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Tag Archives: Civil War poetry
“The Lively Old Lady” – A Poem About Civil War Knitting
Yesterday, I sat in an archive basement, looking through material about women’s efforts to support the Union during the Civil War. Yesterday was also my Grandma Barbara’s birthday. She is no longer with us, so it was a bittersweet moment … Continue reading
Posted in Civilian
Tagged 19th Century Women, Civil War poetry, homefront, Union women, Women's History Month 2019
2 Comments
“Freedom!” Their Battle-Cry: 1863 Poetry For African American Soldiers
Poetry has many form and uses, and this writing form has legendarily been used to celebrate heroes. Some of the earliest epics in World History – Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey – were crafted in poetry form. Through meter, rhythm, and … Continue reading
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
