American Art Collaborative

Eastman Johnson imagined a soldier's wife standing on the hill where they parted. The crimson lining of her wind-whipped cape suggests their passionate love for one another, while her wedding ring, appearing almost at the center of the painting, ensures the young bride's devotion. Johnson had witnessed the Battle of Manassas in 1862, and the painting's title refers to an old Irish song that became a popular regimental ballad during the Civil War. His viewers might have recalled the lyrics:

My mind her full image retains
Whether asleep or awaken'd
hope to see my jewel again
For her my heart is breaking.

Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006