Hush'd Be the Camps To-day

by Walt Whitman

　　

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Hush'd Be the Camps To-day was printed on mourning ribbons in remembrance of Abraham Lincoln, assassinated by John Wilkes Booth with one fatal bullet the night of April 14, 1865; Lincoln died the following morning.

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Mourning ribbon for Lincoln, 1865

　　Hush'd be the camps to-day; And, soldiers, let us drape our war-worn weapons; And each with musing soul retire, to celebrate, Our dear commander's death. No more for him life's stormy conflicts; Nor victory, nor defeat-- no more time's dark events, Charging like ceaseless clouds across the sky. But sing, poet, in our name; Sing of the love we bore him-- because you, dweller in camps, know it truly. As they invault the coffin there; Sing-- as they close the doors of earth upon him-- one verse, For the heavy hearts of soldiers. Walt Whitman-- 1865 GOD SAVE THE UNION AND OUR MARTYR ABRAHAM LINCOLN FEB 12 1809 APRIL 16 1865

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Hush'd Be the Camps To-day was featured as TheShort Story of the Day on Wed, Apr 15, 2020

　　

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Whitman wrote extensively during the Civil War. Visit Song of Myself Study Guide and the biography of Abraham Lincoln for historical and literary context. You may also enjoy our collection of Civil War Stories.

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