The Burial of the Guns
The narrative unfolds in the aftermath of the Civil War, focusing on an old artillery battery commanded by a seasoned Colonel. Following Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the battery finds itself entrenched in a mountain pass, tasked with holding the position against an advancing enemy. The Colonel, despite his initial opposition to secession, has dedicated himself to the Confederate cause, leading his men through numerous battles over four years. As the story progresses, the battery's camaraderie and the bond between the men and their guns are highlighted. Each gun is personified, with nicknames reflecting their significance to the soldiers. The narrative captures the struggles and triumphs of the battery, detailing their experiences in various battles, their losses, and the emotional toll of war. The climax occurs when the Colonel receives news of Lee's surrender and the demand for his own surrender. He chooses to hold the pass until further orders, demonstrating his commitment to his men and their shared history. The Colonel addresses his troops, urging them to remain honorable and to uphold their legacy as soldiers of the South, despite the war's outcome. In a poignant act of defiance and loyalty, the battery prepares to destroy their guns to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. They fire a final salute, expressing their love for the artillery pieces that have been their companions in battle. The guns are then rolled over the cliff into the river, symbolizing the end of their fight and the deep emotional connection the men have to their service. The story concludes with the battery disbanding, the men leaving the battlefield with a sense of loss but also a commitment to their future and the values they fought for. The narrative encapsulates themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of those who served, even in the face of defeat.
By Thomas Nelson Page · First published 1918 · Genre: Historical Fiction, War Literature, Southern Literature · 13,051 words
First lines
Lee surrendered the remnant of his army at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, and yet a couple of days later the old Colonel's battery lay intrenched right in the mountain-pass where it had halted three days before. Two weeks previously it had been detailed with a light division sent to meet and repel a force which it was understood was coming in by way of the southwest valley to strike Lee in the rear of his long line from Richmond to Petersburg. It had done its work. The mountain-pass had been seized and held, and the Federal force had not gotten by that road within the blue rampart which guarded on that side the heart of Virginia. This pass, which was the key to the main line of passage over the mountains, had been assigned by the commander of the division to the old Colonel and his old battery, and they had held it. The position taken by the battery had been chosen with a soldier's eye. A better place could not have been selected to hold the pass. It was its highest point, just where the road crawled over the shoulder of the mountain along the limestone cliff, a hundred feet sheer above the deep river, where its waters had cut their way in ages past, and now lay deep and silent, as if resting after their arduous toil before they began to boil over the great bowlders which filled the bed a hundred or more yards below.
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The Burial of the Guns is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Thomas Nelson Page, dated 1918 CE.
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- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Thomas Nelson Page
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, War Literature, Southern Literature, Drama, Adventure
- Length: 13,051 words
- Structure: 1 section, 56 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set during the American Civil War, focusing on the experiences of soldiers and their emotional and physical struggles.
- War Literature — The book explores themes of camaraderie, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of war, depicting the lives of soldiers in battle.
- Southern Literature — The story reflects Southern perspectives and sentiments during and after the Civil War, emphasizing regional identity.
- Drama — The intense emotional exchanges and conflicts among characters create a dramatic narrative centered on duty and loss.
Tags
Civil War · Southern literature · Historical fiction · Reconstruction · American South · War aftermath · Family dynamics · Loss · Memory · Honor · Conflict · Society