Men who Commanded themselves and did not Swear
In the spring of 1863, a fleet of steamers and gunboats attempts to use a narrow bayou toward Vicksburg, only to find its passage blocked by felled trees. The soldiers labor by hand to drag the trees ashore, damaging their boats badly, and must repeat the effort when retreating stern foremost through new obstructions behind them. When the battered expedition rejoins the force opposite Vicksburg, its men are cheered as heroes. Forced to march through rain and deep mud at night, they jokingly chant “No bottom!” and complain of lacking chickens, coffee, and “‘taters.” Their colonel halts the noise and calmly reminds them to preserve military dignity; they obey without profanity. The narrator learns that he is Colonel Legget and praises his self-command. At General Grant’s quarters, she raises the prevalence of swearing in the army. Grant says he regrets it and never swears, not from moral principle but because he never acquired the habit and believes profanity ill suits military dignity. He respects Christianity and Christian workers, admits he would like to be a Christian, and is later said to have professed faith in the Divine Redeemer.
By Annie Wittenmyer · First published 1895 · Genre: Civil War nonfiction, Historical nonfiction, Military history · 1,253 words
First lines
The Mississippi River was very much swollen in the spring of 1863, and a bayou near Helena offered a possible channel in the direction of Vicksburg. It was broad and deep enough to admit the passage of steamers and gunboats, but too narrow for a boat to turn around.
A fleet of steamers, bearing a well-chosen force, and accompanied by gunboats, was sent down this bayou. The fleet of boats had not gone far till the way was found blockaded. Large trees had been cut down, so that in falling they bridged the narrow stream from shore to shore. But determined men can overcome almost any obstacle.
Similar titles
- How I Got The Cotton by Annie Wittenmyer
- Could You Get Me A Raw Onion And Some Salt by Annie Wittenmyer
- The Special Diet Kitchen Work by Annie Wittenmyer
- A Brief History Of The Tenth Michigan Cavalry by L. S. Trowbridge
- He Died Cheering The Flag by Annie Wittenmyer
- Secretary Stantons Generous Gift by Annie Wittenmyer
Genres
- Civil War nonfiction — The narrative recounts a specific 1863 Union military expedition near Helena and Vicksburg, describing soldiers, gunboats, commanders, and wartime conditions.
- Historical nonfiction — It presents an eyewitness-based account of real historical people and events, including General Ulysses S. Grant, Colonel Leggett, and General John Rawlins.
- Military history — Its central action concerns military transport, logistical obstacles, discipline, command, troop conduct, and the operational environment of the Vicksburg campaign.
- Religious nonfiction — The concluding conversation centers on profanity, Christianity, prayer, conversion, and General Grant's stated respect for Christian belief.
Tags
American Civil War · Vicksburg Campaign · Mississippi River · 1863 · Union Army · Union gunboats · bayou expedition · military logistics · obstructed waterways · soldiers' endurance · rain and mud · military discipline
What this Textopian page supports
Men who Commanded themselves and did not Swear is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Annie Wittenmyer, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Annie Wittenmyer
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Civil War nonfiction, Historical nonfiction, Military history, Religious nonfiction, Christian inspirational literature
- Length: 1,253 words
- Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Men who Commanded themselves and did not Swear by Annie Wittenmyer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph