The following was written by Leonidas Boardman, on October 31, 1864, while in Fort Foote Hospital, Maryland, sitting by the old stove at the quiet hour of midnight, when all was still except now and then a cough or a groan from the sick and weary soldiers.
A Farewell
by Leonidas Oscar Boardman
One word to my friends and relations I speak,
That lives far, far away in the east,
I am only lamenting while here sick and weak,
To Abe Lincoln, in bondage at least,
For three years of time, which will pass slowly on,
But my spirits keep up, with the hope of return,
But if I should die, and should never return,
My wish is my folks would not mourn.
The thought of my home and my family so dear,
It fills my sad heart full of pain,
To think how I left them lamenting in fear,
That they should never see me again.
But hope for the best of that loved one so dear,
That's away in the army and ready with care,
To fight for Abe Lincoln, without any fear,
Until his three years is expired.
It was in spring I left you with pain in my heart,
For dear mother layed sick in her bed,
Oh, why did I leave her, why did I depart,
From dear mother who loved me so well;
And the morning I left my dear wife and babe,
To my brothers and sisters no visit I paid,
For a visit to them it would only increase
The sad feelings I had in my breast.
To my gray haired father I said not goodbye
When I left him so early that morn,
Oh why did I not, for he always did try,
To guard me against every wrong:
But I ask for forgiveness in doing so wrong,
In leaving my dear friends so early that morn.
I ask why I left them, lamenting forlorn,
To enlist in this sad cruel war.
Now my friends and relations, oh weep not for me
If I fall by the ball or the sword,
In fighting the rebels, the Negroes to free,
For My death Uncle Sam can afford.
But I'll add one more word to my song ere I close.
That I dream of my home every night in repose,
I dream of my dear friends, I dream of my foes
That are waiting and watching for me.
These words I have made up, while making a ring,
At midnight sitting by the fire,
It goes to the tune Brother George used to sing.
But alas, he has gone to retire.
I have sat by the fire on a cold winters night,
Oh, along with my friends telling tales of delight.
Those tales gave me comfort, when I could them invite,
But they are gone, I shall see them no more.
Leonidas Boardman died of the Small Pox, 3 Feb 1865.
A Farewell
by Leonidas Oscar Boardman
One word to my friends and relations I speak,
That lives far, far away in the east,
I am only lamenting while here sick and weak,
To Abe Lincoln, in bondage at least,
For three years of time, which will pass slowly on,
But my spirits keep up, with the hope of return,
But if I should die, and should never return,
My wish is my folks would not mourn.
The thought of my home and my family so dear,
It fills my sad heart full of pain,
To think how I left them lamenting in fear,
That they should never see me again.
But hope for the best of that loved one so dear,
That's away in the army and ready with care,
To fight for Abe Lincoln, without any fear,
Until his three years is expired.
It was in spring I left you with pain in my heart,
For dear mother layed sick in her bed,
Oh, why did I leave her, why did I depart,
From dear mother who loved me so well;
And the morning I left my dear wife and babe,
To my brothers and sisters no visit I paid,
For a visit to them it would only increase
The sad feelings I had in my breast.
To my gray haired father I said not goodbye
When I left him so early that morn,
Oh why did I not, for he always did try,
To guard me against every wrong:
But I ask for forgiveness in doing so wrong,
In leaving my dear friends so early that morn.
I ask why I left them, lamenting forlorn,
To enlist in this sad cruel war.
Now my friends and relations, oh weep not for me
If I fall by the ball or the sword,
In fighting the rebels, the Negroes to free,
For My death Uncle Sam can afford.
But I'll add one more word to my song ere I close.
That I dream of my home every night in repose,
I dream of my dear friends, I dream of my foes
That are waiting and watching for me.
These words I have made up, while making a ring,
At midnight sitting by the fire,
It goes to the tune Brother George used to sing.
But alas, he has gone to retire.
I have sat by the fire on a cold winters night,
Oh, along with my friends telling tales of delight.
Those tales gave me comfort, when I could them invite,
But they are gone, I shall see them no more.
Leonidas Boardman died of the Small Pox, 3 Feb 1865.
The following was written by Leonidas Boardman, on October 31, 1864, while in Fort Foote Hospital, Maryland, sitting by the old stove at the quiet hour of midnight, when all was still except now and then a cough or a groan from the sick and weary soldiers.
A Farewell
by Leonidas Oscar Boardman
One word to my friends and relations I speak,
That lives far, far away in the east,
I am only lamenting while here sick and weak,
To Abe Lincoln, in bondage at least,
For three years of time, which will pass slowly on,
But my spirits keep up, with the hope of return,
But if I should die, and should never return,
My wish is my folks would not mourn.
The thought of my home and my family so dear,
It fills my sad heart full of pain,
To think how I left them lamenting in fear,
That they should never see me again.
But hope for the best of that loved one so dear,
That's away in the army and ready with care,
To fight for Abe Lincoln, without any fear,
Until his three years is expired.
It was in spring I left you with pain in my heart,
For dear mother layed sick in her bed,
Oh, why did I leave her, why did I depart,
From dear mother who loved me so well;
And the morning I left my dear wife and babe,
To my brothers and sisters no visit I paid,
For a visit to them it would only increase
The sad feelings I had in my breast.
To my gray haired father I said not goodbye
When I left him so early that morn,
Oh why did I not, for he always did try,
To guard me against every wrong:
But I ask for forgiveness in doing so wrong,
In leaving my dear friends so early that morn.
I ask why I left them, lamenting forlorn,
To enlist in this sad cruel war.
Now my friends and relations, oh weep not for me
If I fall by the ball or the sword,
In fighting the rebels, the Negroes to free,
For My death Uncle Sam can afford.
But I'll add one more word to my song ere I close.
That I dream of my home every night in repose,
I dream of my dear friends, I dream of my foes
That are waiting and watching for me.
These words I have made up, while making a ring,
At midnight sitting by the fire,
It goes to the tune Brother George used to sing.
But alas, he has gone to retire.
I have sat by the fire on a cold winters night,
Oh, along with my friends telling tales of delight.
Those tales gave me comfort, when I could them invite,
But they are gone, I shall see them no more.
Leonidas Boardman died of the Small Pox, 3 Feb 1865.
A Farewell
by Leonidas Oscar Boardman
One word to my friends and relations I speak,
That lives far, far away in the east,
I am only lamenting while here sick and weak,
To Abe Lincoln, in bondage at least,
For three years of time, which will pass slowly on,
But my spirits keep up, with the hope of return,
But if I should die, and should never return,
My wish is my folks would not mourn.
The thought of my home and my family so dear,
It fills my sad heart full of pain,
To think how I left them lamenting in fear,
That they should never see me again.
But hope for the best of that loved one so dear,
That's away in the army and ready with care,
To fight for Abe Lincoln, without any fear,
Until his three years is expired.
It was in spring I left you with pain in my heart,
For dear mother layed sick in her bed,
Oh, why did I leave her, why did I depart,
From dear mother who loved me so well;
And the morning I left my dear wife and babe,
To my brothers and sisters no visit I paid,
For a visit to them it would only increase
The sad feelings I had in my breast.
To my gray haired father I said not goodbye
When I left him so early that morn,
Oh why did I not, for he always did try,
To guard me against every wrong:
But I ask for forgiveness in doing so wrong,
In leaving my dear friends so early that morn.
I ask why I left them, lamenting forlorn,
To enlist in this sad cruel war.
Now my friends and relations, oh weep not for me
If I fall by the ball or the sword,
In fighting the rebels, the Negroes to free,
For My death Uncle Sam can afford.
But I'll add one more word to my song ere I close.
That I dream of my home every night in repose,
I dream of my dear friends, I dream of my foes
That are waiting and watching for me.
These words I have made up, while making a ring,
At midnight sitting by the fire,
It goes to the tune Brother George used to sing.
But alas, he has gone to retire.
I have sat by the fire on a cold winters night,
Oh, along with my friends telling tales of delight.
Those tales gave me comfort, when I could them invite,
But they are gone, I shall see them no more.
Leonidas Boardman died of the Small Pox, 3 Feb 1865.
Gravesite Details
Company B Coast Guards Infantry Regiment Maine
