- description
- # A Utilitarian View of the Monitors Fight.
## Overview
"A Utilitarian View of the Monitors Fight." is a poem segment from the collection [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9). It was extracted from the file [battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8) and is part of the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The segment spans lines 1186 to 1221 of the source text.
## Context
This poem reflects on the nature of warfare, contrasting the perceived glory of past naval battles with the more mechanical and calculated nature of modern combat, as exemplified by the Monitor and Merrimac engagement. It is presented in sequence, with "The Temeraire.[3]" preceding it and "Malvern Hill." following it.
## Contents
The poem begins by stating its plainness of phrase, contrasting with the "barbaric cymbal" of rhyme. It praises victory achieved without the "gaud of glory," emphasizing "plain mechanic power" and the application of "caloric" in warfare. The text references the "ringing of those plates on plates" and the "blacksmith's fray," alluding to the intense, industrial nature of the battle. It concludes by suggesting that war, while inevitable, is becoming less grand, with warriors reduced to mere "operatives."
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:24.383Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- A Utilitarian View of the Monitors Fight.
- end_line
- 1221
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1186
- text
- A Utilitarian View of the Monitors Fight.
Plain be the phrase, yet apt the verse,
More ponderous than nimble;
For since grimed War here laid aside
His Orient pomp, ’twould ill befit
Overmuch to ply
The Rhyme’s barbaric cymbal.
Hail to victory without the gaud
Of glory; zeal that needs no fans
Of banners; plain mechanic power
Plied cogently in War now placed--
Where War belongs--
Among the trades and artisans.
Yet this was battle, and intense--
Beyond the strife of fleets heroic;
Deadlier, closer, calm ’mid storm;
No passion; all went on by crank,
Pivot, and screw,
And calculations of caloric.
Needless to dwell; the story’s known.
the ringing of those plates on plates
Still ringeth round the world--
The clangor of that blacksmith’s fray.
The anvil-din
Resounds this message from the Fates:
War shall yet be, and to the end;
But war-paint shows the streaks of weather;
War yet shall be, but warriors
Are now but operatives; War’s made
Less grand than Peace,
- title
- A Utilitarian View of the Monitors Fight.