- description
- # The March into Virginia, Ending in the First Manassas.
## Overview
This segment is a poem titled "The March into Virginia, Ending in the First Manassas." It was written in July 1861 and is part of a larger collection.
## Context
This poem is included in the collection "[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)" which is part of the "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection. The text was extracted from the file "[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)". This segment follows "[Apathy and Enthusiasm.](arke:01KG8AJJNP16MN6G7EQBJSBQMR)" and precedes "[Lyon. Battle of Springfield, Missouri.](arke:01KG8AJJNPA1V1ZPAZE4ZC5CEC)".
## Contents
The poem reflects on the youthful enthusiasm and perceived glory of soldiers marching into battle, contrasting it with the grim reality of war and potential death or shame. It touches upon themes of youthful impulsivity versus the wisdom of age, the nature of war, and the anticipation of battle. The text includes lines such as "All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys" and "Expectancy, and glad surmise / Of battle’s unknown mysteries." It also foreshadows the potential for soldiers to "die experienced ere three days are spent" or "shame survive, and, like to adamant, / The throe of Second Manassas share."
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:20.247Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- The March into Virginia, Ending in the First Manassas.
- end_line
- 298
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 252
- text
- The March into Virginia,
Ending in the First Manassas.
(July, 1861.)
Did all the lets and bars appear
To every just or larger end,
Whence should come the trust and cheer?
Youth must its ignorant impulse lend--
Age finds place in the rear.
All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys,
The champions and enthusiasts of the state:
Turbid ardors and vain joys
Not barrenly abate--
Stimulants to the power mature,
Preparatives of fate.
Who here forecasteth the event?
What heart but spurns at precedent
And warnings of the wise,
Contemned foreclosures of surprise?
The banners play, the bugles call,
The air is blue and prodigal.
No berrying party, pleasure-wooed,
No picnic party in the May,
Ever went less loth than they
Into that leafy neighborhood.
In Bacchic glee they file toward Fate,
Moloch’s uninitiate;
Expectancy, and glad surmise
Of battle’s unknown mysteries.
All they feel is this: ’tis glory,
A rapture sharp, though transitory,
Yet lasting in belaureled story.
So they gayly go to fight,
Chatting left and laughing right.
But some who this blithe mood present,
As on in lightsome files they fare,
Shall die experienced ere three days are spent--
Perish, enlightened by the vollied glare;
Or shame survive, and, like to adamant,
The throe of Second Manassas share.
- title
- The March into Virginia,
Ending in the First Manassas.