Entitled “The Blue and The Gray of 1867”. 1 page, 8 3/8” x 13 ¾”, multi-stanza poem regarding his Civil War experiences. Reads in small part, “You may sing of the Blue and the Gray, And ingle their hues in your rhyme, But the Blue that we knew in the fray, Is covered with glory Sublime, So no more let us of hear of the Gray – The symbol of Treason and Shame, - We pierced it with bullets away!...”  At bottom he writes, “Written and published (& set to music by Root) while I was studying law at Columbia…Washington…1867…” George F. Root (1820-95) was a composer of popular songs, and a rival of Stephen Foster. His works included many Civil War songs like “The Battle Cry of Freedom”, “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp”, and the above poem.

Comes with an ALS from Dalzell, 1 pg, dated 1882, explaining how he wrote the poem. Poem has some fold repairs on verso.

Dalzell composed the original poem"...in response to a Southern poem of that title which celebrated the decoration alike of some graves of both Blue and Gray by a lady in the South..." Dalzell was an attorney who served in the 116th Ohio during the Civil War. He later became a prominent Ohio legislator best known for patriotic speeches and articles written under the pen name "Private Dalzell". He was personally opposed to honoring the Confederate dead and lobbied successfully to have separate decoration days" for both sides. Today's national Memorial Day and regional Confederate Memorial Days originated in response to how the nation should remember her lost sons.

Dalzell enlisted at the age of 23 on 8/22/62 as a Private. On that date he mustered into Co. H, 116^th OH Infantry. 2/7/63 promoted to Sgt. Major and transferred to Field & Staff. 9/1/63 reduced to Private and transferred back to Co. H. Date and method of discharge not given.  [ld]

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