Ethel Lynn Beers (1827–79,) born Ethelinda Eliot, was an American poet best known for her Civil War-era poetry, particularly All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight. Her works reflect patriotism, sentimentality, and resilience.
Born in Goshen, New York, Beers was a descendant of John Eliot, the Puritan missionary. She began writing early, adopting the pen name Ethel Lynn before marrying William H. Beers (1846.) Her poetry gained recognition in Harper’s Weekly, where her most famous poem, The Picket Guard (1861,) later retitled All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight, was published.
Beers’ poetry appeared frequently in New York Ledger, with notable works including Weighing the Baby, Which Shall It Be?, and Baby Looking Out for Me. She also wrote General Frankie: A Story for Little Folks (1863,) a children’s book.
Her collected works were published in Noonday Rest (1869) and All Quiet Along the Potomac and Other Poems (1879,) the latter appearing one day before her death.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Ethel Lynn Beers
All quiet along the Potomac to-night, no sound save the rush of the river, while soft falls the dew on the face of the dead, the picket’s off duty forever.
—Ethel Lynn Beers
Topics: Conflict
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