Abram Joseph Ryan was an Irish immigrant and apart of the confederate army. He served as a chaplain throughout the conflict, he carried the wounded to safety and performing last rites on the battlefield. His poem "The South," narrates in person a soldier who wants his land back from the north..
Yes, give me the land
Where the ruins are spread,
And the living thread light
On the heart of the dead;
Yes, give me the land
That is blest by the dust,
And bright with the deeds
Of the down-trodden just.
Yes, give me the land
Where the battles’ red blast
Has flashed on the future
The form of the past;
Yes, give me the land
That hath legends and lays
That tell of the memories
Of long-vanished days.
Yes, give me the land
That hath story and song
To tell of the strife
Of the right with the wrong;
Yes, give me the land
With a grave in each spot
And names in the graves
That shall not be forgot.
Yes, give me the land
Of the wreck and the tomb;
There’s grandeur in graves --
There’s glory in gloom.
For out of the gloom
Future brightness is born;
As, after the night
Looms the sunrise of morn.
And the graves of the dead,
With the grass overgrown,
May yet form the footstool
Of Liberty’s throne;
And each simple wreck
In the way-path of might
Shall yet be a rock
In the temple of Right.
Throughout the poem, Abram Ryan describes after the war how he wants his land back from the North. He tells what happened during the war, including the land covered with the dead, graves, and battles and ruins. He leaves you with the feeling of sorrow for the dead and he states that they will not be forgotten. They will forever last in out history. The author helps express the meaning of the poem by using imagery and alliteration.
The line segment
" Where the battles' red blast," the red gives you an image of blood or the blasts symbolizing death. "And the graves overgrown, May yet form the footstool of Liberty's throne." This line segment shows that the war is over because of the graves and the grass overgrown all around. What it means is that the people in the war are the building blocks of today's life. I also believe that there are examples of alliteration in the poem as well. For instance, " There's grandeur in graves--There's glory in gloom."The rhythm in the poem could be interpreted as the beat of a drum. The beat of the drum during the war or the fast beat of the soldiers heart's during the battle give you the impression of an intense war.
Poem and information about the poet can be found at the following URL's.
http://users.erols.com/kfraser/south.htm
http://users.erols.com/kfraser/ryan.htm
Letter Analysis
The letter below was written by Sullivan Ballou. He wrote the letter to his wife Sarah one night on July 14th. He wrote the letter to warn his family that he might die in battle. He told them he was ready to fight for his country even if it killed him. All through out the letter he tries to tell Sarah how much he loves her and that if he does die that he will always be with her and their children.
July the 14th, 1861 Washington D.C.
My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that
we shall move in a few days -- perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure -- and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine 0 God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing -- perfectly willing -- to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.
But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows -- when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children -- is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you,my darling wife and children,should struggle in fierce, though useless,contest with my love of country?
I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.
I have sought most closely and diligently and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.
Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield. The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.
As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.
Sullivan
Sullivan uses words that we do not usually see today. He uses words such as thine and thee. It looks as if their grammar is also different.
The quote on the grave marker
"I wait for you there. Come to me, and lead thither my children" is from the last line of the famous letter that Sullivan Ballou wrote to his wife Sarah just one week before he and 27 of his close comrades and 4000 Americans in all would die in the battle at "First Manassas".
