Melville Continued...

This is a painting depicting the Battle of Shiloh by Thure de Thulstrup (1848-1930) in 1888.








To give a little background of the poem to follow, the Battle of Shiloh took place April 6-7 1862. It is also called the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. Shiloh was a major battle fought in southwestern Tennessee. The Confederates were trying to expel the Union from the Tennessee River area and into the swamps of Owl Creek. The Confederates failed at their attempt and the Battle of Shiloh was a Union victory.

As promised, here is a poem about the Civil War:

SHILOH by Herman Melville

A Requiem.
(April 1862.)

Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low
Over the field in clouded days,
The forest-field of Shiloh --
Over the field where April rain
Solaced the parched one stretched in pain
Through the pause of night
That followed the Sunday fight
Around the church of Shiloh --
The church so lone, the log-built one,
That echoed to many a parting groan
And natural prayer
Of dying foemen mingled there --
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve --
Fame or country least their care:
(What like a bullet can undeceive!)
But now they lie low,
While over them the swallows skim
And all is hushed at Shiloh.

I found the poem on-line at: www.melville.org/hmbattle.htm



To show what a Civil War battle might look like, I found a video that was most likely put together by a Southern Re-enactor, but seeing as how Shiloh was a battle fought in the south, I find it appropriate.