Five successive volunteer crews died without reaching their objectives.
But the sixth crew was successful in sinking the Federal blockading ship
"Housatonic," their own craft being caught and crushed beneath the
foundering vessel. These crews went to certain death in the night time,
in such secrecy that it was often months before their own families knew
the names of the men. And now, with the lapse of scarcely more than half
a century, it has been possible to find the names of only sixteen of
those who paid the price.
Because no nation of any time can point to a more inspiring example of
self-sacrifice, and because now, in a country reunited and indissoluble,
the traditions of both the North and the South are a common, glorious
heritage, the poem, which presents the final episode in the drama, is
written as a memorial to all who gave their lives in the venture.
D.H.
NOTE ON POE
TO ACCOMPANY "EDGAR ALLAN POE" AND "ALCHEMY"
In May, 1828, Poe enlisted in the army under the name of Edgar A. Perry,
and was assigned to Battery "H" of the First Artillery at Fort
Independence.
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