(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:
rappahannock, history, war,
Form: Free verse
Kilmarnock is two places split by Atlantic
one in Virginia other in Ayrshire
they are of different character straits
all bringing their own dimensions higher
The Virginia brand settled way back in early 1600s
originally known as ‘the Crossroads’ as it began
this charming small town is on east Peninsula
between Potomac and Rappahannock waters have ran
The Ayrshire version sits seven miles from coast
the largest town in all of Ayrshire county
famous for it’s whisky, carpets and bonnet making
becoming a royal burgh in 1672 was it’s bounty
In America’s ‘Killie’ town to admire so much
join the Chesapeake Bay wine trail few miles away
see the birth place of Washington and Robert E. Lee
so much to enjoy never fill it in a whole day
In Scotland’s ‘Killie’ town they remember
their national bard Robert Burns no less
his first printed works called ‘Kilmarnock’ edition
to read Rabbie’s words is a sure bless!
(Having recently came to know of a Kilmarnock in USA and having lived my first 36 years in Kilmarnock in Scotland, so thought I would try and bring their respective highs together in written form.)
(KILLIE- is Scots nickname for Kilmarnock)
Categories:
rappahannock, america, history,
Form: Rhyme
With frosted breath, we wait the break of day;
Our bravest wishing night would stay the morn;
When we will face a bristled wall of gray,
And wonder who will die upon the horn;
December thirteenth breeds a foggy dawn;
We gathered musket, sword, and God divine;
To Marye's Heights, we marched in columns drawn,
To fall in brother's blood at Longstreet's line;
With grey a third the blue at Burnside's feet,
And Franklin's troops as dead and surely done,
We crossed the Rappahannock in defeat;
Our legacy, but graves with nothing won.
A northern snow has whitened up the ground;
Beneath a virgin sea, our ghosts are drowned.
Categories:
rappahannock, history
Form: Sonnet