The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-29
STORY OF THE VACANT CHAIR"
How Hon. Stevenson Washburn Happened to Write This
Famous War Poem.

the island. and practically useless in
nasty departure. Not knowing what
else to do. Colonel Devens drew his men
up in battle line in the little clearing at
the top of the bluff and awaited the
attack. The clearing in which the
troops were stationed faced the river,
and was surrounded on the other three
sides by a thick growth of woods. When
the confederates reached the scene they
did not leave the woods, but fred on the
Union troops under their cover. doing
deadly work They filled the treetops
with sharpshooters, who added to the
destruction.
The position of the Union forces was
we'll nigh hopeless, but they fought like
heroes. Soon, however. the terrible fire
became too severe to endure and the or
der to retreat was given. and down the
steep bluff to the waters edge the SOL
diers tumbled peli-mell.
The confederates followed close upon
] them, thronging up to the edge OF the
bluff. from which position they shot the
retreating soldiers down like dogs as
they rushed madly up and down the
river bank, crossed in the boats and
| sprawled out in the water swimming
for liberty. Escape was weli-nigh i'm
possible, but many preferred death to
captivity and took the slim chance Of
fered.
1t was during the fight and retreat
that CIRCUITS character. his bravery and
+ training asserted itself in q manner
{ never to be forgotten. During the bat
/ tie, while men fell on every side. he
I escaped unframed and his courage and
! self-posSesSion urged his men to re-
! newed efforts. When the day was lost
and the men were forced to retreat to
the river. he seemed to be utterly re-
CARELESS of himself in his desire to
have the wounded conveyed to the
| opposite shore. He crossed the stream
with a boatload of sufferers. and see
ing them safely landed. returned to
| render like assistance to others; but
/ the deadly fire made it necessary to
abandon the boats and he was soon OBJ
| liged to plunge into the stream to save
/ himself from captivity or death. He
/ had reached the middle of the river
| when he exclaimed to a comrade near
at hand: Tell Co D I could have
reached the short-but-Tm shot-I
must sink" The waters Immediately
closed over him and his spirit was
( freed from the conflicts of earth.
When his death was announced,
said: Dear little fellow, he came to
me at the close of the battle and said:
rs there anything more, colonel, any
| thing more. that can be done for the
men?' and 1 replied, Nothing, but take
care of yourself.
1t was later learned that Grout asked
| to be relieved from the duty of officer
of the guard, to which he was detailed
| on the day of the battle. and which
would have kept him in camp and ont
of the fight, in which he lost his life,
had he so desired.
For some time the Potomac held the
body in its embrace, but it was finally
70
was tenderly borne to his native city
for burial. The heart of the common
wealth" had never known a sadder day
than when his remains, under the es-
! cort of the Highland cadets, attended
by the mayor and both branches of the
city government, Colonel Devens and a
large concourse of sympathizing citi-
zens, were taken to Rural cemetery for
interment. There his body now rests,
marked by simple monument. Many
tears We're mingled with the volleys
fired over the grave of the hero, who,
at the early age of IS. fell voluntary
sacrifice upon the altar of his country
The death of so young and promising
soldier, at the very threshold of a
brilliant career and the beginning of
the war, made strong impression
upon the author of the poem, who had
seen much of Grout, owing to his close
companionship with Mr.. Washburn's
eideSl son. one november day, not long
before Thanksgiving. as Mr.. Washburn
was walking along and mediating
upon the sad death of the brave
lad. his heart went out to the
bereaved family. whom he knew
would miss with such acute
pain the absent loved one or, the APP
preaching day of feasting. Suddenly
the words of the poem flashed through
his mind, and he wrote them down on
the spot, just as they now stand with
hardly a verbal alteration. His idea
was TO send them to the family. Later
they were given to the Worcester paper
and printed with simply the initials,
H. S. W." attached. Coming as they
did in the hour of anxiety and sorrow,
with their sweet and consoling beauty
they were speedily copied far and wide
in the press of the country. Among
others they met the eye of George F.
Root, the composer and writer of war
songs. who set them to music, without
even knowing who the author was. This
added to the POEMS fame. which soon
became international. So it stands to-