{"id":32677,"date":"2018-06-20T11:34:46","date_gmt":"2018-06-20T15:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=32677"},"modified":"2018-06-20T11:35:05","modified_gmt":"2018-06-20T15:35:05","slug":"civil-war-poem-by-a-federal-patriot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/civil-war-poem-by-a-federal-patriot.html","title":{"rendered":"Civil War Poem by a Federal Patriot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Historical newspapers not only report the vital statistics about your ancestors, they also provide glimpses into their lives not available from government records \u2013 such as letters to the editor, photos, and even poems published in the local paper. These newspaper articles give details about your ancestors as individuals, as well as helping us understand the times they lived in and what they were going through.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Confederate General John B. Floyd. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The following poem is a good example, published on this day in 1862. Although probably never published in book form, it still lives on thanks to a long-ago editor\u2019s decision to publish it in the newspaper.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Confederate General Gideon J. Pillow. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This poem, \u201cThe Very Last Ditch,\u201d was published by an anonymous poet (identified only as \u201cB.\u201d) when the Civil War was in its second year and it had become painfully obvious that a long, bloody struggle lay ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: Confederate Captain Josiah Tattnall. Credit: U.S. Naval Historical Center; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The poet, clearly a supporter of the Union cause in the war, is disparaging the Confederacy\u2019s resolution to fight to the last man and win at all costs \u2013 or, failing victory, to go down fighting, \u201cin the last ditch to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard. Credit: Mathew Brady; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The poet points out that in several battles already fought in the war, Confederate leaders chose to run rather than fight to the end \u2013 including the three Confederate generals (Floyd, Pillow, and Beauregard) and one Confederate captain (Tattnall) illustrated in this blog article.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
San Francisco Bulletin (San Francisco, California), 20 June 1862, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this poem:<\/p>\n

The Very Last Ditch<\/p>\n

When rude rebellion o\u2019er the land
\nRan up its flag on high,
\nIt swore to win, or foiled in that,
\nIn the last ditch to die.<\/p>\n

At Hilton\u2019s Head, the chivalry
\nTake to their heels and fly,
\nThe sea not being deep enough
\nFor a ditch in which to die.<\/p>\n

At Donelson, the traitor Floyd,
\nThe river being high,
\nRan out his boats and stole away,
\nAnd lost his chance to die.<\/p>\n

Pillow, in digging ditches skilled,
\nBy all that\u2019s great and high
\nSwore while he\u2019d strength to leap a ditch,
\nIn a ditch he would not die.<\/p>\n

And Tattnall in the Merrimac
\nWould rather resign than die;
\nFor blood, says he, much thicker is
\nThan water running nigh.<\/p>\n

At Pittsburgh Landing, Beauregard,
\nHis charger being dry,
\nSwore he should drink from the Tennessee,
\nOr a hotter draught, and die.<\/p>\n

The Tennessee he could not reach,
\nThe Yankees being nigh,
\nBut the flames of Styx he\u2019s welcome to
\nWith the torrent rolling high.<\/p>\n

The turbid Mississippi\u2019s stream
\nFlowing New Orleans by,
\nOnce filled the ditch when Jackson fought,
\nBut now that ditch is dry.<\/p>\n

O foolish boast and impotent!
\nWho are most quick to fly
\nAnd seize the sword, are not the men
\nIn the last ditch to die.<\/p>\n

But they who weighing well their cause
\nIts truth and right descry,
\nIn the first ditch will quell the foe,
\nOr in the last ditch die.<\/p>\n

— B.
\nSan Francisco, June 20, 1862.<\/p>\n

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