Bivouac of the Dead  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump
to: navigation, search A plaque quoting the poem at Golden Gate
National Cemetery A plaque at Cave Hill Cemetery quoting the
Bivouac of the Dead  The Bivouac of the Dead is a poem written
by Danville, Kentucky native, Theodore O'Hara to honor his
fellow soldiers from Kentucky who died in the Mexican-American
War. The poem increased its popularity after the Civil War, and
its verses have been featured on many memorials to fallen
Confederate soldiers in the Southern United States, and are even
to be found on many memorials in Arlington National Cemetery,
including Arlington's gateway.[1]  When war against Mexico was
declared in May 1846, O'Hara left Washington, D.C. to return to
his native Kentucky in order to enlist. Within a month, he was
appointed Captain of the Kentucky Volunteers, and served as
their assistant quartermaster. Before he returned to Kentucky in
1847, he was made a brevet major. After hearing of the severe
losses that the 2nd Kent