SHERIDAN’S RIDE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6623, 12 September 1908, Page 5

SHERIDAN’S RIDE.

r lp from the south at break of day, Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay, Tho affrighted air with a shudder bore. Like a herald in haste, to the chieftain’s door. The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar. Telling the battle was on once more. And Sheridan twenty miles away. And wider still those billows of war Thundered along the horizon’s bar; And louder yet into Winchester rolled Tho roar of that red sea uncontrolled, Making tho blood of the listener cold As ho thought of the stake in that fiery fray, With Sheridan twenty miles away. But there is a road from Winchester town, A good, broad highway, leading down; •And Ithca-q, through the flash of the morning light, A steed as black as the steeds of night Was seen to pass as with eagle flight. As if he knew the terrible need, Ho stretched away with the utmost speed; Hills rose and fell—but his heart was . say. With Sheridan fifteen miles away. Still sprung from those swift-hoofs, thundering south The dust, like smoke from tho cannon’s mouth; Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster, Tug, to traitors the door of disaster. The heart of the steed, and the heart of tho. master Wore beating, like prisoners assaulting their walls. Impatient to be where the battlefield calls; Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play, With Sheridan only ten miles away. Under his spurning feet, the road. Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed, And the landscape sped away behind, Like an ocean flying before tho wind; And the steed, like a bark 'fed with furnace ire, Swept on, with his wild eras full of fire; But, low! he is nearing his heart’s desire. He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring , fray. With Sheridan only five miles away. The first that the General saw were tho groups Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops; What was done—what to do—a glanco told him both, And, striking his spurs with a terrible oath, He dashed down the line with a storm of huzzas. And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because The sight of the master compelled it to pause. . i foam and with dust the black charger was gray; By the flash of his eye, and his nostrils’ play. He seemed to the whole great army to say. “I have brought you Sheridan all tho way From Winchester down to save the day!"

Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan! Hurrah, hurrah for horse and man! And when their statues are placed on high, Under toe dome of the Union sky— The American soldier’s Temple of ft me — There with the glorious General’s name Bo it said in letters both bold and bright: "Here is the steed that saved the day By carrying Sheridan into the fight, From Winchester—twenty miles away.” T. B. BEAD.