{"id":"01KG8AJKCQKAJVEH1V8BXEHWC7","cid":"bafkreifb3xurypwfjgtcr24ylotrrvofpifdtqlqeceri6d542jtumyzxm","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# Donelson.\n## Overview\nThis is a segment of the poem \"Donelson.\" from [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9), extracted from the file [battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8). It is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The segment spans lines 485-538 of the source file.\n\n## Context\n\"Donelson.\" is positioned in [Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9) between the segments \"[The Old Stone Fleet.](arke:01KG8AJKCSBM04ZGSCPN72M8MB)\" and \"[LATER FROM THE FORT.](arke:01KG8AJKCSSBJ0JZFF9XYBQFAQ)\". The poem reflects on the Battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862 during the American Civil War.\n\n## Contents\nThe segment describes the anticipation and news surrounding the siege of Fort Donelson by General Grant. It depicts people gathering to read bulletins about the battle, detailing the strategic importance of the fort, the landscape surrounding it, and the spirit of the Union troops. The poem notes the contrast between the mild weather and the harsh realities of war, ending with the anticipation of the fort's fall.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:22.658Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"Donelson.","end_line":538,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Donelson.","source_file":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","start_line":485,"text":"Donelson.\r\n(February, 1862.)\r\n\r\n\r\nThe bitter cup\r\n  Of that hard countermand\r\nWhich gave the Envoys up,\r\nStill was wormwood in the mouth,\r\n  And clouds involved the land,\r\nWhen, pelted by sleet in the icy street,\r\n  About the bulletin-board a band\r\nOf eager, anxious people met,\r\nAnd every wakeful heart was set\r\nOn latest news from West or South.\r\n“No seeing here,” cries one--“don’t crowd--”\r\n“You tall man, pray you, read aloud.”\r\n\r\nIMPORTANT.\r\n    _We learn that General Grant,\r\n  Marching from Henry overland,\r\nAnd joined by a force up the Cumberland sent\r\n  (Some thirty thousand the command),\r\nOn Wednesday a good position won--\r\nBegan the siege of Donelson.\r\n\r\nThe stronghold crowns a river-bluff,\r\n  A good broad mile of leveled top;\r\nInland the ground rolls off\r\n  Deep-gorged, and rocky, and broken up--\r\nA wilderness of trees and brush.\r\n  The spaded summit shows the roods\r\nOf fixed intrenchments in their hush;\r\n  Breast-works and rifle-pits in woods\r\nPerplex the base.--\r\n                   The welcome weather\r\n  Is clear and mild; ’tis much like May.\r\nThe ancient boughs that lace together\r\nAlong the stream, and hang far forth,\r\n  Strange with green mistletoe, betray\r\nA dreamy contrast to the North.\r\n\r\nOur troops are full of spirits--say\r\n  The siege won’t prove a creeping one.\r\nThey purpose not the lingering stay\r\nOf old beleaguerers; not that way;\r\n  But, full of _vim_ from Western prairies won,\r\n  They’ll make, ere long, a dash at Donelson._\r\n\r\nWashed by the storm till the paper grew\r\nEvery shade of a streaky blue,\r\nThat bulletin stood. The next day brought\r\nA second.\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Donelson."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJKCSBM04ZGSCPN72M8MB","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJKCSSBJ0JZFF9XYBQFAQ","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:36.855Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:22.904Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}