Memoranda During The War: Civil War Journals By Walt Whitman

The book I choose to read over the summer is Memoranda During The War: Civil War Journals, 1863-1865 by Walter “Walt” Whitman. He has done many heroic acts in ways different than most think of during the Civil War. He was not a soldier nor common folk. He is known for his writings, poetry, essays, and being a military hospital volunteer. This whole book contains his journals during the Civil War from mid-war (1863) to post-war (1865) while being a military hospital volunteer. Walt Whitman makes a few sacrifices that help him develop into becoming a better leader. He may not be a leader in the sense as President Abraham Lincoln or General Stonewall Jackson but he is still a leader and hero to many. As a military hospital volunteer, he

Some of the people in the hospital did not have family or friends around and Whitman was the only one who cared enough to talk to them and really be a good friend. “To add to other troubles, amid the confusion of this great army of sick, it is almost impossible for a stranger to find any friend or relative, unless he has the patient’s address to start upon” (Whitman 35). In order to be a good leader, one must lead by example. Whitman did just that. “One hot day toward the middle of June, I gave the inmates of Carver Hospital a general ice cream treat, purchasing a large quantity, and, under convoy of the doctor or head nurse of each Ward, going around personally through the Wards to see to its distribution” (Whitman 42). He lead by giving treats to the sick and wounded. Even though they felt like they were going to die, at least in that moment they felt good thanks to Whitman's

They were very fond of it, and liked declamatory poetical pieces. We would gather in a large group by ourselves, after supper, and spend the time in such readings, or in talking, and occasionally by an amusing game called the Game of Twenty Questions” (Whitman 40). Even though there was a war going on, Whitman visited the camps and entertained them to help them deal with stress and to give them some enjoyment during the hard times. He read to them, played games with them, and generally just talked with them. This is something they needed since most of their family is not able to be with them during these times. Even after the war, he still stayed as a military hospital volunteer. Even though the death rate was small (at 7 to 10 percent), he still managed to get through it all while standing strong. “The war is over, but the hospitals are fuller than ever…” (Whitman 60). He does not desert his team during the times after the war. He stays with them through the