73. Sheridan's Ride
By THOMAS BUCHANAN READ (1864)
Up from the South, at break of day, Bringing to Winchester
fresh dismay, The 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.
This spirited poem was published a few days after the battle of Cedar Creek, when Sheridan's arrival
prevented a defeat.
And wider still those billows of war Thundered along the
horizon's bar, And louder yet into Winchester rolled The roar
of that red sea, uncontrolled, Making the blood of the listener
cold As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray, And
Sheridan twenty miles away.
But there is a road to Winchester town, A good, broad
highway, leading down; And there, through the flush 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, He stretched away with his utmost speed. Hill rose and
fell; but his heart was gay, With Sheridan fifteen miles away.
Still sprung from those swift hoofs, thundering south, The
dust, like the smoke from the cannon's mouth, Or the trail of a
comet, sweeping faster and faster, Foreboding to traitors the
doom of disaster; The heart of the steed, and the heart of the
master Were beating, like prisoners assaulting their walls,
Impatient to be where the battle-field 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 the wind; And the steed, like a bark fed with
furnace ire, Swept on with his wild eyes full of fire. But lo ! 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 the groups Of stragglers,
and then the retreating troops. What was done-what to do—a
glance told him both; Then, striking his spurs, with a terrible
oath, He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of huzzas, And
the wave of retreat checked its course there because The
sight of the master compelled it to pause. With foam and with
dust the black charger was gray. By the flash of his eye, and
his red nostrils' play, He seemed to the whole great army to
say: "I have brought you Sheridan, all the way From
Winchester down, to save you the day!
Hurrah, hurrah, for Sheridan! Hurrah, hurrah, for horse and
man! And when their statues are placed on high, Under the
dome of the Union sky The American soldiers' Temple of
Fame, There, with the glorious General's name, Be 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!
