SHERIDAN'S RIDE

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.

And wider still those billows of war
Thunder'd along the horizon's bar;
And louder yet into Winchester roll'd
The roar of that red sea uncontroll'd,
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 from 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 stretch'd away with his utmost speed;
Hills rose and fell; but his heart was gay,
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.

Still sprang from those swift hoofs, thundering south, The dust, like smoke from the cannon's mouth,

Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster,

The heart of the steed and the heart of the master
Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls,
Impatient to be where the battlefield calls;

Every nerve of the charger was strain'd to full play,
With Sheridan only ten miles away.

Under his spurning feet, the road
Like an arrowy Alpine river flow'd,
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 eye 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 dash'd down the line, 'mid a storm of huzzas,

And the wave of retreat check'd its course there, because The sight of the master compell'd it to pause.

With foam and with dust the black charger was gray;

By the flash of his eye and the red nostril's play
He seem'd to the whole great army to say,

"I have brought you Sheridan all the 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 the dome of the Union sky,

The American soldier's 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!

THOMAS BUCHANAN READ.

By permission, Read, POEMS, J. B. Lippincott Company.

THE SWORD OF ROBERT LEE

Forth from its scabbard, pure and bright,
Flashed the sword of Lee!

Far in front of the deadly fight,

High o'er the brave in the cause of Right,
Its stainless sheen, like a beacon light,
Led us to Victory!

Out of its scabbard, where, full long,
It slumbered peacefully,

Roused from its rest by the battle's song,
Shielding the feeble, smiting the strong,
Guarding the right, avenging the wrong,
Gleamed the sword of Lee.

Forth from its scabbard, high in air,
Beneath Virginia's sky;

And they who saw it gleaming there,
And knew who bore it, knelt to swear

That where the sword led they would dare
To follow and to die.

Out of its scabbard! never hand

Waved sword from stain as free,

Nor purer sword led braver band,
Nor braver bled for a brighter land,
Nor brighter land had a cause so grand,
Nor cause a chief like Lee!

Forth from its scabbard! How we prayed
That sword might victor be;

And when our triumph was delayed,

And

many a heart grew sore afraid,

We still hoped on while gleamed the blade
Of noble Robert Lee.

Forth from its scabbard all in vain

Bright flashed the sword of Lee;

"Tis shrouded now in its sheath again,
It sleeps the sleep of the noble slain,
Defeated, yet without a stain,

Proudly and peacefully.

From FATHER RYAN'S POEMS.

Copyright, P. J. KENEDY & SONS.

ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN.

KEARNY AT SEVEN PINES

(May 31, 1862)

So that soldierly legend is still on its journey,

That story of Kearny who knew not to yield!

"Twas the day when with Jameson, fierce Berry, and

Birney,

Against twenty thousand he rallied the field.