(This is a brief summary of the Battle of Fredericksburg that occurred from December 11-15 in the year 1862. The American Civil War was raging on and mistakes made by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside resulted in one of the Union Army's worst defeats during the war.)
In 1862, Burnside had a plan of attack.
He marched his army across the river Rappahannock.
It was a foolish move.
He should have known it then.
But he ordered his troops across a field that became known as the Great Slaughter Pen.
Categories:
burnside, history, war,
Form: Free verse
Antietam
I lay in the creek my face to the ground
My hand on my musket, I pray I’m not found
The bullets were flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; the battle’s begun
I fired on the troops as they crossed Burnside Bridge
Safely encamped up high on the ridge
The bullets are flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; the sound of the guns
I hid in the cornfield till I heard the attack
I fired then I charged and I never looked back
The bullets were flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; the red rivers run
I knelt by the fence there on Hagerstown Road
Knowing I’d reap whatever I sewed
The bullets were flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; the day no one won
I gathered up wounded, I gathered up dead
There’s a lull in the battle; who knows who’s ahead
The bullets were flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; it’s now setting sun
I passed by the church as we fled in retreat
I prayed for the fallen, may this never repeat
The bullets were flying, the soldiers were dying
Antietam; the battle is done
Our history club is presenting Antietam this month so I wrote a poem for it.
Categories:
burnside, war,
Form: Rhyme