Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
A CENTURY OLD.
James Stephenson Macready, Who
Lives in the West End,
ONE OF THE HEROES OF WATERLOO,
BE Also Battled With General Jackson al
New Orleans.
SOME OF HIS VIVID "REMINISCENCES

"Ah, sir, many a time that day licked
the French blood from my sword to cool my
tongue; and, tell you, we moved them
town like mower mows down the grass
wi his scythe."
These are the words Of man still living
in this city, used in his thrilling description
of the battle of Waterloo, in which he was a
soldier under Wellington. This old hero
will be 1O2 years of age the 18th Of next
July, according to the record in the old
family Bible in Ireland.
It was on the Oath Of last December that
THE DISPATCH published something
about the veteran. 1t had been reported to
the Board of Health that he was sick and in
destitute circumstances. These reports were
found upon investigation to be untrue, for
he had not only enough to live upon, but
was negotiating for the disposal of some
property in Philadelphia, which would
give him fair compensation.
In the Home Of the Veteran.
The venerable veteran, a soldier of two
famous wars, James Stephenson Macready,
lives in an abode, as interesting as the man
himself, in an alley in the West End. The
other day visit was made to him in COM
pany with Captain s. L. FulIwood and
Colonel William A. Heron, both old citi-
zens and military men. When the door
opened Mr.. Macready's first words, passed
over the body of vicious dog lying on
the step, were;
SIS that you, William Herron?" Just as
prompt was the reply of the Colonel, "Why,
Mac, is this where you live? thought you
were dead 40 years ago."
Mr.. Macready was born in Scotland and
was taken to Ireland, to the County Antrim,
where he grew up, and, curious enough, in
the neigh borhood of some of the ancestry Of
Colonel Heron. He crossed the ocean in
sailing vessel in 1909. landing at Philadel-
phia. He at once got job of work at 80
cents day, but as he had to pay 81 %
week for mis- board, he exercised the preroga-
tive of the individual workman of those
days, and quit.
From Philadelphia he came to Pittsburg
in 1910, walking the entire distance, and
passing his first night within the present
limits of the city in a log cabin still stand
ing near the Methodist Church in East
Liberty, on Penn avenue, now covered with
weather-board1ng. he got employment
here at go cents day, still paying 81 25
week for his board.
His Military Career.
He enlisted in the Duquesne Blues with
many well-known Pittsburg boys, whose
names fall gllbly from his tongue, for service
in the war of 1872. After short campaign
on the shores of Lake Erie he went with his
company to re-enforce jackson at New
Orleans, going down the river on fiat boats.
1--WE got there" the old man says, "just
in time to get behind the cotton bales and
~ Il - fha Ha
his soldiers warrant for land on the site of
the town of Sharpsburg, and sold it some
years after for $50.
Immediately upon his return from New
Orleans Mr.. Maeready sailed for Ireland on
q visit to his friends. He at once enlisted
in "Scot's Grays," q famous cavalry regi-
ment, for service in the campaign against
Napoleon. Telling this the old man says:
"You see I fought in America against
the British and then went home and fought
for them against the French" 1t is in the
description of this great battle that the elo-
quence of the old man rises to its height.
Could he tell his story on the platform in
Old City Hall as he does from his chair in
his humble abode he would never again
know want.
"Ah," he says, sit is so long ago, and I
grow so weary talking" nevertheless he
makes historically accurate and thrillingly
eloquent references to sold Bony," as he
calls him, to Wellington, to Hongamont, to
Blucher, to Grouchy, and to the movement
Of the troops. Warming up to the excite
ment of the time, the old hero takes up his |
Droomstick, goes through the English |
manual OF arms, shows how the British in
fantry formed their hollow squares
against the French, how they fred from
he hip, fell to the knees to load their
nuskets and the heavy cavalry dis
mounted with the long saber bayonet on the
md of the carbIne.
His vividness of Description.
"The French didn't care to try US more
han once" says the old soldier. "Ah, sir,
many a time that day licked the French |
blood from my sword to cool my tongue, |
md, tell you, we moved them down like |
mower mows down the grass wi his scythe,"
md, he adds proudly, II come off without
cratch.''
One can almost hear the clash of the
aber, the rattle of the musketrv the shrfll |
lotes Of the fife, the roll of the drum and the
music of the bagpipe as the old man goes on
With his description of the battle. "The
lrums," he says, "were covered with asses
kin and could be heard from Temperance
7ille to the hills of East Liberty" He tells
# the Scotchwoman who heard the pibroch
n the distance, and came down dancing
.mong the troops, singing out merrily,
cheer up, my laddies, the Campbells are
For all his service in both these wars the
Id man is without pension, and this for
he reason that ne has never applied. 81
AVE always been able to earn an honest lfy-
ng," be says, land il 1 get disabled l think
he State of Pennsylvania or Allegheny