John William Grout
Encyclopedia
John William Grout was a civil war soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts and a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover in 1859, who served with the Union's 15th Massachusetts as a Second Lieutenant and was killed at age eighteen at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff
. His death inspired a famous poem that was later turned into a Civil War song. The poem ("The Vacant Chair") is an allegory that describes the pain suffered by the family of those killed in war when sitting at the Thanksgiving table. The poem was written by Henry S. Washburn and was turned into song by George F. Root. Root wrote "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" and other songs of the Civil War. "The Vacant Chair" was a hit in both the North and the South.
Lt. Grout's body was recovered on November 5, 1861, after being washed 35 miles back to Washington DC. His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing.
Battle of Ball's Bluff
The Battle of Ball's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Harrison’s Island or the Battle of Leesburg, was fought on October 21, 1861, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of Union Maj. Gen. George B...
. His death inspired a famous poem that was later turned into a Civil War song. The poem ("The Vacant Chair") is an allegory that describes the pain suffered by the family of those killed in war when sitting at the Thanksgiving table. The poem was written by Henry S. Washburn and was turned into song by George F. Root. Root wrote "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" and other songs of the Civil War. "The Vacant Chair" was a hit in both the North and the South.
Lt. Grout's body was recovered on November 5, 1861, after being washed 35 miles back to Washington DC. His remains were identified by the name written on his clothing.