“Ohio”

Description

The singer remembers the dead at Stones River. He recalls finding a dying youth. The soldier sends greetings to his family, then dies

Supplemental text

Ohio
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From Mary O. Eddy, Ballads and Songs from Ohio, #127, pp. 287-288.
From Mrs. James Robertson, Perrysville, Ohio.

1. Among the pines that overlook
      Stone River's rocky bed,
   Ohio mourns many a son
      That's numbered with the dead.

2. As night closed down the bloody scenes,
      Returning o'er the dead,
   I heard the pitiful mourns of one
      Laid low by mortal wounds.

3. I filled his canteen from a spring
      Below Stone River's banks;
   I built a fire of cedar wood,
      The night being cold and damp.

4. They set me down to ask of him
      If he did wish to send
   Some last request of parting words
      To mother, sister, friend.

5. "I have some words," the boy replied,
      "Which they would like to hear.
   ...
      ...

6. "Tell sister that I've read with care
      The holy ties in dear,
   The Bible mother gave me
      Before I volunteered.

7. "I'm very tired of talking now,
      Please raise me up some high,
   And fold my blankets close around,
      And build a larger fire."

8. But oh, he died that stormy night,
      No friends, no kin drew near,
   To wipe death's damp from o'er his brow,
      Or shed affectionate tear.

Notes

It is hard to say who won the Battle of Stones' River/Murfreesboro. The battle pitted William S. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland against Braxton Bragg's Confederate army. Rosecrans had been advancing into Tennessee, and Bragg set out to stop him.

In the first phase of the battle, on Dec. 31, Bragg drove back but did not destroy Rosecrans's right. Jan. 1, 1863 was quiet, but Bragg tried again on Jan. 2. Again he failed to decisively defeat the Federals.

After spending the day of Jan. 3 on the field, Bragg's army retreated. The federal army had been so badly mauled that it would be half a year before it moved again -- but Rosecrans held the field and his gains. - RBW

Historical references

• Dec 31, 1862-Jan 2, 1863 - Battle of Stones River/Murfreesboro

Cross references

• cf. "The Battle of Stone River" (subject)

References

1. Eddy 127, "Ohio" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST E127 (Full)
3. Roud #5343
4. BI, E127