Theodore
O'Hara

Lawyer, Poet, Soldier and Newspaperman. His greatest poetic achievement was authoring the now famous poem, "The Bivouac of the Dead." Bivouac meaning 'temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers', was written to honor his fellow Kentuckians who had died in the Mexican War, but later found its way honoring veterans of the Civil War, both Confederate and Union soldiers. O'Hara was involved in Narciso Lopez's expeditions to annex Cuba in 1849-1850. Surviving a severe leg injury from the battles in Cuba, O'Hara returned home to Kentucky where he was a reporter for the Frankfort Yeoman, and later for the Louisville Daily Times. When the Civil War started, he joined the Confederate Army and participated up to the war's conclusion. 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. He stayed there until his death in 1867. His remains were buried in Columbus, Georgia. However, in 1873 the Kentucky legislature decided that their native son should be returned home. So, with the funding from the legislature, O'Hara's remains were returned and interred in Frankfort, Kentucky. Today, visitors who enter the McClellan Gate at Arlington National Cemetery can see a portion of 'The Bivouac of the Dead' inscribed on the gate as well as verses of the poem on placards throughout the cemetery

Grave