New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
TALE OF 4 WAR POEM.
HOW WAsHBURN CAME TO WRITE THE
VACANT CHAIR"

rA1L OF LIEUTENANT CIRCUIT At BALLS BLUFF
rrRxlsnED THE THEME OF THE
FAMOUS SONG.
From The Chicago Inter Ocean.
We shall meet bu' we shall miss him.
There viii bc one one vacant chair
We shall linger 10 caress MN
when we breathe our evening prayer.
WHOM year aeo we gathered, here
rut golden cord is severed
And our hopes IN ruins le
At our Preside sad and lonely
~ remembrance OF the story
How our noble Willie fell;
How he strove TO bear our banner
Through the thickest Of the fight
With the strength Of manhoods might
True. they tell US, wreahs OF glory
Evcrmore will deck his brow;
Bat this soothes the anguish only
Sleep today o early fallen,
IL thy green and narrow bed'
Dlrges from the pine and cypress
M!ngle with the tears We shed
There viii be one vacant chair
We shall lnger 10 caress MIN ~
When We breathe our evening prayer
throughout tine lcrgth and breadth OF not oniy
somr aud tocrn nnvo carried comfort and balm 70
thousand. Of Borrowing hearts for more thah 'lltg
3.ting ans EXPRESSIVE, than upon Memorial Day
When the Na,ion honors it, fallen heroes and loved
Who have died in bat;le Hardly person can be
found who - nQ fami'ia .I,, w" snc n. chorus
~, ,h,u ,,r,f Nm, q, shall miss him Yet II
sn st,,na NAT r,t,e is known Of piece OF
many admirers Such IT, nevertheless inct i Ui,
-fi. of what might almost b" termed an lmneIltte
. al @ 1tlr an
49, ~ V yis. sad doath inspired re- writing little
it"Ily n'init KNOW" VI ''' '''N''' "
~ ,1'i.', & vas brought about by the peculiar
way in -. Inc w. ri,,rn Nv Uenrv stevenson
Watbburi and vas Inspired by 'he death u a very
,,.,'i.i,, ,.i.'r n,,'.T Lieutenant John william
fio.iiS',S -, W,.s,Ibrsef,s Volunteers Com
lirltenaa. ,.'r, '' ,or - Jonathan and Mary
Iri, D, i.p Ia. father was a successful business
aavauar IN early ne i ~2s cild'n dI, M, y
" 'i nnH."rrL I, "r,. .'riv , question Via, pro-
fc.on r. ne f. seosa r9'T Eo fi eii Military
',.,n, u, Worro-ter whore in he mlliiar, DO
'1,"' oo,,T.radr Of ne cadets winning their
Iror hv r''1 n'l.'. ~" lam ,,S ,b,,s gr,iiecG
oi'f D. tii.' % a.. -, ~ ,r,,,er ~ an af-
wh'n I'll" 'iri war ''nr IN" matter - WI nv
u'n ,n' t'." .nn'n,iselon a. -econd lou
tenant IN 'ompnh' J. an n""U, or ,o,,,lor in Tho
ulor 80 yours innn, 49," ~ r,Iit2rv terfirs Wa
f,Sim,r. 'ii N,r 49," go n dr.ifmas,er we're in
~'. .. ,-..,. tfo aaair.l ME friends q, tho
80 I..,,,I,c for the front that he hid
'H'" D' "' W. '' ,-..ii ,i'. .,nrrgoreiss - yrar
s.iI'I oi , 80 r fl,,h Ilo .oercl 10 fool the
ana Joy W .-l' IN 81, orsihrt,ics 81 his
-o'"n'lu, ~ "-' i,..i q, h,s ,,,,rross or I'm the
pl.' ID , "". ,T,.i,lI ,.on Kim l9tor
duiifs Wh'N ,,...'' 81 ~ p.cir,oo, N srror
J. Ntt ID" -, ,,s'.,..,,s anil. a, D,li's PlIY
Hr''' '.-, ", H. rrs. in which tho rcg'r mont
-" i"Hti - i.pi,. !, 80 5.,rirg tha aght AMI
ht- 49,. .r,...l ,t.r,r,or his bravery and
''i'l' l'.. ~, ,,.,,..i,.s In q manner never 10
Ih,iIF , ,,.,,.. ,t. h,,,i. Will. mon foil on
TO- ..l t ,'.'.l,.s tuh 1rrrel and lfs courng e
'l' -, o'g,..io,' ,rr.d HE mon - renewed e.
~. so 49, -. d,y ,,,s i,s, and the men were
f'lN .,, a., ~. riv.r he seemed TO be
~. ~. if,.s ", tl,neolf IN his doslre 10 have