Martial Music, War of the Rebellion: The Faded Coa LbNA #66188

Martial Music, The War of the Rebellion:
The Faded Coat of Blue

(One in an occasionally expanding series…)

THE FADED COAT OF BLUE
(or The Nameless Grave)

Words and Music by: J. H. McNaughton
Circa 1864


My brave lad sleeps in his faded coat of blue,
In a lonely grave unknown lies the heart that beat so true;
He sank faint and hungry among the famished brave,
And they laid him sad and lonely within his nameless grave.

CHORUS: No more the bugle calls the weary one,
Rest, noble spirit, in thy grave unknown!
I'll find you and know you among the good and true,
When a robe of white is given for the faded coat of blue.

He cried, "Give me water and just a little crumb,
And my mother she will bless you for all the years to come.;
Oh! tell me sweet sister, so gentle, good, and true,
That I'll meet her up in heav’n in my faded coat of blue." (Chorus)

He said, My dear comrads, you cannot take me home,
But you’ll mark my grave for mother, she’ll find me if she’ll come;
I fear she’ll not know me, among the good and true,
When I meet her up in Heav’n in my faded coat of blue. (Chorus)

Long, long years have passed, and though he comes no more,
Yet my heart will startling beat with each footfall at my door.
I gaze o'er the hill where he waved his last adieu,
But no gallant lad I see in his faded coat of blue. (Chorus)

No sweet voice was there, breathing soft a mother’s prayer,
But now there’s One who takes the brave and the true in tender care.
No stone marks the sod o’er my lad so brave and true,
In his lonely grave he sleeps in his faded coat of blue. (Chorus)

From: “Songs of the Civil War” by Irwin Silber, Columbia University Press 1960; Pp. 161-163.
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Written in the waning days of the war, this mournful dirge undoubtedly expressed the feelings of tens of thousands of families throughout the war-torn land. [It was also] Sometimes known as “The Nameless Grave,” …

From: “Songs of the Civil War” by Irwin Silber, Columbia University Press 1960; p. 123.
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Follow the link (cut and paste) to listen to “Faded Coat of Blue:”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvUqcMujU1s
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BYOInk: bring a blue stamp pad or marker.

Letterbox Difficulty Rating:
Difficulty Rating = 2.0
Terrain Rating = 3.0
Thanx to Silent Doug; see: www.letterboxing.info/rating/

All directions are magnetic and a pace equals two (2) steps.
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Clues:

Trailhead parking for the Hop River Rail Trail is on Colonial Rd. at Parker St. in Manchester, Conn.

From the parking area, head East. If you have not picked up your piece of hardtack bring the clues for Martial Music, War of the Rebellion: Hard Crackers Come Again No More. After retrieving your worm castle continue East, crossing Taylor St. (Note: there is NO trailhead parking on Taylor St. and it is posted no parking in both directions.)

You will come to a condo community on the left of the trail. As you approach the last unit, notice a cemetery beyond it. Notice, too a tennis court in the woods past the last unit. Make your way to the cemetery around the court.

At the highest point in the cemetery, find the brownstone Civil War monument. Head down the hill behind the monument to the woods line to the lone white pine rising above and behind the hemlock sentinels guarding the border. You will find a nameless grave with a faded coat of blue under slabs of wood at the base of the pine.
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Please stamp in away from the hiding place, and carefully avoid making or at least try to conceal social trails to the letterbox--especially in mud or snow! Kindly reseal the Lock-n-Lock type box, and re-hide the letterbox exactly where it was placed, covering it well and contact the placer if you find any problems.

Thank you, Connfederate