In addition to being Sousa’s friend, Vance was a Medal of Honor recipient who served with the 21st Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War. He was cited for voluntarily rescuing a wounded and helpless comrade while his command was falling back under heavy fire during the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee on December 31, 1862. Vance later became Captain, 14th U. S. Colored Troops, was the author of several books, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Sousa's march "Esprit de Corps" was dedicated to him.
Vance was the librettist for two of John Philip Sousa's operettas "Katherine" (1879) and "The Smugglers" (1881).The following 1 pages are in this category, out of 1 total.