"WHEN THE BOYS IN BLUE ARE GONE"
By John Hendricks

When the comrades have departed,
When the veterans are no more,
When the bugle call is sounded
On that everlasting shore.
When life's weary march is ended,
When campfires slumber long;
Who will tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone?

Who will tell about their marching,
From Atlanta to the Sea?
Who will halt, and wait, and listen,
When they hear the reveille?
Who will join to swell the chorus,
Of some old, Grand Army song?
Who will tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone?

Sons and daughters of this nation,
You must tell of triumphs won;
When on earth our work is ended,
And the Veteran claims his own.
You must all cherish Old Glory,
And its teachings pass along.
You must tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.

To that flag, our country's emblem,
You must pledge allegiance, too.
To that flag, our nation's emblem,
May your hearts be ever true.
That the nation be protected,
'Gainst injustice, and all wrong;
You must tell the world the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.

You must keep your country's honor,
From each stripe withhold all stain;
You must take the Veteran's places,
And repeat the roll of fame.
You must keep your country's honor,
And your flag above all wrong,
Then we'll trust you with the story,
When the boys in Blue are gone.

John Hendricks was the last surviving Veteran of the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This poem, written long after the Civil War, expresses Hendrick's concern that future generations not forget what Union soldiers and members of the Grand Army of the Republic held most sacred, the Union and the flag for which they fought.

Please Sign Andrew's Guestbook

View Andrew's Guestbook

     

Please send me an email.

|   I. Andrew Becomes a Soldier...  |   II. Headed South...  |   III. The First Fights...  |
|   IV. Laying In Camp...  |   V. Milliken's Bend  |   VI. Last Letters...  |   VII. Captain Abraham...  |
|   VIII. From An Unknown Writer...  |   IX. Epilogue...  |   X. Honoring Other Civil War Ancestors...  |

|   OLIVER BELDEN CULVER ― Illinois Abolitionist, Pioneer Farmer and Lincoln Neighbor  |
|   Lees Had Ties To The Land of Lincoln ― Squire Lee of Blount Township and General Lee Were 3rd Cousins  |
|   ABEL WILDER ESTABROOK ― Lovejoy Abolitionist, Pioneer Educator and Lincoln Teacher  |

|   "You must tell the world the story; When the boys in Blue are gone."   |

Return to the Top of Andrew's Home Page:
"THE CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF ANDREW JACKSON NICKELL"

You are the visitor since 5 Apr 2015.