Brownell was born in Providence, Rhode Island, February 6, 1820. He graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, in 1841, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but settled as a teacher in Hartford. He published in 1847 a volume of Poems and in 1851 the People's Book of Ancient and Modern History, and followed this in 1863 with The Discoverers, Pioneers, and Settlers of North and South America. But Brownell first attracted general attention by poems written during the Civil War. The earliest of these was a stirring version of the "General Orders" given by Admiral Farragut at the attack on the defenses of New Orleans. This led to his becoming attached to Admiral Farragut as private secretary. He was present at the naval battle in Mobile Bay, and after the war accompanied the Admiral on his European cruise. His best poems, "The River Fight" and "The Bay Fight" deal with the naval actions at New Orleans and Mobile. He collected his war poems in Lyrics of a day; or, Newspaper Poetry by a Volunteer in the United States Service (1864). A selection of his Poems, revised by himself, appeared in 1866. His was amongst the most popular battle-poetry produced in the North during the Civil War; but his work has been criticized as unfinished, uneven, often undignified, and sometimes grotesque. At its best, however, it sounds the lyric cry of a great national emotion. There is an appreciative essay on Brownell, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., entitled "Our Battle Laureate." -- Wikipdia
| Nationality |
American |
| Pub Place |
Boston |
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Yes |
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Though he started out practicing law, Henry Howard Brownell gave it up to write both poetry and prose. Brownell was appointed as an acting ensign on board The Hartford, at the beginning of the Civil War, after his poems had come to the attention of Admiral Farragut. He participated in the battle of Mobile Bay, writing his two longest poems, "The River Fight" and "The Bay Fight," describing the naval actions at New Orleans and Mobile Bay. At the end of the war, he accompanied Admiral Faragut on his European cruise.
At the onset of the Civil War, he became a volunteer and rose through the ranks to become Admiral FarragutÕs secretary
A classic collection of poems on Civil War combat themes (and others). In 1864, Brownell anonymously published some of these poems under the title "Lyrics of the Day." or " Newspaper Poetry by a Volunteer in the United States Service" In 1866, he reprinted those earlier poems with many additions under his own name and this title, "War Lyrics." General Farragut, to whom this volume is dedicated, was so impressed with the poems that he offered Brownell a position as his personal secretary
Brownell writes in his preface, dedicated to David Glasgow Farragut: Prmit m to inscribe to you this book, a part of which is due to the inspiration of your deeds and your example. What you have been in war is known to your country, to her enemies, and to the world; but only those who have had the honor of approaching you nearly can know how great is your love for peace, how real your kindness, how true your feeling for nature, your interest in art, letters, and science, how genial, even in the roughest times, your sense of wit and humor and of all the amenities of social life. . . It is in remembrance of these traits, and of the personal friendship you were pleased to accord me while serving under your command, that I once again writ myself, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THE AUTHOR.”
