Sherman's Lament

This is a piece I've been working on for a while. It was inspired by several quotes I've read by General Sherman concerning war.

Sherman's Lament
by John W. Leys

For General William Tecumseh Sherman
and soldiers everywhere.

The day over, the battle won.
No joy rests in the victory.
The home front questions tactics,
I'm a soldier accused of barbary

Looking out o'er the battlefield
I see the bodies of fathers, sons and brothers.
Their blood cried out to me from the mud
Like the weeping of wives, sisters and mothers.

I'm but a humble soldier
With a job that must be done.
A country that needs healing,
A war that must be won.

We fight for freedom and glory,
Or so the politicians tell.
But their reasons are all moonshine
This war—all war—is Hell.

18 May 2008

We're Not Going to Kill... Today.

In the past I've posted quotes on the nature of war by soldiers (primarily Generals Grant and Sherman). While this soldier is fictional in nature (and would prefer to be known as more an explorer anyway) I think his words ring as true as the others:

"Death... destruction, disease, horror, that's what war is all about. That's what makes it a thing to be avoided. You've made it neat and painless. So neat and painless, you've had no reason to stop it... All right. [War is] instinctive. But the instinct can be fought. We're human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands... But we can stop it! We can admit that we're... killers. But we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes! Knowing that we're not going to kill... today!"

-- Captain James Tiberius Kirk, 2267

The Media

And here I thought the issues I have with reporters and the media in general were of recent origin. Depressingly, they're not and I see no end in sight. But I have to say, I totally understand where ol' Uncle Billy was coming from...

“I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers."

...

"I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast."

- Major General William Tecumseh Sherman

I Bet He Outranks GI Joe!

I ran across this and think it si too cool for words. From Civil War Standard.com:

Ulysses S. Grant 12" Figure

The most successful general of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant led the Army of the Potomac to victory over Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and later went on to become the 18th president of the United States. This highly collectible, limited edition figure features 30 points of articulation and includes an officer's sack coat, a belt with a U.S. eagle buckle, breeches, boots with spurs, an officer's slouch hat, a cigar, a flask, two maps and a map case. Measures 12" tall. #0C60311
Price: $39.95

They also have a General Robert E. Lee figure and a great Maj General W.T. Sherman (complete with map of Atlanta!) among others.