The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
AN AGED ACTORS "REMINISCENCES.
Some of the Personal Experiences of James 3.
Murdoch During the War.


able actor and stout old patriot, James E. Muir
doch, to Journal reporter, ''yet my father was
an artillerist in the war of 1912, and while was
not combatant in the war for the Union, was
active in my sympathy and furnished what aid |
could to the younger men who fought, that re-
belion might be put down and freedoms glori-
GUS banner wave over an undivided country"
The old mans voice is still clear as war
bugle and his kindly blue eyes glowed, rejecting
bivouac fires and scenes of long ago.
"The war;" continued Mr.. Murdoch, scut me
In two, professionally. l was at the height OF
my popularity when Mr.. Lncoln's first call for
troops came, and was popular in the South as
in the North. I was playing in Milwaukee
The play was Hamlet" with myself IN that
role. The play was scarcely half through when
there was roar of many voices In the pit. and
people began to rush into the upper boxes. The
noise increased. The performance stopped, and
man jumped upon the stage and read Lin
coins proclamation, calling for Is, 900 men, The
enthusiasm OF the IS lndescrlbable.
The play was not resumed. The company and
myself took part in the meeting that followed
in which Governor Randall, Colonel Stark
weather, Matt Carpenter, myself and one or two
others spoke.
That night or the next day packed my
wardrobe and never opened my trunks again
until the war was over. My son had volun-
teered in the Second Ohio and L went on to see
his regiment standing in the streets of Lancas-
ter, Pa, on their way to the front, and they soon
took part in the battle of Bull Run. AS the boys
saw me, they raised the cry, Murdoch, Muir.
doch! Speech speechF Every of the rascals
knew me. They were Cincinnati boys ! did
make them speech, and, as the martial spirit
was in them and in me- believe it was fitted to
the occasion. From that time on, until the
war was over, continued speaking and reading
do not wish to appear lacking in modesty, but
really believe l did the boys and the cause
some good. James l.. Claghorn, of Philadel-
phia, said my contributions, proceeds of my pub
lie readings, to the sanitary committee amount
ed to $75, 900. / had readings in Washington in
the Senate chamber a number of times, and the
receipts from the sale of tickets for the benefit
of the sanitary amounted occasion,
oftener, to 81 200. | remember going to see Mr.
Lincoln about one of these readings Pm too
busy, Murdoch too busy, can't talk to you at
all. Not minute. But, said T. Mr.. Lincoln,
I've come to tell you good story
"Oh, if that's the case,' said the President
seating himself and crossing his long legs as if
he had all the leisure imagip able, that's diff
ferent thing. Go ahead with the story
Zone night, when / was giving a reading at
the Capitol Hannibal Hanln came over to me
and said: Mr.. Lincoln wants you to give the
swearing document protested didn't know
what the President MEANT. had no idea what he
could mean. Mr.. Hamlin came back In minute
or so with printed slip in his hand had seen
Mr.. Lincoln take a long pocket book out of an
| inner coat pOcKeL ana mana SOm0CnlnE TO MT.
| Hamlin. Here's the swearing document said
| Dir. Hamlin. It was T. Buchanan Reads poem,
| The Oath a piece of remarkable power with
that strong line about the voice of the ghost
| derneath which says, Swear / read the
swearing document and Mr. Lincoln was great
ly pleased.
1.-THE boys who were in the army will. many
of them, remember my readings. A couple of
brigades would be drawn up hillside, and
would give brief address and read to them from
the Scriptureg. JOSeDh and his brethren. Paul
before Agrippa the Prodigal Son. aud such
poems as The SLEEPING Sentinel The American
Flag, Bayard Taylors great poem of Scott and
the Veteran the story of old Bill johnson, who
fought at Lundys Lane. THE Sleeping Senti-
nell which relates to the pardon by Lincoln of the
Yankee boy, condemned to be shot for sleeping
at his post, has caused the tear to roll down the
cheek of many bronzed veteran and made him
all the better for it.
zone day before the quarters of Gen. Phil.
| Sheridan, at Chattanooga it was a Sunday
afternoon two or three brigades were drawn up,
and was giving them readings and patriotic
recitations. In the midst of the exercises a
she'll burst seemingly directly over my head,
| high up in the air. General Sheridan cried out:
Hold On, Mr. Murdoch, we'll have to change
location or we'll have our pew doors smashed off.
Those fellows over at Lookout have nearly 60
| our range,
my son Tom, captain on the staff of Gen.
| VanCeye, was killed at Chicamauga Some
time after the war was lecturing in the city of
Lawrence, Kan. gentleman made himself
known to me, and said have number
He died in my tent at Crawfsh
Springs He then told me that after N = SON had
put these things in his hands he had bean cap
tured and taken to Libby Prison He gave me
adaguerreotype of my sons sweetheart pocket
handkerchief with her name it, and Mexi-
can dollar. These were the relics that had been
| placed in mis- hands by my to be given to me.
/ My sons comrade had these when searched as was
rcu a wit cnf xuo Of hhr TJo a
1 the rebel officer was taking them, when he
| pleaded to have them given back, telling the cir
| cumstances under which they had been given
him. The SON of James E. Murdoch, the TRACE
| danP inquired the confederate, adding with
| much emotion, Take them back, old fellow
| take them all. even the silver do!lar'-he fol-
| lowed it with longing eyes as it disappeared in
the Yankees pocket though it does look as
| large as grindstone.'"
II was talking said Mr. Murdoch, with
General Sherman once during the war, and cas-
ually mentioned Gen. George H. Thomass great
natural dignity-a dignity which SO became him.
and which, as | said to General Sherman. he
appeared never to forget Oh said Sherman
sometimes Thomas get off the hooks as
quickly as any of u.s. General Sherman then
went on to narrate an incident that happened in
| Tennessee General Thomas, you know, was a
| Vireinian by birth, but unlike General Lee and
Stonewall jackson. he was patriot
| Well, as General Sherman went on
| to say, the armies of Thomas and
| the rebel General Bragg were facing each other
| A letter had come inside Thomas's lines ad-
dressed to a lady who, in former years. had been
mutual friend of Bragg aud himself To do a
gracious thing, he sent the letter 10y officer to
| Bragg's headquarters, as she was probably with
| in the rebel lines. In great while the courier
| returned the letter to Thomas. 1t was badly
soiled, and no sooner had Thomas read line
written upon tie envelope than he
became furiously angry. The cour-.
Ter said Bragg had written the line
and then dropped or threw the letter in the
dirt. 1t bore the words: General Bragg holds
no communication with traitors to his country
Sherman, who saw him at the time. was much
amused at his anger, because it was so unusual,
and he chafed Thomas considerably, saying
pea on a hot skillet was nothing to it.
"Bragg's calling Thomas a traitor continued
Mr.. Murdoch, because he was man of honor