Longfellow

[00:00.58] During the American Civil War,
[00:02.15] Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's oldest son, Charles,
[00:05.87] Joined the Union's cause as a soldier without his father's blessing.
[00:10.11] Longfellow was not informed of his son's
[00:12.37] Departure until after he had already left.
[00:15.53] A few months later,
[00:17.40] Charles was severly wounded in the
[00:19.17] Battle of New Hope Church in Virginia.
[00:22.15] Coupled with the recent loss of his wife Francis,
[00:24.53] Longfellow was inspired to write his poem that would later
[00:27.80] Become the revered carol: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
[00:32.66]