- description
- # The Cumberland.
## Overview
"The Cumberland." is a poetic segment extracted from the larger work, [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9). This segment, dated March 1862, is a tribute to the USS Cumberland, a sailing frigate sunk during the American Civil War.
## Context
This poem is part of the [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9) collection, which is itself a component of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW). The text was extracted from the digital file [battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8). It follows the segment titled [LATER AND LAST.](arke:01KG8AJM22JYY7HNG0Z6P2E8VJ) and precedes [In the Turret.](arke:01KG8AJM1RQNN1SVETN6MTH2PY) within the collection.
## Contents
The poem eulogizes the USS Cumberland, focusing on its valiant stand and sinking in March 1862. It emphasizes the enduring fame of the ship and its crew, asserting that their courage will outlive the victor's name. The poem uses a repetitive, rhythmic structure with the refrain "Cumberland! Cumberland!" to underscore the ship's name and legacy. It describes the ship's final moments, including the "sinking flaming gun" and the "gunner leaping out the port," highlighting the crew's unconquerable spirit even in defeat.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:23.340Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- The Cumberland.
- end_line
- 1054
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1005
- text
- The Cumberland.
(March, 1862.)
Some names there are of telling sound,
Whose voweled syllables free
Are pledge that they shall ever live renowned;
Such seem to be
A Frigate’s name (by present glory spanned)--
The Cumberland.
Sounding name as ere was sung,
Flowing, rolling on the tongue--
Cumberland! Cumberland!
She warred and sunk. There’s no denying
That she was ended--quelled;
And yet her flag above her fate is flying,
As when it swelled
Unswallowed by the swallowing sea: so grand--
The Cumberland.
Goodly name as ere was sung,
Roundly rolling on the tongue--
Cumberland! Cumberland!
What need to tell how she was fought--
The sinking flaming gun--
The gunner leaping out the port--
Washed back, undone!
Her dead unconquerably manned
The Cumberland.
Noble name as ere was sung,
Slowly roll it on the tongue--
Cumberland! Cumberland!
Long as hearts shall share the flame
Which burned in that brave crew,
Her fame shall live--outlive the victor’s name;
For this is due.
Your flag and flag-staff shall in story stand--
Cumberland!
Sounding name as ere was sung,
Long they’ll roll it on the tongue--
Cumberland! Cumberland!
- title
- The Cumberland.