Civil War Poetry Prompts—The Citizen Soldier

Focus Question: What did Full Duty mean to people in our region?

1. Poetry with Two Voices—poetry written for two or more voices is a poem that is written for two or more people to perform. The poetry usually has two columns—one for each person who is reading the poem. Sometimes the poet wants the two readers to say something at the same time, then the poet will write the words on the same line in each column. 

The compare/contrast nature of this creative writing exercise translates well to history.

·       Think about two people who might have been in communication during the War, two people who might have opposed each other, or what an optimist and a pessimist would say to each other about the War.

·       Write a phrase that both people can say together that reflects agreement. For example “I love my country” or “He is my brother.”

·       Collect quotes from letters or other primary sources that illustrate how the two people might disagree.

·       Write 5 – 8 pairs of statements showing how they might disagree.

·       In the middle, once or twice, have another statement they make together.

·       End with a statement they both make together.

Another option would be to adapt the two versions of The Battle Cry of Freedom.  The Union version is below. The confederate version can be found online. How could the two different versions oppose each other in one poem and come together in unity as well?

2. Ballads—In a ballad, verses can give little vignettes of the soldier’s life on the battlefield, while the refrain, repeated between each verse, describes him. The key is to retain the shape of a ballad with verses followed by the refrain with the verses telling different things and the refrain repeating the same words. Often ballads have 4 lines for each verse and begin and end with the refrain.

Begin by writing a refrain with 4 lines that describes your soldier.

Choose a battle that your soldier was involved in.  Take notes on the on the battle and tell its story in verses of 4 lines each. You could have a verse that is descriptive, one that is full of action, and one that is full of feeling. You could also choose photographs from the battle to inspire you. 

Drawn from: The Story in History: Writing Your Way into the Experience

George Frederick Root

The Battle Cry of Freedom- Union

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys,
We'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom,
We will rally from the hillside,
We'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

CHORUS: The Union forever,
Hurrah! boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors,
Up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys,
Rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

We are springing to the call
Of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll fill our vacant ranks with
A million free men more,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS

We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And although they may be poor,
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS

So we're springing to the call
From the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll hurl the rebel crew
From the land that we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.-CHORUS