Bivouac of the Dead

This is the Cemetery at Antietam Battlefield. The battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862 and marked the deadliest day in American history. More than 23,000 dead or wounded. Compare that to D-Day, June 6, 1944, with 2, 510 casualties. Surrounding the monument at the center of the cemetery are plagues with some verses of Theodore O'Hara's poem Bivouac of the Dead. For more on the cemetery check the Department of National Park's website for the entire poem look here. The last picture is the graves of the unknown.

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat

The soldier's last tattoo;

No more on life's parade shall meet

That brave and fallen few.

On Fame's eternal camping-ground

Their silent tents are spread,

And Glory guards, with solemn round,

The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe's advance

Now swells upon the wind

Nor troubled thought at midnight haunts

Of loved ones left behind

No vision of the morrow's strife

The warrior's dream alarms;

No braying horn nor screaming fife

At dawn shall call to arms.

Your own proud land's heroic soil

Shall be your fitter grave

She claims from war his richest spoil

--The ashes of her brave.

Theodore O'Hara, 1858