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Tag Archives: Civil War poetry
A Poet’s Perspective: Melville On Pickett’s Charge
So few poets chose to write about the American Civil War that it is sometimes described as the “unwritten war.” Herman Melville, however, was among the few who chose to do so. His collection of poems on the war, in … Continue reading
Posted in Battles
Tagged Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War poetry, herman melville, Pickett's Charge, poetry
3 Comments
A Poet’s Perspective: On Stonewall Jackson’s Death
“I have always desired to die on Sunday.” — General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. On May 2, 1863, shots rang out from the 18th North Carolina line in the woods at Chancellorsville. Unbeknownst to the soldiers at the time, they were … Continue reading
A Poet’s Perspective: March into Virginia
By July 1861, the tension described in “Misgivings” and “The Conflict of Convictions” had been realized. The United States was at war with itself. In his poem “March Into Virginia,” Melville describes the first battle fought between the North and … Continue reading
Posted in Battles, Ties to the War
Tagged Bull Run, Civil War poetry, Irvin McDowell, P.G.T. Beauregard
1 Comment
A Poet’s Perspective: Herman Melville and the Civil War
It was November of 1860, and America had a new president. He was highly popular among the northern states, but he was widely disliked in the South. At the same time you have Herman Melville, famous for his 1851 novel … Continue reading
Longfellow, the “Organ of Muskets,” and the Civil War
Emerging Civil War welcomes back guest author Rob Wilson ECW’s December 24 re-posting of Meg Groeling thoughtful piece about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1863 poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was, for me, a welcome introduction to the work. No … Continue reading
Civil War Christmas Poetry – Soldier’s Perspective
I’ve been reading through a collection of Civil War Christmas stories and poetry. So…just for something a little something different this weekend in the holiday season, I thought it would be nice to share some poems. The tone in these … Continue reading
Posted in Common Soldier, Holidays
Tagged Christmas, christmas poetry, Civil War poetry, Holidays, Soldier
3 Comments
O Captain! My Captain!
There are many excellent reasons why Walt Whitman is considered the poet laureate of the American Civil War. His poetic style is much closer to that of the 20th century’s free verse rather than the labored rhyme schemes so popular … Continue reading
Dead Men
I am often accused of preferring dead men to those still living. It may be true. In this season when the veil between the living and the dead is rent in so many places, I especially think of our ghosts. I … Continue reading
