Peyton's War: A Narrative Fiction

On March 6-8 1862, almost 154 years ago today, An epic and war altering battle took place in Pea Ridge. Also known as the battle of Elkhorn Tavern. This battle took place in Benton County, Arkansas, and was part of the Pea Ridge campaign. The two major generals of this battle are Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis with the U.S army who divided his army between Peter Osterhaus and Eugene Carr. The other general was Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn with the confederate army. Van Dorn divided his army between generals Benjamin McCullough and Sterling Price.

Terrorism not only happens abroad but it also happens in our backyard as well. The United States has had its government and citizens involved in terrorism as well. The American Revolution and the war tactics used against The British, can be linked to terrorism. Also, the CIA involvement on the attack of Rene Schneider, a commander of the Chilean Army as well. Though the United States has had close involvement with terrorist acts, it has also dealt with its fair share being a target. The Molly Maguires, is a terrorist organization that has been targeting America, since it was founded. This all started because of their opposition of the mistreatment of tenants by landlords(McEntire,2009). The Molly Maguires also protested coal mines and even

Life during the Civil War was not a pleasant time. There was basically utter chaos

On April 18, 1865, the Civil War was ended by an agreement reached between Joseph E. Johnston and William T. Sherman following the surrender of the Confederate Army. Decades later, historians still question how the Civil War began. Although they view slavery as an underlying cause of the Civil War, there is still controversy in accepting that it was the main cause of conflict between the North and the South. In What This Cruel War was Over, Chandra Manning argues that the North fought for the purpose of protecting their ideals of liberty, morals, and self-government, whereas the South fought for individualized self-interests. Through the use of primary and secondary sources, Manning examines the viewpoints of both Union and Confederate soldiers in order to assert that most soldiers during the time period viewed slavery to be the underlying cause of the war.

The Civil War, a period of four years in the United States filled with bloody combat, thousands of casualties, and the destruction of much of Southern infrastructure. Although the Civil War had various causes (economy, politics, etc.), it mainly originated from the pressing issue of slavery at the time, mainly its expansion into the Western territories. As we all know, slavery was one of the most horrific times in our nation’s history, yet it was a typical and normal thing for the people of the 19th century. The film, Glory (1989), directed by Edward Zwick, doesn’t necessarily depict the horrors of slavery, however it does show 19th century America’s attitude toward African Americans, as well as the average African American’s hunger for

Have you ever been hesitant to share a true story because you suspected that it would appear as a fabricated anecdote to your audience? Well, most of the time we add bunch of things or change a true story to make it sound genuine to our audience. We live in a judgmental and complex world where lying has become a part of our daily lives. Because of this habit, it is hard to differentiate the truth from a fabricated lie. Since I was a child, my parents always talked about battle of Adwa and many events that took place centuries ago. It is always amusing to listen to those stories because it is about heroic act that most of the kings of Ethiopia accomplished. Although I heard different versions of these stories, I always tend to believe my parents’ version. The reason is not simply the credibility of my parents’, but the way it was presented. According to the short story, “How to Tell a True War Story” by Tim O’ Brien, a true war story is hard to accept as true because some of the most agonizing parts are true, while some of the natural parts are not. Tim O’Brien’s narrative shows that a storyteller has the power to shape listeners’ views. We can change our perception because of the story teller, and neglect the fact that we are avoiding the actuality. Therefore by listening to different versions of a story, it will actually help the reader find greater truth of the story.

The Civil War began as a purely military effort with limited political objectives. The North was fighting for reunification, and the South for independence. But as the war progressed, the Civil War gradually turned into a social, economic and political revolution with unforeseen consequences.

When Peyton came to, he opened his eyes and gazed back at the bridge, relieved to observe the militia leaving their posts. He swam towards the shore as quickly as possible, while battling the harsh current that was pulling him downstream. He accidentally hit a piece of wood with his hand and consequently, one of the soldiers turned, staring him dead in the eyes, with his finger steady on the trigger, but instead of shooting, the soldier returned his attention to his companions. Peyton was a bit curious as to why the soldier didn’t shoot, but he continued swimming until he made it to shore. He dashed into the woods just as planned with a feeling of great invincibility. He moved as swiftly as he could -- almost flying-- but abruptly stopped

The setting is being described by a narrator that knows everything and it is being told through facts. The second section transitions to the third person objective. The reader learns about Peyton’s feelings towards the war and his motives behind committing the crime through dialogue with a Federal scout. It also infers how Peyton ended up in the Union’s custody. Up to this point, the narrator has remained objective and the reader has not been influenced to side with the enforcer or the offender. However once the third section transitions to the third person limited point of view, a sympathetic connection develops between Peyton and the reader. We now learn about his thoughts through his conscious mind, the reader learns of his fervent desire to return home to his family. All of sudden the reader finds themselves supporting Peyton’s animated escape without taking into account the details revealing it is an illusion. In a way, the final section is an example of romantic literature, it expresses characteristics such as adventure and good versus evil; However, that is put to an end when we find out Peyton was dead all

Joseph Conrad once observed that “a belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” As a result of the violence that is necessary during wartime, soldiers are permitted to engage in savage behavior that is normally forbidden in society. In The Wars by Timothy Findley, however, soldiers act in violent ways even when they are not actively engaged in battle. The inherently savage nature of humankind is evident when Robert Ross kills the German soldier after the gas attack, when Robert is raped in the baths, and when Robert kills Captain Leather. These violent events that occur outside the direct action of the war demonstrate the evil inherent in

A true war story is rather difficult, if not impossible, to share when it goes beyond one’s imagination. Regarding such a story, one morally sound aspect about it is that it lacks morality or meaning to it. Extracting facts from a true war story is a daunting task because what seems to happen is what actually occurs. In what is to follow, I will tell one awful true war story.

Before he knew it, he’s on a plank and being executed. He’s was on the plank thinking he was going to die but then something happened he never thought would happen the rope snaps. All of the sudden he falls into the water and begins rushing down stream to get to shore away from the soldiers. Guns are firing and cannons fired towards him but some how he managed to get to the shore with out getting hit by one. Peyton then decides to walking home and thats when he fell asleep while walking and when he wakes up he is at home with his family. But then there he is dead “Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of Owl Creek Bridge.” When he stopped dreaming was the last part when he arrives home to his wife and realized he was dead. This part had to do with death and survival because it talks about him about to die and how he is thinking of ways to survive and going to a happy place with his wife. But then at the end he realizes he didn’t survive he really was

Mississippi’s Civil War: A Narrative History begins by providing the account of the Nullification Crisis that took place in 1832. The crisis began as a dispute between the state of South Carolina and the federal government over a series of national tariffs that many of the southerners viewed as excessive. (6) The leader of the nullification movement in Mississippi was John Anthony Quitman. Quitman died in 1859 and the Mississippi finally left the Union in 1861. (8) As a result of the Nullification crisis, the Mexican War took place. Many Mississippians volunteered to fight with much enthusiasm. After nearly two years of war, America won. (11) From 1840-1860 Mississippi’s population doubled to almost 800,000 residents and by 1860 Mississippi’s institutions were hopelessly entangled in the web of slavery. The cotton based agriculture increased the need for slaves and by the eve of the Civil War slaves represented 55 percent of the state’s total population. (12) Mississippi’s ordinance of secession officially took them out of the union in 1861 leading up to the Civil War. (32)

The Civil War was all the Northern States’ fault. The “issue” of slavery should not have bothered them in the first place. If someone had a problem with slavery the solution was simple: don’t own slaves. Instead, they tried meddling with slavery which lead to the Southern States’ secession and eventually, the Civil War.

Many people say that the metal of a man is found in his ability to keep his ideals in spite of anything that life can through at you. If a man is found to have done these things he can be called a hero. Through a lifelong need to accept responsibility for all living things, Robert Ross defines his heroism by keeping faith with his ideals despite the betrayal, despair and tragedy he suffers throughout the course of The Wars by Timothy Findley.