{"id":"01KG8AJM22JYY7HNG0Z6P2E8VJ","cid":"bafkreibkiutlpd3y6lydb7yv32pgrfj2xszvdtaq7mhirjqoi4adhonkeu","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# LATER AND LAST.\n\n## Overview\n\"LATER AND LAST.\" is a segment of poetry, extracted from the collection \"[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)\". It was extracted from the file \"[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)\" and is part of the larger \"[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)\" collection. The segment spans lines 948 to 1004 of the source text.\n\n## Context\nThis poem is situated within \"[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)\", a collection of poems by Herman Melville that reflects on the American Civil War. The segment follows the poem titled \"[3 P.M.](arke:01KG8AJM1NNNK11CMVQBKK3KWR)\" and precedes the poem \"[The Cumberland.](arke:01KG8AJM1RE8J5MBJ641ZAB6SX)\".\n\n## Contents\n\"LATER AND LAST.\" describes the immediate aftermath of a Union victory, likely at the Battle of Donelson, as suggested by the text referencing \"Grant strikes the war’s first sounding stroke / At Donelson.\" The poem captures the jubilation of the townspeople upon hearing the news of victory, with celebrations and revelry. However, it also contrasts this with the somber reality faced by those receiving news of casualties, depicting the \"death-list like a river flows / Down the pale sheet.\" The poem concludes with a prayer for the end of the war and a wish for the destruction of its instruments and fortifications.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:23.653Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"LATER AND LAST.","end_line":1004,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"LATER AND LAST.","source_file":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","start_line":948,"text":"LATER AND LAST.\r\n\r\n                THE FORT IS OURS.\r\n\r\n  _A flag came out at early morn\r\nBringing surrender. From their towers\r\n  Floats out the banner late their scorn.\r\nIn Dover, hut and house are full\r\n  Of rebels dead or dying.\r\n  The national flag is flying\r\nFrom the crammed court-house pinnacle.\r\nGreat boat-loads of our wounded go\r\nTo-day to Nashville. The sleet-winds blow;\r\nBut all is right: the fight is won,\r\nThe winter-fight for Donelson.\r\n      Hurrah!\r\nThe spell of old defeat is broke,\r\n  The Habit of victory begun;\r\nGrant strikes the war’s first sounding stroke\r\n      At Donelson.\r\n\r\nFor lists of killed and wounded, see\r\nThe morrow’s dispatch: to-day ’tis victory._\r\n\r\nThe man who read this to the crowd\r\n  Shouted as the end he gained;\r\n  And though the unflagging tempest rained,\r\n    They answered him aloud.\r\nAnd hand grasped hand, and glances met\r\nIn happy triumph; eyes grew wet.\r\nO, to the punches brewed that night\r\nWent little water. Windows bright\r\nBeamed rosy on the sleet without,\r\nAnd from the deep street came the frequent shout;\r\nWhile some in prayer, as these in glee,\r\nBlessed heaven for the winter-victory.\r\n\r\nBut others were who wakeful laid\r\n  In midnight beds, and early rose,\r\n  And, feverish in the foggy snows,\r\nSnatched the damp paper--wife and maid.\r\n  The death-list like a river flows\r\n    Down the pale sheet,\r\nAnd there the whelming waters meet.\r\n\r\n  Ah God! may Time with happy haste\r\n  Bring wail and triumph to a waste,\r\n    And war be done;\r\n  The battle flag-staff fall athwart\r\n  The curs’d ravine, and wither; naught\r\n    Be left of trench or gun;\r\n  The bastion, let it ebb away,\r\n  Washed with the river bed; and Day\r\n    In vain seek Donelson.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"LATER AND LAST."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJM1NNNK11CMVQBKK3KWR","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJM1RE8J5MBJ641ZAB6SX","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:37.538Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:23.964Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}