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Literary
September 5, 1814
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A narrative poem warning against viewing the gruesome aftermath of a battle, depicting silent fields of dead soldiers, a young warrior's corpse under moonlight, and the wind stirring bloody plumes. Drawn from an English paper, likened to Chippewa plains.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Poetry.
THE "BATTLE GROUND."
The following extract from a late English paper gives an impressive description of the horrors of the "BATTLE GROUND." And although the scene here pourtrayed is in France, yet it is equally descriptive of the plains of Chippewa.
Dedham Gaz.
Away old man, go not to the field,
Unless thy heart's to pity steel'd;
I would not view that deadly dance
For all the treasures once in France.
For now I ventur'd out to see
If any living there might be:
I pass'd along--all silent; dead!
They rested on their gory bed.
Oh! but it was a fearful sight.
To see that field in the lonely night;
Just one wild wand'ring glance I threw,
And clos'd my eyes to shun the view.
A murm'ring sound stole on my ear,
It seem'd the sigh of some one near;
I call'd, but no reply was given;
A soul had wing'd its flight to Heaven!
Again, again, a low strange sound!
'Twas the blast of night, as it swept the ground
Lifting the plumes all bloody and low,
That once wav'd bright on the warrior's brow.
Then Julian came, and we went on,
In vain there was no living one;
But many an English mother's care,
And many a lady's love lay there.
There was one spot, where something bright
Was glittering in the pale moonlight;
Oh! blessed virgin! who might be
Unmov'd that mournful sight to see!
Twas a warrior youth, whose golden hair
All lightly wav'd on the dewy air,
And the moon beam resting on his face,
Gave it a sad, unearthly grace.
A broken sword beside him lay.
It fail'd him on that desperate day:
Slumb'ring he seem'd, but he drew no breath,
His sleep was the heavy sleep of death,
Nay, go not, go not to the field.
Unless thy heart's to nature steel'd;
For the treasures once in France,
I would not view that deadly dance!
THE "BATTLE GROUND."
The following extract from a late English paper gives an impressive description of the horrors of the "BATTLE GROUND." And although the scene here pourtrayed is in France, yet it is equally descriptive of the plains of Chippewa.
Dedham Gaz.
Away old man, go not to the field,
Unless thy heart's to pity steel'd;
I would not view that deadly dance
For all the treasures once in France.
For now I ventur'd out to see
If any living there might be:
I pass'd along--all silent; dead!
They rested on their gory bed.
Oh! but it was a fearful sight.
To see that field in the lonely night;
Just one wild wand'ring glance I threw,
And clos'd my eyes to shun the view.
A murm'ring sound stole on my ear,
It seem'd the sigh of some one near;
I call'd, but no reply was given;
A soul had wing'd its flight to Heaven!
Again, again, a low strange sound!
'Twas the blast of night, as it swept the ground
Lifting the plumes all bloody and low,
That once wav'd bright on the warrior's brow.
Then Julian came, and we went on,
In vain there was no living one;
But many an English mother's care,
And many a lady's love lay there.
There was one spot, where something bright
Was glittering in the pale moonlight;
Oh! blessed virgin! who might be
Unmov'd that mournful sight to see!
Twas a warrior youth, whose golden hair
All lightly wav'd on the dewy air,
And the moon beam resting on his face,
Gave it a sad, unearthly grace.
A broken sword beside him lay.
It fail'd him on that desperate day:
Slumb'ring he seem'd, but he drew no breath,
His sleep was the heavy sleep of death,
Nay, go not, go not to the field.
Unless thy heart's to nature steel'd;
For the treasures once in France,
I would not view that deadly dance!
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Battlefield Horrors
Fallen Warriors
Night Vision
War Dead
English Soldiers
Literary Details
Title
The "Battle Ground."
Subject
Description Of The Horrors Of The Battle Ground
Key Lines
Ayay Old Man, Go Not To The Field,
Unless Thy Heart's To Pity Steel'd;
I Would Not View That Deadly Dance
For All The Treasures Once In France.
Twas A Warrior Youth, Whose Golden Hair
All Lightly Wav'd On The Dewy Air,
And The Moon Beam Resting On His Face,
Gave It A Sad, Unearthly Grace.
Nay, Go Not, Go Not To The Field.
Unless Thy Heart's To Nature Steel'd;
For The Treasures Once In France,
I Would Not View That Deadly Dance!