Unionforever1865

Unionforever1865 OP t1_j9txafq wrote

Reply to comment by IamSauerKraut in February 24, 1914 Joshua Chamberlain, the Lion of the Round Top, former Governor of Maine and Bowdoin College President passed away in Portland, Maine from complications of wounds he suffered in battle. Said to be the last casualty of the Civil War. by Unionforever1865

Chamberlain died as a result of his wounds. That’s what casualty means.

Henry Woolson definitely died in 1956

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_j07fvmq wrote

Reply to comment by Vermonter623 in Taken between 1930 and 1940 this picture shows the last surviving Union Civil War veterans of Grand Army of the Republic Chamberlain Post #1, St. Johnsbury, Vermont by Unionforever1865

Also used to set up a woman who may have been pregnant with no boyfriend. A marriage to keep their social standing in tact, a lifelong income from the pension and the elder vet is nursed and cared for in his dying days.

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_j073hct wrote

Reply to Taken between 1930 and 1940 this picture shows the last surviving Union Civil War veterans of Grand Army of the Republic Chamberlain Post #1, St. Johnsbury, Vermont by Unionforever1865

George H. Nelson of Co. D, 2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment; Amos Harvey Noyes of Co. C, 17th Vermont Infantry Regiment; Harvey S. Powers of Co. A, 9th Vermont Infantry Regiment; Winthrop T. Reed of Third Vermont Battery; Charles A. Heyer of Co. C, 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment; and Moody H. Evans of Co. B, 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment.

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_it9n3lg wrote

Reply to comment by New-Vegetable-1274 in LT John William Grout of Worcester, Massachusetts was 18 years old when he was killed in action at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861. His family marked his absence at family events by keeping his empty chair at the table. Inspired by this, Henry S Washburn composed “The Vacant Chair” by Unionforever1865

Every generation since the dawn of man has talked down to the generation that followed it. You are keeping with that tradition while also demonstrating the unique ideological safe space Boomers have carved out for themselves in their twilight.

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_it978gs wrote

Reply to comment by New-Vegetable-1274 in LT John William Grout of Worcester, Massachusetts was 18 years old when he was killed in action at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861. His family marked his absence at family events by keeping his empty chair at the table. Inspired by this, Henry S Washburn composed “The Vacant Chair” by Unionforever1865

If you watch Ken Burns The War it was very common to denigrate the Greatest Generation as lazy, entitled and wasting their time on frivolity on the verge of World War II.

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_it7otao wrote

Reply to comment by MattOLOLOL in LT John William Grout of Worcester, Massachusetts was 18 years old when he was killed in action at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861. His family marked his absence at family events by keeping his empty chair at the table. Inspired by this, Henry S Washburn composed “The Vacant Chair” by Unionforever1865

He was commissioned in the 15th on July 12, 1861, 13 days shy of his 18th birthday. This so picture is sometime in the later summer or early fall of 1861.

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Unionforever1865 OP t1_it7nv4v wrote

Reply to LT John William Grout of Worcester, Massachusetts was 18 years old when he was killed in action at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff on October 21, 1861. His family marked his absence at family events by keeping his empty chair at the table. Inspired by this, Henry S Washburn composed “The Vacant Chair” by Unionforever1865

The 15th Massachusetts was raised in Worcester and was under the command of Colonel Charles Devens. Grout, whose family called Willie, was assigned to D Company. The 15th was stationed on Harrison Island on the Potomac River facing Balls Bluff in Virginia. After news of a Confederate outpost was relayed to COL Devens he took half his regiment, 300 men, and ferried them across the river to seek out the enemy. LT Grout was part of this group.

On the Virginia side, the 15th came under fire from the 17th Mississippi. Outnumbered the 15th attempted to consolidate with more reinforcements but was quickly out positioned trapped between the rebel held bluffs and the strong river. Seeing his men in danger of being wiped out COL Devens ordered: “Throw your guns into the river and save yourself!” Over the din of retreat LT Grout shouted: “Colonel is there anything more I can do for you?” To which Devens replied, “Nothing. But to take care of yourself.”

The 15th piled into what boats that remained as most of the men attempted to swim back across. Confederate sharpshooters shot men down in the river. In the shallows LT Grout helped load his desperate men into the boats. Waist deep in the river he was struck with a mortal round. He shouted out to his men: “Tell Company D I could have reached the shore, but I am shot, I must sink!”

On November 5, 1861, William Grout’s body was discovered some 35 miles away in the Potomac in Washington DC intertangled with other Union dead floating against the Chain Bridge. Personal effects in his pockets helped identify him and ensure that his body was sent home to Massachusetts.

The Grout family began a tradition of marking William’s absence at family events by keeping his empty chair at the table. Inspired by this poet Henry S Washburn composed “The Vacant Chair” in William’s memory. It was later set to music by George F Root and it became a popular mourning song during the war.

We shall meet but we shall miss him. There will be one vacant chair. We shall linger to caress him While we breathe our ev'ning prayer. When one year ago we gathered, Joy was in his mild blue eye. Now the golden cord is severed, And our hopes in ruin lie.

We shall meet, but we shall miss him. There will be one vacant chair. We shall linger to caress him While we breathe our ev'ning prayer.

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 the banner Thro' the thickest of the fight And uphold our country's honor In the strength of manhood's might.

We shall meet, but we shall miss him. There will be one vacant chair. We shall linger to caress him While we breathe our ev'ning prayer.

True, they tell us wreaths 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 thy green and narrow bed. Dirges from the pine and cypress Mingle with the tears we shed.

In 1894, a Camp in Worcester of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was formed and named in his honor, Willie Grout Camp No. 25. His uniform and camp items can be seen at the Worcester Historical Museum

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