Walt Whitman (1819–1892), although best
known for his work as an American poet, is
also remembered for the care he gave to thousands
of sick and injured soldiers in
Washington, D.C. hospitals during the Civil
War. In December of 1862, Whitman first traveled
to the city from his home in Brooklyn,
New York, to search through the hospital wards
for his brother, George Washington Whitman,
who the family believed had been seriously
injured in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Not
finding his brother there, the forty-three-year-old
poet traveled on to Virginia, where he was
relieved to find an only slightly wounded
George at the Union Army Camp at
Falmouth—across the Rappahannock River
from the site of the actual battle. Greatly affected
by the suffering he witnessed firsthand,
Whitman decided to establish residence in
Washington to care for these sick and wounded
soldiers. For the next three years, he visited
patients daily in various Civil War hospitals
located throughout the city. Whitman spent
hours listening to their stories, writing letters
home to family members, scribbling down their
needs in small notebooks he carried with him,
and bringing them gifts such as fresh oranges
and licorice candy. Some of Whitman's best-known
collections of poetry, including Drum Taps
and Sequel to Drum Taps, as well as the poem "Oh
Captain! My Captain!" were inspired by this
cumulative experience.
Taking a Closer Look
Throughout his life, Walt Whitman demonstrated
his love for America and for mankind,
especially in his poetry. Whitman was in his
late forties or early fifties when this photograph
was taken at the Mathew Brady Studio
in Washington, D.C., around 1870. Look carefully
at his pose, dress, and demeanor. Do you
think this portrait reflects these caring attributes?
How?
Learn more about Walt Whitman and read
selections from his Civil War–inspired poetry
and notebooks at these Web sites:
http://www.liglobal.com/walt
The Poetry of Walt Whitman
Poet at Work: Recovered Notebooks from the
Thomas Biggs Harned Walt Whitman Collection,
Library of Congress
Above:
Walt Whitman 1819-1892 (detail)
Mathew Brady 1823-1896/ photograph circa 1867
NPG.76.96
Gift
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Feinberg
