FEINBERG/WHITMAN
Box 26 Folder 60
LITERARY FILE
POETRY FILE "The Dying Veteran" (1887). A.M.S. S. draft. (DCN89).[*787*]

1887 June     The Dying Veteran; a poem.
  A.MS.S. (1p. 28 x 21½ cm.)

On verso of the page containing the autograph poem, a note by Walt Whitman
to "Mr. Curtz" (type setter) asking for a finished proof by the middle
of the afternoon, Wednesday. Signed Walt Whitman. A note at end reads:
"Given to Thomas Mosher by Horace Traubel, 1900." The poem was published
in November Boughs, after appearing first in McClure's Magazine. In 
his Commonplace Book (no. 52) Walt Whitman writes on June 23rd, 1887:
"Sent 'The Dying Veteran' to S. S. McClure $25. accepted paid."          {89}Many corrections on the galley proofs, e.g., "Don't like the head[?]—it is
too prominent—too sprawled": "plate for correction—I doubt if I have
any plate correction except this—but I will see when I get the proofs" . . . 
     {92}

[1888 TITLE PAGE FOR COMPLETE POEMS AND PROSE, 1888; drafts
  and notes. A.MS. (6p. 30½ x 24½ cm. largest)]

Drafts for the title page including title lettering and portrait engraving of
Walt Whitman's head.  From the recorded conversations between H. L.The Dying Veteran
[A Long Island incident, early part of the present
century.]
Amid these days of order, ease, [ease,] prosperity,
Amid the current songs of beauty, peace, decorum,
I cast a reminiscence - (likely 'twill offend you,
I [knew] heard it in my boyhood) - More than a generation
since.
[From Revolutionary times a] [*A queer*] A queer old savage man,
a fighter under Washington himself,
Large, brave, cleanly, hot-blooded, no talker, rather
spiritualistic,
(Had Fought in the ranks - fought well - had been all
through the Revolutionary war,)
Lay dying - sons, daughters, church-deacons lovingly
tending him,
Sharping their sense, their ears, toward his
murmuring [rambling] half-caught words:
"Let [me?] return again to my war-days,
Body and soul to my war-days
To the sights and scenes - to forming the line of battle,
To the scouts ahead, reconnoitering,
To the cannons, the grim artillery,
To the galloping aids, carrying orders,
The wounded, the fallen, the heat, the suspense,
The perfume strong, the smoke, the deafening noise;
Away with your life of peace! - your joys of peace!
Give me [the] my old wild battle-[joys] -life again!"
Walt Whitman
June 23 1887

[*Given to Thomas Mosher by [Horace? Lambert?] 1904*]Mr. Curtis--Cant you let me
see a proof of this by middle
of this afternoon [?] Wednesday--

WW