Poet. He was an American poet, whose greatest poetic achievement was authoring the 1846 famous poem, "The Bivouac of the Dead." Bivouac means "a temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers." Originally, the poem was written to honor his fellow Kentuckians who had died in the Mexican War, but later honored veterans of the American Civil War, both Confederate and Union soldiers. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1842 but eventually changed his career to journalism. O'Hara was involved in Narciso Lopez's expeditions to annex Cuba from 1849 to 1850. Surviving a severe leg injury from the battles in Cuba, O'Hara returned home to Kentucky, where he became a reporter for the "Frankfort Yeoman" and later for the "Louisville Daily Times." When the American Civil War started, he joined the Confederate Army and participated until the war's conclusion, reaching the rank of colonel in the Twelfth Alabama Regiment. Since the war had ended his distinguished military career in Georgia, he decided to make his home there, for a little while at least, until he decided to take an editor's job in Alabama with the "Mobile Register," staying until his death in 1867. His remains were originally buried in Columbus, Georgia, but in 1873, the Kentucky legislature decided that their native son should be returned home. With the funding from the legislature, O'Hara's remains were returned and interred in Frankfort, Kentucky. Lines from the first verse of his famous poem can be seen inscribed on the 30-foot high arched McClellan Gate at Arlington National Cemetery, "On fame's eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread. And glory guards with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead." The remaining lines are on the back of the archway as well as being elsewhere in the cemetery.
Poet. He was an American poet, whose greatest poetic achievement was authoring the 1846 famous poem, "The Bivouac of the Dead." Bivouac means "a temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers." Originally, the poem was written to honor his fellow Kentuckians who had died in the Mexican War, but later honored veterans of the American Civil War, both Confederate and Union soldiers. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1842 but eventually changed his career to journalism. O'Hara was involved in Narciso Lopez's expeditions to annex Cuba from 1849 to 1850. Surviving a severe leg injury from the battles in Cuba, O'Hara returned home to Kentucky, where he became a reporter for the "Frankfort Yeoman" and later for the "Louisville Daily Times." When the American Civil War started, he joined the Confederate Army and participated until the war's conclusion, reaching the rank of colonel in the Twelfth Alabama Regiment. Since the war had ended his distinguished military career in Georgia, he decided to make his home there, for a little while at least, until he decided to take an editor's job in Alabama with the "Mobile Register," staying until his death in 1867. His remains were originally buried in Columbus, Georgia, but in 1873, the Kentucky legislature decided that their native son should be returned home. With the funding from the legislature, O'Hara's remains were returned and interred in Frankfort, Kentucky. Lines from the first verse of his famous poem can be seen inscribed on the 30-foot high arched McClellan Gate at Arlington National Cemetery, "On fame's eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread. And glory guards with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead." The remaining lines are on the back of the archway as well as being elsewhere in the cemetery.
Bio by: Allcalmap
Inscription
The entire poem "The Bivouac of the Dead" was inscribed on an upright marker.
On the slab is his name and dates along with
Author of the Immortal Poem "The Bivouac of the Dead"
Gravesite Details
Originally interred in Columbus, Georgia after his death, his remains were reinterred in Frankfort Cemetery on September 15, 1874.
Family Members
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