Historical Investigation....: Final Essay

Discuss the representations of the American Civil War in the stories of Ambrose Bierce.

Ambrose Bierce was an American journalist and short-story writer who was born on 24th of June 1842. He disappeared in late 1913 or early 1914 after visiting some of the battlefields he fought at in his youth. He wrote fictional stories detailing his experiences of war.

Bierce displays throughout his stories the idea of country first, family second, and the recording of history third. The soldiers are very patriotic and through this they make decisions that affect their families in negative ways. This is because they believe in the greater nation and the side for which they are fighting. When a big battle is fought, they think only in the moment and do not think of national or personal futures, emphasising the need for survival. This idea conveys the ways in which people will act for something they believe in and also to survive. The desperate actions present a grim picture of the war.

Each story is conveyed through the point of view of a Union soldier. This is significant as Bierce himself fought on behalf of the Union and he was greatly affected by the War. His stories appear to promote the Union side as they often portray the Confederates as the enemy. His purpose therefore, seems to be to propagate the ideals of the Union government and give honour to the states, as well as the fallen soldiers. These purposes are ironic, as Bierce was a cynic and appeared sceptical towards society as a whole. The following definitions emphasise the cynical nature of Bierce:

"Battle, n. A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue."[1]

"Government, n. A modern Chronos who devours his own children. The priest-hood are charged with the duty of preparing them for his tooth."[2]

"War, n. A by-product of the arts of peace. The most menacing political condition is a period of international amity."[3]

Major themes which influence the cynical nature of Bierce's stories are his childhood and of course, his experiences during the American Civil War. He did not care much for his family, as he believed himself to be neglected. He disliked his brothers greatly, writing in a column about his brother Aurelius who had died, "A life like this so bright and shining an example that we are almost sorry he died."[4] This suggests why people often sacrifice their families in his stories. However, he did appreciate his father's library. He once mentioned that "All that I have I owe to his books."[5] suggesting that the library was a very heavy influence. His Uncle Lucius, appears to have inspired Bierce to despise slavery. Under Lucius' guidance, Bierce joined the Kentucky Military Institute.[6] This education provided Bierce with knowledge about "draftmanship and cartography".[7] The War, in which Bierce used these skills, showed him the fragility of life and the horrors which humans condemn each other. This is most often viewed as the central cause of Bierce's cynicism as "All his experiences in the war are commonly seen as the source of his cynical realism."[8]

The short stories of Ambrose Bierce contain genuine historical setting mixed with a fictional plotline. For example, 'One of the Missing' has the names of prominent historical figures such as Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman who is plainly named in the story as "General Sherman"[9]. It also depicts the "Confederate retreat"[10] at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain through the character of "orderly"[11] Jerome Searing, who "pushed forward across the line of abandoned pits"[12] which is described as "miles of trenchlines"[13] in the information sheet 'The Dallas Road Community and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain'. He describes the job of "orderly" as a job which covers "a multitude of duties"[14]. In 'Two Military Executions' he correctly mentions "the spring of the year 1862"[15] in which "General Buell's army lay in camp" before the "victory at Shiloh"[16]. He also states that the army was "raw, untrained"[17] and had met "hard service...[in]...the mountains of Western Virginia and Kentucky"[18]. 'A Tough Tussle' portrays a "silent camp of a whole Federal brigade"[19] in a "forest in western Virginia"[20] during the "autumn of 1861"[21]. This story is about a man, Captain Byring, who has a fear of the dead, encounter the supernatural when a Confederate body is near him when he is alone in the forest. He ends up dead with his own sword "thrust through the heart[22]" as the result of "a tough tussle"[23]. These stories convey a sense of the historical nature of the stories of Bierce.

In 'One of the Missing', Bierce refers to his own injury which occurred on the 23rd of June 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain[24] in this sentence: "A smart wrap to the head from a flying fragment of the splintered post, incurred simultaneously with the frightfully sudden shock to the nervous system."[25] Bierce, however, was hit by a bullet, not a splinter of wood. Through this, he gives his audience an idea of what it would be like to be shot or injured whilst at war.

Likewise, in his non-fiction recount of the Battle of Shiloh in 'What I Saw of Shiloh', he gives a dismal description of what battle was like. "Here in 1862 were some fields and a house or two; now there are a national cemetery and other improvements"[26] somewhat humorously give an indication of the losses which occurred at Shiloh. According to Roy Morris Jr., the casualties were "more than had died in the Revolutionary War, the war of 1812, and the Mexican War put together."[27] He also goes on to say that "The sights and sounds of Shiloh would stay with Bierce for the rest of his life, occasioning some of his finest writing and foreshadowing and directly influencing an entire generation of American writers, men whose own take on war owed a great deal to his seminal works."[28] Furthermore, Bierce portrays the battle as both glorious and dreadful, which, one can assume, is a description which can be applied to the whole war.

Bierce also portrays men from the South joining the Union army. This is shown in 'The Affair at Coulter's Notch' and 'A Horseman in the Sky'. In both stories, the result of having a family divided by the war is devastating. "Do you happen to know that Captain Coulter is from the South?"[29] foreshadows the wreckage in the future. At the end of 'The Affair at Coulter's Notch', we discover that Coulter's home has been largely destroyed by guns. He is found cradling his wife and child in the basement which is not bomb-proof. He was also involved in an argument with his extended family, just like the main character in 'A Horseman in the Sky'. In this story however, the main character shoots his father's horse, causing both his father and the horse to fall off a cliff to their death. The shock of this occurrence extends both to the young soldier and his commanding officer. These two stories demonstrate the destructive nature of war, which Bierce himself has experienced. This portrayal also conveys the length to which soldiers carried out their duties despite familial connection.

"After firing his shot, Private Carter Druse reloaded his rifle and resumed his watch. Ten minutes had hardly passed when a Federal sergeant crept cautiously to him on hands and knees. Druse neither turned his head nor looked at him, but lay without motion or sign of recognition.

'Did you fire?' the sergeant whispered.

'Yes.'

'At what?'

'A horse. It was standing on yonder rock - pretty far out. You see it is no longer there. It went over the cliff.'

The man's face was white, but he showed no other sign of emotion. Having answered, he turned away his eyes and said no more. The sergeant did not understand.

'See here, Druse?' he said, after a moment's silence, 'it's no use making a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anybody on the horse?'

'Yes.'

'Well?'

'My father.'

The sergeant rose to his feet and walked away. 'Good God!' he said."[30]

There are subtle differences between the fictitious and non-fiction works of Ambrose Bierce. In the historically accurate recounts he tells, he is indeed precise. In fact, in all his works he is historically accurate. Throughout 'One of the Missing', he gives specific details, dates, names and places. This is in parallel with 'What I Saw of Shiloh' and 'A Little of Chickamauga'. In some of his works though, he gives very little historical detail such as 'A Horseman in the Sky' and 'The Story of a Conscience'. These genuine historical elements help to create a perfect setting for the story. In his factitious works, it shows how he has a keen eye for detail where his past is concerned. By checking the dates and descriptions of the land, it is possible to discern that he does work with facts. It is also assuring to know that he can remember the layout of the land as he was for a time, a topographical engineer[31] for the army. This further adds authenticity to both his fictitious and factual stories.

In his factual works, it appears that his "purpose not instruction, but entertainment"[32]. But in 'Bivouac of the Dead' it appears that his purpose is to remind people of the fallen heroes who died in the War. Bierce mentions that he finds such memorable intentions illogical, as "it occurs that one thinks of the contradiction involved in 'honoring the memory' of him of whom no memory remains to honor"[33]. Bierce does not appear to use any other historical sources other than his own memory. He is reminded of the war when something triggers the memory and he is compelled to write about it. He does so in an effort to relay the horrors of what he encountered. Through these recounts, he appears to muse on the pointlessness of the young dying. He also conveys the joy a soldier feels when he wins a battle, and the anticipation and fear beforehand. His fictional stories reflect what is written about in the factual. the subtle difference being that the fictional is mostly written in third person compared to the recounts which are written in first.

'What I Saw of Shiloh' is a useful source in discerning the happenings at Shiloh on "the sixth day of April, 1862". It also brings to light the fact, in a condescending way, that "Little negroes of not very clearly defined status and function"[34] were involved in the Union army. It also provides very useful information on the topic of the movements of the generals Grant and Buell as well as the Confederate forces led by Johnston. He describes how Buell's "thirty thousand men was moving from Nashville to join"[35] Grant. He describes the steamboats as "looking very much like turtles" as only a veteran of the battle could. The "woman" whose "mission, as she understood it, was to inspire the failing heart with courage" was possibly the wife of Brigadier General William H. L. Wallace whose name was Ann.[36] This shows a keen eye for useful aspects which he then continued relaying the final moments of the battle.

"there swept past us and over us into the open field a long regiment with fixed bayonets and rifles on the right soldier. Another followed, and another; two- three - four!...Then for the first time we note the silence of the whole region is not comparative, but absolute."[37]

Ambrose Bierce has had a significant impact on the literary world, being the inspiration of many new works, such as 'The Old Gringo' directed by Luis Puenzo[38], 'Unlovable'[39] and 'Execution at Dawn'[40]. 'Execution at Dawn'[41] is based on two of the author's stories, 'Parker Addison, Philosopher' and 'Story of A Conscience'. 'The Old Gringo' is loosely based on Bierce's disappearance between December 1913 and early 1914. There are many speculations as to the fate of Bierce. Amongst the most obscure are rumours that he became a vampire or went through a portal to another world.[42] The video clip, 'Unlovable' by Babybird follows Bierce's most famous story, 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'. 'Owl Creek Bridge' follows the thoughts of a man who is being hanged for attempting to damage the plans of the Union army. Inevitably he gets caught. It is one of the only stories which is from the point of view of a Confederate soldier. Bierce has also been said to have heavily influenced H.P. Lovecraft, L.P. Hartly, John Collier, Shirley Jackson and Roald Dahl amongst the writers of the supernatural.[43] The amount of new literary work that has been created conveys the lasting influence Bierce has had on literary circles through writing about topics which can allude to current-day situations.

Amongst supernatural writers Bierce is also prevalent. In some of his supernatural works, it appears that there is a subconscious or intended references to the mental state of people in stressful situations. This appears to be allusions to soldiers in battle. 'The Damned Thing' is one such story, where an invisible creature harasses Hugh Morgan until, in the company of a journalist, it kills him. The damned thing appears to be a connotation of the war. The thing is at war with Hugh Morgan as both refuse to leave. But instead of the focus being slavery and other political arguments, it was about a hut and a small scrap of land. It also shows how one may be "psychologically crushed by the weight of fear"[44]. This statement conveys the portrayal of the soldiers in Bierce's Civil War stories in comparison to his supernatural stories.

Bierce's stories convey to the reader something of what it is like to experience war. It also, at times, integrates the supernatural element for which he was also famous, for a more horrifying and entertaining read. From a poor Ohio farm boy, to a successful and famous journalist and writer, who has shown the repugnant and enticing nature of death to his audience. This is more obvious in 'A Tough Tussle.' Writing about death gives a universal feel to the stories, which is why they are so popular now, and have had been remade into many differing adaptations. This allows for different perspectives on the one topic. War is also a widespread concept, which most nations have experienced. Through reading Bierce's Civil War works, one can determine the changes in warfare when compared to the present day. The array of stories show how many men fought in the Civil War, as well as giving an indication of the same for previous wars and battles. War and hope are both universal themes which keep the audience reading.

Throughout his life, Bierce referred to the American Civil War as he experienced it. His representations of the war are dismal, but through their horrific portrayal of war, draw the audience in. Mixed with fiction is the truth. Most of his stories are of a specific battle. Only the battles in which he participated are written about. This gives added authenticity to his fictional works. These works are also the inspiration for a myriad of authors, directors and musicians such as William Dran Howell[45], H.P. Lovecraft, Luis Puenzo and Babybird.

[1] Unabridged Devil's Dictionary pg 24

[2] ibid. pg 99

[3] ibid. pg

[4] Roy Morris, Jr., Ambrose Bierce Alone in Bad Company, Crown Publisher's, New York, 1998, pg 14

[5] ibid., pg 10

[6] ibid., pg 18

[7] ibid., pg 18

[8] http://biercephile.com/life.cfm 21.08.2012

[9] Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce, 'One of the Missing', 'San Francisco Examiner', March 11, 1888; Craig A. Warren, 'The Ambrose Bierce Project', Erie Pennsylvania, Copyright 2005-2012, 16.08.2012, http://www.ambrosebierce.org/main.html

[10] ibid.

[11] ibid.

[12] ibid.

[13] Angela Tooley,' The Dallas Road Community and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain', National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Experience Your America™

[14] op. cit., 'One of the Missing'

[16] ibid.

[17] ibid.

[18] ibid.

[20] ibid.

[21] ibid.

[22] ibid.

[23] ibid.

[25] op. cit., One of the Missing

[27] op.cit., Ambrose Bierce Alone in Bad Company

[28] ibid.

[29] Ambrose Gwinnet Bierce, 'An Affair at Coulter's Notch', San Francisco Examiner, October 20, 1889; Craig A. Warren, 'The Ambrose Bierce Project', Erie Pennsylvania, Copyright 2005-2012, 16.08.2012,

[34] op. cit., 'What I Saw of Shiloh'

[35] ibid.

[36] op. cit., Ambrose Bierce Alone in Bad Company, pg 35

[37] op. cit., 'What I Saw of Shiloh'

[39] Babybird - Unloveable, YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxrYcTgATaM

[40] Don Swaim, The Ambrose Bierce Site, created 1996, 27.08.2012, http://donswaim.com/index.html

[41] op. cit., The Ambrose Bierce Site, http://donswaim.com/index.html

[42] Ancient Aliens S03 E01 Aliens and the old west VOSTFR, Time 33:37- 38:25 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Yye1N1fiA

[43] Supernatural Literature of the World An Encyclopaedia Vol. 1 A-F, edited by S.T. Joshi and Stefan Dziemianowisc, Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, pg 109-113

[44] ibid.

[45] op. cit., Ambrose Bierce Alone in Bad Company, pg43

Historical Investigation....

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Final Essay

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