During the American Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's oldest son, Charles, Joined the Union's cause as a soldier without his father's blessing. Longfellow was not informed of his son's Departure until after he had already left. A few months later, Charles was severly wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in Virginia. Coupled with the recent loss of his wife Francis, Longfellow was inspired to write his poem that would later Become the revered carol: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.