- description
- # The Returned Volunteer to his Rifle.
## Overview
This is a segment of text extracted from a larger file, identified as a poem titled "The Returned Volunteer to his Rifle." It is part of the poetry collection [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9) The segment consists of 15 lines of verse.
## Context
The segment was extracted from the file [battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8) by a structure extraction process. The file and the poetry collection are part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. This segment appears in sequence after [Presentation to the Authorities,](arke:01KG8AJRBJSDFZ8M1YDY0JQ26M) and before [The Scout toward Aldie.](arke:01KG8AJS1ZA32GPP1TG7F9VNZ1)
## Contents
The poem reflects on a soldier's return home after the Civil War, addressing his rifle. The speaker describes returning to his father's seat by the hearth, recalling scenes of the Hudson River and the Highlands. He references Gettysburg, expressing gratitude for survival and a peaceful return. The poem concludes with a farewell to the rifle, along with its belt, bayonet, and canteen.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:27.233Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- The Returned Volunteer to his Rifle.
- end_line
- 3727
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.911Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 3712
- text
- The Returned Volunteer to his Rifle.
Over the hearth--my father’s seat--
Repose, to patriot-memory dear,
Thou tried companion, whom at last I greet
By steepy banks of Hudson here.
How oft I told thee of this scene--
The Highlands blue--the river’s narrowing sheen.
Little at Gettysburg we thought
To find such haven; but God kept it green.
Long rest! with belt, and bayonet, and canteen.
- title
- The Returned Volunteer to his Rifle.