A Whitman Chronology

4. 1864–1867

CHAPTER FOUR Bathed in war's perfume ... - Drum-Taps, 1865 Despite the demands of family and his hospital service, Whitman has not forgotten his poetry: in November 1863 he returns to Washington with the manuscript of DrumTaps , which earlier he had left behind in Brooklyn. In 1864 Whitman visits Virginia battlefields, and by winter's end his physical and emotional condition is such that he longs for a rest. In June 1864 he is so ill that the doctors tell him not to visit the hospitals for a time, and he returns home. In October George is taken prisoner, and the early part of 1865 is devoted to trying to obtain his freedom, achieved finally through a general exchange of prisoners. Walt is working now for the Department of the Interior and attends Lincoln 's second inauguration. Around this time he probably meets Peter Doyle, who becomes his loving companion. In spring the war ends, Lincoln is assassinated, and DrumTaps is published. In June Whitman is fired from his job on charges of indecency and moves to the Attorney General's Office. In October he publishes Sequel to Drum-Taps. William O'Connor rushes to Whitman's defense with The Good Gray Poet, published early in 1866. With the publication of the more somber 1867 edition of Leaves (the fourth), there develops a new image of Whitman, furthered by his friends O'Connor and John Burroughs. Through them England becomes interested in Whitman. 5 JANUARY. Lewis K. Brown, Whitman's beloved soldier friend, having returned to the hospital because of an unhealed leg wound, has his left leg amputated below the knee at the Armory Square Hospital; Whitman observes the surgery through an open door (NUPM, 2: 669)' 29 JANUARY. Whitman writes his mother that Brown is recovering well under his watchful eye; in the same letter he mentions having become acquainted with Congressman James A. Garfield of Ohio (CORR, 1:193). Garfield remains friendly even after becoming president, and at his assassination in 1881 Whitman writes "The Sobbing of the Bells" (see chapter 7)' JANUARY. Before re-enlisting, George Whitman goes home on a thirty-day furlough, making Walt long to be there. Walt also has a great desire to be present at "a first class battle" and is later allowed to join the army at Culpepper , Virginia, for a few weeks. IN THE SAME MONTH. John Burroughs arranges for Whitman to give lectures in Washington, to be followed by a lecture tour of New York, Brooklyn, and Boston, but the plans fall through (CORR, 1:200-201, n23)' 6 FEBRUARY. Whitman leaves for Virginia, where he visits the division field hospitals. He finds no wounded, as they are evacuated to Washington as quickly as possible, and decides to return to Washington where he feels he is needed (CORR, 1: 197). 29 MARCH. Walt writes his mother that, though he feels well enough, he needs some "intermission" from the war because ofthe steady assault on his emotions (CORR, 1:205). 31 MARCH. Whitman and a friend go to see the famous New England spiritualist Charles H. Foster, and on 5 April he pronounces such practices "humbug" (CORR, 1: 206, 208). 25 APRIL. General Ambrose Burnside's army moves through Washington, and Walt waits three hours as the procession oftroops passes before he sees his brother George. George is tanned and looks "hardy"; the two are able to walk a distance together in the ranks, long enough for Walt to give George news of home (CORR, 1:212). 21 MAY. Whitman moves from his garret room to a boardinghouse at 502 Pennsylvania Avenue, near Third Street (CORR, 1:226). Whitman's letters in April and May recount both ru- mors and facts of the army's movements, most of the time with some reference to George's regiment, involved around this time in the battle at Spotsylvania, Virginia. Walt repeatedly asserts his faith in General Grant, and to Jeff he writes that had it been his lot to fall in battle he would feel it a noble and manly death (CORR, i :225). 7 JUNE. Walt writes his mother that he has been ill for a week with weakness, sore throat, and a "bad feeling" in his head. He longs to be home for just a few days, able then to return refreshed to the "sad scenes" of his hospital work (CORR, 1:230-232). Whitman's need...