Daily Republican., 1886-12-31
A REMARK ABLE POEM.
buchanan Reads "3heridan's Ride
How IL was Written,

"N'-1
In that remarkable poem, with
which we are familiar, Buchanan
Read describes Sheridan as riding
DOVE the lines with "a terrible oath,o
which was SO soul-stirring as to bring
the demoraliZed and scattered soldiers
to realizing sense of the RESPONSE
bility Of the occasion and to turn them
from sheep to men. The General
does aot recollect exactly what he did
say, but has no noubt that he used
language appropriate to the circurl-
stances and meant precisely what he
said. On some other occasions during
the war he found the ordinary vocs
bulary OF conversation inadequate to
his thoughts, and made use OF Ian
guage that could not be misunGer
stood, but the yarns about his pro
family which were SO widely Quoted
at the time, have caused him much
annoyance.
The impression that his tongue was
a mlnt that was constantly coming
imprecations Of unique and awful
pattern was quite general, and it
grieved the hearts OF great many
good people that man they had
learned to admire and love had tar
nished his otherwise brilliant reputa-
ton by the use of blasphemy. Many
OF them wrote him to express their
regret. The letters came from clergy.
men and mothers of boys, who gently
demonstrates and begged him to aban-
don his vicious habit, not only for the
sake OF his own soul but for the benefit
OF their sons, who admired him so
much and were inclined to initiate
even the vices Of great soldier
1t is due to Gen. Sheridan that this
false impression should be corrected,
for he is not habitually profane and
never swears except upon rare occa-
sions OF extraordinary proyocation
Then he does not use the vulgar bias
phemy OF the barroom, but coins
phrases of picturesque and striking
Originality, which produce an inslan-
itanto Gus effect and lasting impression
His words fall like pile driver. He
does not use them for the sake Of
Swearing, nor from the force of habit,
and never utters the same ol,.i vice,
but to emphasize his lansuagn and 10
supplya force which the poverty Of
his native tongue lacks.
Il On some supreme occasion, ai a
great crisis or emergencN. Whea the
soul of his men were To be aroused,
the ordinary adjective would strike
the soldier with no more force than o
falling leaf, and the phrases OF the
drawing room would not even reach
their ears. So much is true of Sheri-
!, dan, that at such times his tongue
woald frame a sermon in y single sen
, teuce that never failed to arrest a
panic and inspire with courage mer
who would have been deaf TO the
ordinary tone of remonstrance or com
mand.
| The retreat at Winchester was OF,
of these occasions. A member Of BIZ
staff, Gen. George A. Forsythes o
"Sandy" as he was better known, VIII,
rode the famous twenty miles by Sher
idan's side but did not get into the i'm
mortal poem, may be considered prett,
good authority. He told me that whel
the general met the first groupof strag
glers, in full retreat, and was informed
by them that the enemy had capture
his camp during hi. absence, he turnet
white with rage and modification, an
Exclaimed in atone that was not to b
misunderstood.
Boys, those OF you who are nc
towards follow me, for Iii sleep i
that camp tonight or I'll sleep il
helll'
! That was "terrible oath" til
author of "Sheridan's Ride" referre
to, and it had the effect that was in
tended. The soldiers knew that "Lit
tie Phil" was rightfully in earnest
ard there wasn't man IN all the shat
tered army that wouldn't share hi
bed.
l asked Gen. Sheridan the other da
if he knew the author of the poem.
Yes" he replied, Il knew hir
well. first met Mr.. Read at til
headquarters of Gen. Rosecrans, jus
.. before the battle of Stone River. III
was the guest OF the general and re
manned in camp quite while, SO W
! all got to know him."
"Do you know how he came t
. write the poem"
"Yes," said the general, II hav
heard him tell about it several times
There have been number of storie
published about the origin of the poem
but will tell you the true one, just a
! Mr.. Read told it to me. Did you knoN
that James E. Murdoch suggested tn
! idea?"
"Murdock, the elocutionist?"
"The very man. He was an acto
at one of the Cincinnati theatres at tn
time, where l had known him. Muir
dock has always been great friend c
e mine, and am glad to know the oil
Z man keeps so well. | see that he wa
Z able to appear at the memorial service
in honor of Chief Justice Chase th
! other day. He lost a son at the battl
of Missionary Ridge-Murdock die
The boy was in my command, and tn
old man came down to get the body
don't you know. The enemy occupe
: the place where the boy was buried
and Mr.. Murdoch remained guest q
u nv headquarters until we recovere
the ground. He used to ride the line
= with me every day, and always use
Z nv black horse, 'Rienzl'-the one tina
was afterwards called Winchester,
land the same that had under me o
that twenty mile canter. No man eve
straddled better animal, and oil
r. Murdoch became very fond of him
i, He was horse that it was an homo
y to mount, you see, and in that poer
3 Read gave him "a good send off.
"Well, things were very excitln
down around Chattanooga those days
u and Mr.. Murdoch saw a good deal
a | ~ n G,,layc ba a1waVs used 1