The Frank Harlow Story, A Post By Dale

My guest blogger today is my darling husband, Dale and he’s writing about his connection to Frank Harlow, a Civil War soldier from our town. Get yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, this is a long story. It’s a good one, though.

The American Civil War first caught my interest over fifty years ago during the centennial in 1961. I was ten years old and loved to read about the Civil War – I even convinced my family to take a vacation to Gettysburg in 1963 to witness the centennial celebration of that momentous battle. Little did I know I was starting an incredible journey that would interest me for years but especially when I met Carole and we quickly discovered that we shared a fascination with this time period. Carole really encouraged me to read more on the subject and in 1998 we visited Gettysburg together for the first time. It was the 135th anniversary of the battle and we were both caught up in the idea of becoming reenactors. It was around this time that my interest was truly rekindled and I started reading everything I could on the subject.

In the spring of 2000 I was reading The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara. I was in the middle of the chapter that describe the Battle of Ft. Stedman and I was particularly interested in this because it was a battle I had never heard of until then. As I was reading, Carole came in to ask me if I wanted to go for a walk with our new puppy, Dixie. I set the book down on the kitchen table and we headed out. As usual our walk took us to the Town Common and then down into the old cemetery. With my new Civil War interest I was more aware of our many graves from that time period and one in particular caught my eye. It was up a little grade from where we normally walked but for some reason I was drawn to it. the small white monument was the marker of a family plot and as I read the names I was quite surprised to find that one of the names was of a young soldier who was killed in action in 1865 at the Battle of Ft. Stedman. You can imagine my shock and I couldn’t help but be struck by this coincidence.

Or was it fate? This story is really just beginning.

Later that summer we were camping in Plymouth and I was reading the book Specimen Days and Collect by Walt Whitman. This book is really a series of short observations from Whitman’s personal Civil War experiences. One story is called “A Yankee Antique” and it tells the tale of a brave young soldier who refused to surrender when his company was surrounded by Confederates at Ft. Stedman. When asked to comply by a rebel officer, the hero of the story says, “not while I live!” Both men fired their weapons and both fell dead, side by side. As I read the story I couldn’t help but thinking how odd it was to be reading about Ft. Stedman again. Whitman then describes how the boy’s father came to recover the body and bring it home to Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Of course Plymouth County is large but my town and my cemetery are in it. I was definitely intrigued now and when we returned home from our camping trip I took the book with me and rushed to the grave I had found back in the spring. Could it be the soldier from Whitman’s story? I flipped the book open and read the name, Calvin Francis Harlow. Then I looked at the inscription on the grave and it said, Calvin Francis Harlow – a match. I was shocked and had goose bumps as I stood there and read Whitman’s story out loud. It just seemed like the right thing to do although I probably looked like an idiot to anyone passing by.

And here’s the thing – this grave is less than a mile from our house, less than a mile from where I grew up and have lived my entire life. I’ve been by it countless times as this was my shortcut home from school for years. Now, though, it was special, now there was a story, and now I wanted to share the story with others.

So I did. I told friends and co-workers. I told family members and friends of family members. I told people on the street and basically anyone who would stand still long enough to listen. Mostly, though, I told fellow reenactors. One of them, a friend named Hal, listened with great interest and when I finished he said, quite simply, “so what are you going to do with this story?” I thought about it and I realized that Hal was giving me a charge – it was time to do something more with this story.

I started doing some research on Harlow and was fortunate enough to be put in touch with his great nephew who lived on Cape Cod. Calvin was this man’s uncle and he knew about the Walt Whitman story. I asked if there was a photo of Calvin and he said he’d send me a copy of one he had and then he asked me if I was interested in reading some of Harlow’s letters home. I was speechless; it is a researcher’s dream come true to find primary sources! Along with his official military record, the Walt Whitman story, and the personal letters, I had some pretty interesting stuff to share and I learned a lot about this young soldier. Calvin was 18 when he left home in May of 1861, less than one month after the war began. He was in the 29th Mass Vol Inf Regt Co C and after three years of service he reenlisted to see the war through. In his four years of service he saw a lot of action, fighting in several of the major battles. By late 1864 he was promoted to 1st Serg of his company and was at Petersburg, VA. It was there that he made his heroic stand and was killed on March 25, 1865, just two weeks before the war ended.

With my research done, I knew what I had to do – I had to make his name known throughout our town. With the help of several friends, some reenactors, and Carole, we made a plan to have a Civil War Encampment and Living History and to call the event “Calvin Harlow Day” in honor of our hometown hero. Our first Calvin Harlow Day was held in 2005 and it rained pretty hard. I still think of it as a success, though, and we decided to do it again in 2006. It rained again, this time with the addition of strong winds and even snow. It became a sort of town joke that it “always” rained on Calvin Harlow Day but we decided to make it an annual event nonetheless. I hoped it wouldn’t rain again but I was a little despondent, I must admit. Carole was the one who figured out the problem, though. One day she came to me and said, “I think you should change the name of the event to Frank Harlow Day. I don’t think he likes to be called Calvin and that’s why it keeps raining.” I thought about this and decided she might be onto something. He signed all his letters “Frank” and his great nephew referred to him as “Uncle Frank.” I didn’t have anything to lose so our third annual event became “Frank Harlow Day” and . . . the sun came out! Frank Harlow Day continues and this coming Saturday, May 5th, we will be hosting our 8th annual. It is a fitting tribute to Frank and the nearly 400 others who left our town to go “save the Union!”

The other part of this story is that during my research I discovered that Frank’s body was never returned to East Bridgewater despite his father’s best efforts to retrieve him. He is interred in Poplar Grove National Cemetery near Petersburg, VA and that is why we took our vacation in Virginia this year. I guess it’s also why I was pretty emotional when we found his grave – I traveled a long way to meet him and it was a bit overwhelming to stand over him and pay my respects. So that’s my story about finding Frank Harlow and keeping his memory alive. I definitely feel connected to him and I feel that all of this was meant to be. This was confirmed for me when I looked up his birth day and found out it was June 26, 1842. You’ve probably guessed already, my birthday is also June 26.

Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe it’s Frank reaching across the years, wanting to be remembered, wanting someone to tell his story.  I am honored to be that person.

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This Post Has 45 Comments

  1. Thank-you Dale! What a wonderful story and I’m so happy you got to visit with Frank. What a special day that must have been for you.

  5. Dale- This is a very beautiful story. There’s no doubt that there’s something wonderful here. Thank you for this post.

  6. Wonderful story and gave me goose bumps reading it! Thank
    you for sharing this with us.

  7. Great story Dale! Stories with connections like this are fascinating.
    My dad has always been interested in Civil War stories. I will have to forward this to him.

  8. What a great story. Thank you so much for sharing it, Dale … you really brought Frank Harlow into focus.

  9. I loved reading Dales story
    I wish that I had paid more attention in history class
    Maybe Dale can be invited to tell us more stories, sort of a guest lecturer

  10. You have such a great story to share, Dale. You made a wonderful connection from across the many years and generations. Frank’s memory will live on because of your efforts. After spending time with you recently I could hear your voice telling the story. Thank you for taking the time to share it.

  12. Fabulous! Thank you so much. What a gift to everyone who reads this, and to all you touch with this story.

  19. Thank you so much! I really was curious about how this all came about, and its even more interesting the way you have explained it.

  20. It is incredible that Frank finally found Dale to carry on his legacy. Dale your connection is what this mystery of life is all about. Our visit with you
    to short but great.
    A toast to our East Coast Friends.
    May your glass always be full-quickly downed and full again????

  21. Wow, what a story with many improbable coincidences. I have goose bumps now, too. Did you ever find out if Frank married and had offspring?

  23. What a great story Dale! I definitely think he chose you to spread his story and you are doing a wonderful job. The weather forecast for Saturday looks great so far. I’ll keep my fingers crossed! Maybe we will take a ride out to see your re-enactment. We have always wanted to see what they are like.

  25. Wow! What a beautiful and fascinating story and fateful coincidences Dale! Thank you for sharing it and all of the back story. So happy that you got the chance to finally find his grave as emotional as it may have been. Kudos on all of your research too.

  29. What a wonderful story and thank you so much for telling it! I can well imagine the goosebumps you had when you realized his birthday – so many factors leading you to him! Cool!

  30. This is an amazing story and the birthday connection, your finding both of his graves, and Carole’s insight about the name make it seem beyond coincidence. thanks for sharing.

  34. Dale, that was an awesome story. I had goose bumps the entire time I read this…not realizing that you would end it with the shared birthdays. Funny how something so small can turn into the most amazing experience of ones life. Thanks for writing this and sharing it for all to read. Keep on writing, you truly have a gift.

  35. Coincidence??? Nope. Destiny! Same Birthday??? You finding your way to him….. it just shows that you are in touch with the past.

    Remember too with us, we have Patrick Browne who looks like the Captain Dunning of Co D, 22nd MA who was interred in Brownville ME… again… what would you call that?!?!?

    Our past wants us to connect with them even on their plain of existence.

  36. Nice job Dale. Will be in EB for the day celebration on the 5th. See you then. I’ll show teh article to ‘Big Brant’ in the morning. Maybe writing is in your future.
    Vicki W.

  37. oh my – look at all these comments! loved the story – nice job, Dale! (and I like having an all-american reason to celebrate on May 5!!)

  38. What a great story! I didn’t realize that frank Harlow day was your doing. Thanks for telling us about him.

  39. That is a wonderful story, and you needed to warn me about having tissues at hand.

    No one know where the energy of our spirits go when we die. Perhaps you got a part of Frank in you. Too many coincidences, y’know?

  40. Yesterday I shared this with my two periods of history students. They were mesmerized. I’ve been putting Killer Angels in the hands of many of my students and this made it all more real for them. Thank you sharing your passion, Dale. This was truly beautiful.

  42. What a wonderful story, and beautifully told. I truly think that Dale was destined to ‘meet’ Frank Harlow, there are too many little jigs in the story for it to be mere coincidence. So glad that Dale got to see his gravesite 🙂

  44. I came back to read this story again. Have you ever invited a photographer to document your Frank Harlow reenactment day?

    I enjoy reading this photographer’s blog:
    http://weeklypaper.blogspot.com/

    I have no affiliation with him but when I thought of the Frank Harlow day coming up this weekend and wishing I could see photos of the day I thought of the above photographer. He’s from Pennsylvania.

  45. thank you so much for sharing this story- what a wonderful way to remember someone. i hear the sun will be out on saturday this year, too. 😉

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