"The Vacant Chair" is a poem that was written following the death of John William Grout (July 25, 1843 – October 21, 1861). Grout was a soldier killed in the American Civil War during the Battle of Ball's Bluff. The poem, written by Henry S. Washburn was put to music by George Frederick Root and became a popular song of the post-Civil War era.
John William Grout was born to Jonathan and Mary Jane Grout on July 25, 1843, at Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended the military academy there.[1]
He served as a 2nd lieutenant of Company D, 15th Massachusetts Infantry[2] and was killed at the age of eighteen in the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861.[1] Grout's body was recovered on November 5, 1861, after being washed 35 miles (56 km) back to Washington, D.C. His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing.
Poemedit
Henry S. Washburn
Upon hearing of Grout's death, Henry Stevenson Washburn, a family friend, wrote "The Vacant Chair" in late 1861, and it was first published in the Worcester Spy, attributed to "H. S. W." It is an allegory that describes the pain suffered by the family of those killed in war during the season surrounding Thanksgiving. The poem was turned into song by George Frederick Root, who was living in Chicago and wrote other songs of the Civil War era, including "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!", read the poem, and decided to put it to music without consulting Washburn—the poem was not copyrighted.[2][3] The song was released in 1862 and became very popular in the South and North.[4]
The New England magazine. New England Magazine Co. 1887.
Browne, C. A. (1960). The story of our national ballads. New York, Crowell.
Further readingedit
Byron Farwell (1990), Ball's Bluff: A Small Battle and Its Long Shadow, McLean, VA: EPM Publications, ISBN0-939009-36-6 .
Kim Bernard Holien (1995), Battle at Ball's Bluff, Third Edition, Orange, VA: Publisher's Press, ISBN0-943522-10-2 .
James A. Morgan, III (2004), A Little Short of Boats: The Fights at Ball's Bluff and Edwards Ferry, October 21–22, 1861—A History and Tour Guide, Fort Mitchell, KY: Ironclad, ISBN0-9673770-4-8 .
External linksedit
The Recovery of Lt. Grout's Body
April 15, 2024
vacant, chair, poem, that, written, following, death, john, william, grout, july, 1843, october, 1861, grout, soldier, killed, american, civil, during, battle, ball, bluff, poem, written, henry, washburn, music, george, frederick, root, became, popular, song, . The Vacant Chair is a poem that was written following the death of John William Grout July 25 1843 October 21 1861 Grout was a soldier killed in the American Civil War during the Battle of Ball s Bluff The poem written by Henry S Washburn was put to music by George Frederick Root and became a popular song of the post Civil War era Cover of music to The Vacant Chair Contents 1 John William Grout 2 Poem 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 External linksJohn William Grout edit nbsp John William GoutJohn William Grout was born to Jonathan and Mary Jane Grout on July 25 1843 at Worcester Massachusetts He attended the military academy there 1 He served as a 2nd lieutenant of Company D 15th Massachusetts Infantry 2 and was killed at the age of eighteen in the Battle of Ball s Bluff on October 21 1861 1 Grout s body was recovered on November 5 1861 after being washed 35 miles 56 km back to Washington D C His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing Poem edit nbsp Henry S WashburnUpon hearing of Grout s death Henry Stevenson Washburn a family friend wrote The Vacant Chair in late 1861 and it was first published in the Worcester Spy attributed to H S W It is an allegory that describes the pain suffered by the family of those killed in war during the season surrounding Thanksgiving The poem was turned into song by George Frederick Root who was living in Chicago and wrote other songs of the Civil War era including The Battle Cry of Freedom Tramp Tramp Tramp read the poem and decided to put it to music without consulting Washburn the poem was not copyrighted 2 3 The song was released in 1862 and became very popular in the South and North 4 See also editLife s Railway to Heaven Eliza R Snow Truth Reflects upon Our Senses References edit a b Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity 1902 p 19 a b History Of A Song The Piqua Daily Call 1897 06 30 p 3 Retrieved 2021 03 31 via Newspapers com Browne 1960 p 151 Browne 1960 p 158 Bibliography editThe New England magazine New England Magazine Co 1887 Browne C A 1960 The story of our national ballads New York Crowell Further reading editByron Farwell 1990 Ball s Bluff A Small Battle and Its Long Shadow McLean VA EPM Publications ISBN 0 939009 36 6 Kim Bernard Holien 1995 Battle at Ball s Bluff Third Edition Orange VA Publisher s Press ISBN 0 943522 10 2 James A Morgan III 2004 A Little Short of Boats The Fights at Ball s Bluff and Edwards Ferry October 21 22 1861 A History and Tour Guide Fort Mitchell KY Ironclad ISBN 0 9673770 4 8 External links editOur Noble Willie The Recovery of Lt Grout s Body Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Vacant Chair amp oldid 1177518525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
