Battle of Malvern Hill

This recording is in the public domain.

Malvern Hill by Herman Melville.

Read for LibriVox by Megan.

July 1862.

Ye elms that wave on Malvern Hill in prime of morn and may, recall ye how mcclellan's men here stood at bay while deep within yon forest dim our rigid comrades lay some with the cartridge in their mouth others with fixed arms lifted south invoking so the cypress glades ah wots of woe the spires of richmond late beheld through rifts and musket haze were closed from view in clouds of dust on leaf walled ways where streamed our wagons and caravan and the seven nights and days of march and fast retreat and fight pinched our grimed faces to ghastly plight does the elm wood recall the haggard beards of blood the battle-smoked flag with stars eclipsed we followed it never fell in silence husbanded our strength received their yell till on this slope we patient turned with cannon ordered well reverse we proved was not defeat but ah the sod what thousands meet does malvern wood but think itself a muse and brood we elms of malvern hill remember everything but sap the twig will fill wag the world how it will leaves must be green in spring end of poem this recording is in the public domain

The Victor of Antietam by Herman Melville Read for liverybox.org by Alan Mapstone 1862 when tempest winnowed grain from bran and men were looking for a man authority called you to the van mcclellan along the line the plaudit ran as later when antietam's cheers began through storm-cloud and eclipse must move each cause and man dear to the stars and jove nor always can the wisest tell deferred fulfilment from the hopeless knell the struggler from the floundering ne'er-do-well a pall-cloth on the seven days fell mcclellan unprosperously heroical who could antietam's wreath foretell authority called you then in mist and loom of jeopardy dismissed but staring peril soon appalled you the discarded she recalled recalled you nor endured delay and forth you rode upon the blasted way arrayed pope's rout and routed lee's array mcclellan your tent was choked with captured flags that day mcclellan and teetham was a telling fray recalled you and she heard your drum advancing through the ghastly gloom you manned the wall you propped the dome you stormed the powerful stormer home mcclellan antietam's cannon long shall boom at alexandria left alone mcclellan your veterans sent from you and thrown to fields and fortunes all unknown what thoughts were yours revealed to none while faithful still you labored on hearing the far manassas gun mcclellan only antietam could atone you fought in the front an evil day mcclellan the forefront of the first assay the cause went sounding groped its way the leeds men quarrelled in the bay quill's thwarted swords divided sway the rebel flushed in his lusty may you did your best as in you lay mcclellan and tetum's sunburst sheds a ray your meddled soldiers love you well mcclellan name your name their true hearts swell with you they shook dread stonewall's spell with you they braved the blended yell of rebel and maligner fell with you in shame or fame they dwell mcclellan antietam's braves a brave can tell and when your comrades now so few mcclellan such ravage in deep files they rue meet round the board and sadly view the empty places tribute due they render to the dead and you absent and silent o'er the blue the one-armed lift the wine to you and great antietam's cheers renew battle of stone river tennessee by hermann melville A View from Oxford Cloisters January 1863 with tewkesbury and barnet heath in days to come the field shall blend the story dim and date obscure in legend all shall end even now involved in forest shade a druid dream the strife appears the fray of yesterday assumes the haziness of years in north and south still beats the vein of yorkist and lancastrian our rival roses warred for sway for sway but named the name of right and passion scorning pain and death lent sacred fervor to the fight each lifted up a broidered cross while crossing blades profaned the sign monks blessed the fratricidal lance and sisters scarves could twine do north and south the syn retain of yorkist and lancastrian but rosecrans in the cedarn glade and deep in denser cypress gloom dark breckenridge shall fade away or thinly loom the pale throngs who in forests cowed before the spell of battle's pulls for felt the stillness that shall dwell on them and on their wars north and south shall join the train of yorkist and lancastrian but where the sword has plunged so deep and then been turned within the wound by deadly hate where climes contend on vasty ground no warning alp or seas between and small the curb of creed or law and blood is quick and quick the brain shall north and south their rage deplore and reunited thrive amain like yorkist and lancastrian

Running the Batteries by Herman Melville Read for LibriVox.org by Alan Lawley Running the Batteries as observed from the anchorage above Vicksburg, April 1863 a moonless night a friendly one a haze dimmed the shadowy shore as the first lampless boat slid sullened on hissed as we spake no more we but pointed and stilly to what we saw we felt the dew and seemed to feel the secret light a burden laid the first boat melts and the second keel is blent with the foliage shade their midnight rounds have the rebel officers made unspied as yet a third a fourth gunboat and transport in indian file upon the war-path smooth from the north but the watch may they hope to beguile the manned river batteries stretched for mile on mile a flame leaps out they are seen another and another gun roars we tell the course of the boats through the screen by each further fort that pours and we guess how they jump from their beds on those shrouded shores converging fires we speak though low that blastful furnace can they thread why shadrach meshach and abed-nego came out all right we read the lord be sure he helps his people how we strain our gaze on bluffs they shun a golden glowing flame appears confirms to a silvery steadfast one The town is afire.