This Civil War poem was attributed to many, but most scholars agree it was written by Ethel Lynn Beers in 1861. Here's the text of the poem, plus links showing the story of its mis-attribution -- and even some links to facsimile copies of early mis-attributions.

"All quiet along the Potomac," they say,
   "Except now and then a stray picket Is shot, as he walks on his beat to and fro,
   By a rifleman hid in the thicket.
'T is nothing—a private or two now and then
   Will not count in the news of the battle;
Not an officer lost—only one of the men,
   Moaning out, all alone, the death-rattle."

• Continued: All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight -- the whole poem followed by links