Blackstone River Valley

“I had bad dreams last night about the war. [I] was in battles and when I awoke could not help thinking of dreadful scenes that might be going on there.”  Elizabeth Ingersoll Fisher, 1861

As the nation remembers the Civil War, we will examine the role of the Blackstone Valley during that era.  What was happening in the Valley?  How did Valley residents feel about the war?  What was being produced for the war effort?  How did the war affect daily life?  Over the next four years, we will explore those questions through events, talks, and walks throughout the Blackstone Valley.

 

Trading Card Program 

About the Program
Eighty-seven national parks across the country are participating in the Civil War to Civil Rights Trading Card program with a total of 550 different trading cards covering unique individuals of national importance to the Civil War story. The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor itself has five trading cards covering soldiers, former slaves and Civil Rights activists from the Valley.  Cards will be available at a number of Blackstone Valley events and sites throughout the summer. 

How To Get Cards
The cards are intended to encourage dialog about the Civil War and Civil Rights. By attending a program with a civil war or civil rights theme, you can earn a set of these trading cards. For details, contact Ranger Chuck Arning

The Vacant Chair
Henry J. Washburn of Worcester, MA wrote a deeply moving poem called The Vacant Chair in memory of John William “Willie” Grout of the 15^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.  The poem was set to music by George Root, resulting in one of the most haunting songs of the Civil War. 

Repair of a Union Soldier’s Grave
The Blackstone Valley Cemetery Network, a newly formed group, recently repaired a Union soldier’s gravestone in Burriville, RI.

 

Sullivan Ballou Gravesite
Sullivan Ballou is one of the most well known Civil War figures from the Valley.  Ballou’s poignant letter is remembered by many from Ken Burns’ Civil War series.  A line from the letter is engraved on his gravestone.  Ballou’s grave can be found at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

 

More Interesting Civil War Gravesites
More than 7,000 Union soldiers graves can be found in the Blackstone Valley.  Nine of those gravesites belong to Medal of Honor recipients - seven in RI and two in MA.  This Google Earth file shows the locations of the five valley cemeteries where the Medal of Honor recipients’ graves may be found, along with a brief synopsis of the reasons they received the medals. 

(Note:  Google Earth is required to open this file.  It is a free download from Google.  Information about the recipients is courtesy of Hometown Heroes.)