Biographical/historical information

The poem was written by William Bond Slack, a United States Marine aboard the U.S. Ship Merrimac (1859). The U.S. Ship Merrimac was a steam frigate during the American Civil War. It was launched by the Boston Navy in June of 1855 and returned two years later for repairs. It was recommissioned in September of 1857 and cruised the Pacific Coast of South and Central America and headed back to Norfolk November of 1859. The steam frigate was decommissioned in February of 1860. It is assumed that William Bond Slack was a marine aboard the U.S. Ship Merrimac the second time the steam frigate left port and wrote the poem in 1859 when he found out that they were returning home.

More information about the Merrimac can be found here:

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/merrimack-ii.html

Scope and arrangement

This collection contains a single poem called "Homeward Bound" written by a marine officer. It is a photocopy of the original document.

Administrative information

Custodial History

December 1, 1995, 1 item; Poem "Homeward Bound" written by Marine officer aboard the U.S. Ship Merrimac (1859). Donor: Mrs. E. Schuyler Lott.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mrs. E. Schuyler Lott

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, August 2023

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Key terms

Corporate Names

United States. Marine Corps--Officers--Poetry

Topical

American poetry
Soldiers--United States--Poetry

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