The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-17
COL. JOHN MILLEDGE's SONG.
He Gives An Account of How lie
Came to Write 1t.

Came to Write Ii.
In an interview in the Atlanta Consti-
tuition, Col. John Milledge gives an ac-
count of how he came to write the song
which has achieved a great deal of sue
cess, and which is dedicated to the Gov
ernor's Horse Guard. In answer to a
question relative to the song he said:
mo, l make no claim to poetic ability.
l wish ! could. but don't. 1t is true,
however. that have written a calvary
mans song and dedicated it to my old
command, the Governors Horse Guard,
but there is nothing more to the story"
Col. John Milledge, state librarian, is a
modest man. Those who have read the
song he refers tc are enthusiastic over it,
but it was with difficulty that he could be
induced to say anything about it,
"Of course. 1 think a great deal of the
Horse Guard" he went on to say. 1T is
one of the finest military organizations in
the state. Composed of magnificent
body of men, well differed. with plenty
of money in the treasury, and a deep set
esprit de corps. which binds the members
together in a devoted brotherhood, this
company will live for many years. an or
nament to the city Of Atlanta and an ele-
ment of strength to the governor of the
state in the protection of life and prop
erty."
but the song?"
''Well. 1 desired to leave them some
token of remembrance when / shall have
passed way. There is nothing more de-
ightful or soul-stirrlng either on the
m a in ha
song. 'Jeb' Stuart, the typical cavalry
officer of the confederate service under
stood this full well, and he used 1T upon
many occasions to enliven his men in
hours of fatigue, depression or defeat
He was a fine singer himself-had
magnificent voice-and loved music, and
there happened to be in his command
a man who could play the banjo on
horseback as well as in a chair He
would carry his banjo swung over his
shoulder when in the saddle and many
a time when Stuart's long line of cavalry
in gray was jogging along on the pixies
and roads of Virginia, Stuart would ride
to his place in front and ordering Mark
Sweeney to his. side, would say: Mark
give me Fairy Bell-Fairy Bell, pride
of the valley and lily of the dell, Fairy
Bell" And Mark, throwing his reins
over the pommel of his saddle, would
strike the chords on his banjo, and al
though before this, the men, tired and
worn and dust-covered, were riding loose
and half asleep, when Stuart's voice,
with the banjo accompaniment ran down
the line, every man Strengthened in the
saddle, woke up and Joined in the chorus.
1t was like an electric shock, and they
were ready to obey any command that
Stuart might give.
These thoughts suggested to me the
idea of making song, If 1 were able
to do So worthy to stand as a token
of my regard for my old command. 1
have had it arranged for two comets to
lead, a male quartette to be sung by the
first four in the company, and a chorus
for the whole company to sing have
also had it arranged for the piano, duet
and male quartette, with a bugle ohligato,
to come from the rear of the stage.
should it ever be sung by any troop with
orchestra accompaniment OF course, as
the author of the song, l am too partial
a Judge to have my opinion Of any value
as to it's merits. / know that the Horse
Guard will appreciate the compliment
whether the outside world does or not
AS to any success of the song with the
general public. it must stand on its own
merit"