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- Jan 8, 2012
Since the Battle of Ball's Bluff 160th Anniversary was yesterday and the commemoration of the battle is tomorrow, it's appropriate to note that the poem, "The Vacant Chair" was written by Henry S. Washburn to commemorate the death of Lt. John William Grout of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry, who was killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. The poem first appeared in the Worcester Spy around Thanksgiving 1861.
Lt. Grout's body was recovered from the Potomac River on November 5, 1861, after being washed down the river to Washington, D.C. His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing.
The poem was set to music by George F. Root and was popular in the North and South due to its universal message of loss. Root was a famous composer and also known for other Civil War songs such as "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Just Before the Battle Mother," and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!"
Here's a pleasant, somewhat modern rendition of the tune with some period photographs.
The Vacant Chair
"We shall meet, but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him,
While we breath our evening prayer"
"When a year ago we gathered,
Joy was in his mild blue eye,
But a golden cord is severed,
And our hopes in ruin lie."
"At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell,
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell."
"How He strove to bear our banner,
Through the thickest of the fight.
And upheld our country's honor,
With the strength of manhood's might."
"True, they tell us wreathes of glory,
Evermore will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only,
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now."
"Sleep today, O early fallen!
In the green and narrow bed;
Dirges from the pine and cypress
Mingle with the tears we shed."
"We shall meet, but we shall miss him.
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him,
When we breath our evening prayer."
Lt. John William Grout of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry, killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. While in the river retreating, he was shot and his last words were, "tell company D I could have reached the shore, but I am shot, I must sink!"
Thanks to the 3rd US Regulars Reenactors Facebook page and the Pastor Appreciation Blog
Lt. Grout's body was recovered from the Potomac River on November 5, 1861, after being washed down the river to Washington, D.C. His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing.
The poem was set to music by George F. Root and was popular in the North and South due to its universal message of loss. Root was a famous composer and also known for other Civil War songs such as "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Just Before the Battle Mother," and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!"
Here's a pleasant, somewhat modern rendition of the tune with some period photographs.
The Vacant Chair
"We shall meet, but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him,
While we breath our evening prayer"
"When a year ago we gathered,
Joy was in his mild blue eye,
But a golden cord is severed,
And our hopes in ruin lie."
"At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell,
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell."
"How He strove to bear our banner,
Through the thickest of the fight.
And upheld our country's honor,
With the strength of manhood's might."
"True, they tell us wreathes of glory,
Evermore will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only,
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now."
"Sleep today, O early fallen!
In the green and narrow bed;
Dirges from the pine and cypress
Mingle with the tears we shed."
"We shall meet, but we shall miss him.
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him,
When we breath our evening prayer."
Lt. John William Grout of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry, killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. While in the river retreating, he was shot and his last words were, "tell company D I could have reached the shore, but I am shot, I must sink!"
Thanks to the 3rd US Regulars Reenactors Facebook page and the Pastor Appreciation Blog
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