- description
- # Gettysburg. The Check.
## Overview
"Gettysburg. The Check." is a poem that forms a segment within a larger collection of works. It is dated July 1863, placing it during the American Civil War, specifically referencing the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg.
## Context
This poem is part of the collection "[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)", a work by Herman Melville. The collection itself is contained within the larger "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" compilation and was extracted from the file "[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)". The poem follows "[Stonewall Jackson.](arke:01KG8AJMPZRDJ19REES3Z4SRKN)" and precedes "[The House-top. A Night Piece.](arke:01KG8AJMQ3ETZ4D7TCKR805P99)".
## Contents
The poem reflects on the Battle of Gettysburg, a significant Union victory. It uses vivid imagery to describe the intensity of the conflict, the repulse of the Confederate charge, and the aftermath. The text speaks of "pride repelled by sterner pride" and the "three waves in flashed advance" that were ultimately turned back. It also touches upon the solemnity of the battlefield, with descriptions of fallen soldiers and the establishment of graves, suggesting a memorialization of the event. The poem conveys a sense of national resilience and the preservation of the Union cause.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:24.431Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Gettysburg. The Check.
- end_line
- 1740
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1694
- text
- Gettysburg.
The Check.
(July, 1863.)
O pride of the days in prime of the months
Now trebled in great renown,
When before the ark of our holy cause
Fell Dagon down--
Dagon foredoomed, who, armed and targed,
Never his impious heart enlarged
Beyond that hour; god walled his power,
And there the last invader charged.
He charged, and in that charge condensed
His all of hate and all of fire;
He sought to blast us in his scorn,
And wither us in his ire.
Before him went the shriek of shells--
Aerial screamings, taunts and yells;
Then the three waves in flashed advance
Surged, but were met, and back they set:
Pride was repelled by sterner pride,
And Right is a strong-hold yet.
Before our lines it seemed a beach
Which wild September gales have strown
With havoc on wreck, and dashed therewith
Pale crews unknown--
Men, arms, and steeds. The evening sun
Died on the face of each lifeless one,
And died along the winding marge of fight
And searching-parties lone.
Sloped on the hill the mounds were green,
Our center held that place of graves,
And some still hold it in their swoon,
And over these a glory waves.
The warrior-monument, crashed in fight,[8]
Shall soar transfigured in loftier light,
A meaning ampler bear;
Soldier and priest with hymn and prayer
Have laid the stone, and every bone
Shall rest in honor there.
- title
- Gettysburg. The Check.