pixies Opera-house to-
night at that presentation. 1t will he a very
significant affair. Now, You go and give me
ANYTHING in rhyme, and | will give it de-
liverance before that splendid audience, and
you can then revise and polish 1t before 1t
goes into print This view seemed to strike
him favorably, and he finally SAID; We'll!
WE'LL we'll see what can be done, ana he
went up stairs to his room.
"A half hour later Hattie, his wife, brill
liant woman, who is now residing in Phlla-
dephia, came down and said
" He wants pot OF strong tea. He told
me 10 get it for him and then he would lock
the door and must not be disturbed unless
the house was alire.'
Time wore on, and in our talk on other
matters in the family circle, we had almost
forgotten the poeUat work up stairs. Dinner
had been announced, and we were about TO
sit down, when Read came in and beckoned
me to come. When l reached the room, he
said:
Murdoch, think have about what you
want He read it to me- and with an enthu-
sasm that surprised him, said it is just the
thing.
I'VE dined, and at the proper time Read
and I. with the family, went to Pixies Opera
house The building was crowded in every
part Upon the stage were sitting 200
manned soldiers each with an arm or leg
off General Joe Hooker was to present me
with the flag the ladies had made, and at the
time appointed we marched down the stage
toward the footlights, General Hooker bear
ing the flag, and with my arm in his Such
| q Stornl of annlanse as greeted the amman