An Occurrence at Owl Creek is a short story by American author Ambrose Bierce. It is set during the American Civil War and tells the story of Peyton Farquhar, a Confederate sympathizer condemned to death by hanging from a bridge. As he awaits his execution, Farquhar fantasizes about escaping and returning home to his wife and children. The story begins with Farquhar standing on the bridge, surrounded by Union soldiers. He is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage the bridge. As the noose is placed around his neck, he notices a piece of driftwood in the river below and imagines himself escaping. He dives into the river and swims away, evading his captors. Farquhar eventually reaches the shore and begins to make his way home. Along the way, he encounters a variety of obstacles, including a Union patrol, a hostile swamp, and a raging river. Despite these challenges, he eventually makes it back to his plantation. When he arrives, he finds his wife and children waiting for him. He embraces them, but then suddenly realizes that the entire escape was a dream. He is still standing on the bridge, and the noose is still around his neck. The story ends with Farquhar's neck snapping as he falls from the bridge.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1890 · Genre: Short Story, Realism, Fiction · 3 chapters