Description:

Civil War

"Private Dalzell" Revises Finch's "The Blue and the Gray"

 

2pp AMS 2x signed by Civil War veteran James M. Dalzell (1838-1924), once as "Private Dalzell" at top of first page, and once as "Private Dalzell, James M. Dalzell" on second page. Inscribed at the Soldier's Home of Dayton, Ohio on June 2, 1916. Entitled "The Blue and Gray of 1867. As revised by Private Dalzell, May 30, 1916." The cream blue-lined legal sized paper is in very good condition, with expected paper folds, isolated toning, two minor closed tears, and a paper clip ghost impression verso. Accompanied by its original John Heise Autographs auction listing.

 

Here, Dalzell added 5 stanzas to the famous 7-stanza poem "The Blue and the Gray", originally composed by Francis Miles Finch (1827-1907) around 1867. Both poets employed an ABABCDCD rhyming scheme, repetition, and imagery to create haunting tributes to dead Civil War combatants. To Finch, the sacrifice of all fallen soldiers, Union or Confederate, deserved recognition; to Dalzell, it initially meant only Union soldiers. This version of the poem, however, shows that Dalzell finally repudiated the idea of holding enmity against the dead.

 

Dalzell's last stanza reads: "So let the drum and trumpet lead / Processions to these shrines / To pay the Nation's mournful creed / Of charity-divine -- / A coward only hates the dead / Or evil speaks today / Beneath the Flag now overspread / -- Above the Blue and Gray."

 

James M. Dalzell had served for three years in the 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The lawyer, public speaker, and politician had conceived of the idea of hosting soldiers' reunions. This movement, along with patriotic speeches and articles delivered and written under the name "Private Dalzell", made his name instantly recognizable in post-Civil War America.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000