The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-29

graves of those who have died in bat
tie. Hardly a person can be found who
is not familiar with The Vacant
Chair" I'VE shall meet. but we shall
miss him?" Yet it seems strange that
little is known of a piece of such in
ternational fame, and which has won
so many admirers. Such is, neverthe-
less, a fact. Outside of what might al
most be termed an immediate circle of
friends of the author and the family Of
the brave lad whose sad death inspired
it's writing. little, really nothing, is
known of the origin of the poem, its
author and hero.
This condition was brought about by
the peculiar way in which the verses
were first given to the public. The
poem was written by Hon. Henry
Stevenson Washburn. and was insured
by the death of a very promising
young officer, Lieutenant John William
Grout of the Fifteenth Massachusetts
volunteers, company D.
Lieutenant Grout, the subject Of THE
Vacant Chair was the only son of
Jonathan and Mary Jane Grout, and
was born in Worcester, Mass, July 20,
1912. His father was successful BUSH
ness man. and the son enjoyed the best
of educational advantages. In early
life it was evident that he was en-
dowed by nature with rare gifts, physi-
cally and mentally. A writer of his
time remarks: "Of medium stature and
symmetrical proportions. erect carriage
and remarkably fine and manly fea-
lures. and with elastic vigor and the
glow of health, he might have been
selected as a model for an artist" He
was a diligent student. and mastered
easily subjects to which his attention
was given, but he turned with special
interest to history. in it's relation to
nations. and their conflicts one with an
other He seemed to have been born
for a military life. and inherited, I'M
doubtedly. a love for the camp from
his ancestors. He was of the sixth gen.
Grafton from John of Sudbury, who was
a grandson of an English knight. and
who distinguished himself for his
heroism in leading his townsmen tri-
umphantly AGAINST the assaults of the
Indians in 1876 for which he was re-
warded with captaincy
It was early a question what profess
sion in life he should follow, matter
which was not settled till he entered
the Highland military academy. at
Worcester. where, in the military de-
partment he was active and enthusiast
tic and soon became commander of the
cadets. winning their favor by his
duty. Hardly had his ambitions been
thus gratified when the civil war be-
came the matter of all-absorbing inter
est to the people.
No one was quicker than he to see
that his hour had come, and he desired
at once to enter the army. but his par
ents withheld their consent for while.
chiefly on account of his youth, for he
had barely attained the age when his
country could legally claim his services.
When, however. they yielded to his i'm
portunity. his joy knew no bounds, and
with all the ardor of his nature he be-
gan preparations for the service before
him. such as sleeping on the floor to
inure himself to the hardships of life
in camp and eating plain food.
When the Massachusetts, Fifteenth
regiment was organized he received
commission as second lieutenant in
company Dan honor rarely bestowed
upon so young man. He was very
popular in the regiment. His knowledge
of military tactics was such that his
services as a drill master were in con-
slant demand. He assured his friends
at the time of his departure for the
front that he had girded on his arrnor
for all emergencies of war and for VIC
tory or death. He seemed to feel the
solemnities as we'll as the responsible
tiles of his position. but never faltered
in his purpose or in the duties which
devolved upon him later.
1t was the fortune of the Fifteenth
regiment TO suffer great loss in that
disastrous conflict at Balls Bluff. Oct
81. 1861, the first in which the regiment
had ever participated. The Union
troops had crossed the Potomac river
from their camp at Poolsville, some
miles back on the Maryland shore, in
clumsy mudscows, expecting to sur
prise and capture q confederate camp
some distance back on the Virginia
shore, and little or no preparation had
been made for hasty retreat. Hardly
had the forces landed and scaled the
steep bluff to a little clearing beyond
before the confederate troops were
aware of their presence, through skir-
mish between the advance guard of the
Union troops and a company of confed-
crate cavalry. This placed the Union
troops in peculiar position. They had
come over to make an aggressive fight,
but, knowing that the oonfederates we've
aware of their intentions, they DECIMAL
it unwise to advance into a country of
which they knew little. There was no
preparation for a retreat. The action
of General Stone in sending the troops
over in such a way was the occasion of
much discussion, and he was court
martialed for IL after the battle.
The clumsy scows which brought the
troops across were most Of them ON