Poetry of the Civil War

by John Boyes

The war between the states inspired the poets of the American nation. Popular writers of the day, such as Henry Wordsworth Longfellow and Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote verse, as did those for whom recognition lay in the future, most notably Walt Whitman. CIVIL WAR POETRY includes verse by these celebrated figures as well as some who are now unfamiliar but were well-known in this defining period in America's history. Alongside the greats of literature the reader will discover Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (father of the future Supreme Court justice), Henry Timrod ("Laureate of the Confederacy"), and Margaret Junkin (sister-in-law of Stonewall Jackson). This collection includes poems from those who saw direct service, those who sought other means through which to contribute, and those for whom age or sex prevented direct participation. Includes poems
• Ambrose Bierce
• William Cullen Bryant
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Julia Ward Howe
• Sindey Lanier
• Herman Melville
• James Whitcomb Riley
• Walt Whitman
• John Greenleaf Whittier
• Constance Fenimore Woolson

Beautiful full-color illustrations throughout and short biographies of the poets help put their words into context.

Genres: Poetry, Civil War

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Civil War is one of my special interest eras in history, so looking into their poetry was super interesting for me. The comparison between the poetry of Union troops/supporters and the Confederate troops/supporters really highlights each group’s morale over the course of the war. Seeing the Union poems get more and more hopeful while the Confederate poems seemed more and more beaten down made the emotions faced by the American people in the 1860s much more real and personal. This was a very interesting read for those who want a more intimate look into personal thoughts during the war.

[Adriana Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been branching out more into classic poetry, I started with Emily Dickinson and then came across this quick collection and truly enjoyed it. This collection of poems from one of the most iconic moments of our history was truly eye opening, as we got to see from both sides - North (blue) and South (Gray) - how the war impacted our country.

Highly recommend if you're into American history and the Civil War!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three star review is no reflection on the editor, whose work would merit four stars, but on the quality of the poems. There are some excellent ones, but a lot is pretty mawkish. A good read for anyone interested in the period.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection includes both Union and Confederate writers and shows the common humanity of the two.

[Buffy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I enjoy poetry, and I'm also interested in the history of the American Civil War. My great great grandfather, Enoch McCormack, was a Union soldier from the Kentucky regiment during The Civil War. 🇺🇸
This book contained poetry from both the Union and Confederates. All were beautifully written, and it's amazing to me this much poetry from that time was preserved.
Most notable was "The Blue and The Gray," which played a significant role in the establishment of Memorial Day. 💐
I also enjoyed the poems between Jonathan and Caroline, representative of South Carolina's succession from the Union. "The Conquered Banner" and "The Jacket of Gray" were also noteworthy and beautifully written.
I never realized how much of an atrocity The Civil War was. Sadly, it foreshadowed what was to come with modern wars. On each side of the Civil War, close to one million soldiers and civilians were lost, and both sides were economically devastated. 💰
This book of poetry captures those moments in time and how people from both sides viewed the war.
I highly recommend this book to any history buff or poetry lover. 📖

[Amanda Waley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though several of my all-time favorite poetic influences wrote poems for the Union side of this book, I was really moved by most of the Confederate poems. The countless lives lost, but the finality of it all really hit me with the last two poems in the book titled "The Conquered Banner" and "Ashes of Glory" about the permanent retirement of the Confederate flag. I've always had the highest respect for our "Old Glory," and the thought of possibly retiring even Betsy Ross's flag had the Confederates won brought tears to my eyes.