Ambrose Burnside

The life and death of Peyton Farquhar is portrayed in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce. Through the use of compelling storytelling and vivid imagery, Ambrose Bierce takes the reader on an adventure like no other. Beginning moments before his death, Peyton Farquhar recalled his life, fantasized about escape, and unfortunately greeted death at the bitter end. The story began with Peyton Farquhar awaiting his execution. He viewed his surroundings and commented on the private…

The only definite thing in life is that it will one day end. That truth is perhaps the defining feature of the human condition. Mortality is inevitable act, so we can either accept it, or continue to deny the coming day of our own deaths. In Ambrose Bierce’s short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the principal character, Peyton Farquhar, experiences both the denial and acceptance of his impending death. Farquhar is sentenced to be hanged by Union soldiers and as he faces his final…

the story, which eventually leads to death. Eventually, Farquhar makes a great escape from the major conflict, which ends abruptly while he does realize that he is imagining and escaping reality. In the story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Ambrose Bierce uses sensory details and similes to build a mood and suspense throughout the story. In the…

A Possible Escape Artist: “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce In the short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce, the author utilizes “tricks” to the reader’s mind in order to maintain foreshadowing and portray what the average human mind endures before he or she dies. The reader is given clues throughout the story that point to the imagination of what Mr. Farquhar wants to happen before he is dropped to his death. First of all, what is up with the…

History cannot be defined by the story of an individual; however, one person’s story can attempt to influence history, often through print. Via publishing their own narratives, Bibb and Otter both expressed their sentiment for broad influence, to varying success. Bibb leverages legal and religious debates to appeal to rational Northerners and poor whites, while Otter markets his wilder and more violent lifestyle towards his jolly fellow brethren and those fascinated or disgusted by his…

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce, proposes the idea that human individuals have no control over their lives, and even solace found in the imagination is limited by their helpless reality. Bierce, through fighting amidst the horrors of the Civil War, developed a pessimistic disposition towards humanity. Being a local color writer, Bierce depicts his scenes with the utmost attention to detail, and structures his short story around specific settings that he uses to allegorize…

Federal (Union) side was Ambrose E. Burnside, and the leader of the confederates was Robert E. Lee. The Union's plan was to use 60,000 men to take the southern flank of Prospect Hill, more specifically Marye's Heights,while holding the south in urban areas and then flushing them out. The south positioned behind strategically placed stone walls at Marye's Heights, giving them the high ground and a near impenetrable wall of fire over…

The winter months proved to take a toll on the Union army and hindered their approach as they got to Fredericksburg. Heavy snowfall delayed operations for a week. However, not only did the snow delay Union operations, before snowfall came, General Burnside had delayed his troops crossing the Rappahannock River for three weeks. This was poor planning and preparation on the Union side. An extra month of preparation and planning was essentially given to the southern engineers and the…

and forced them into to the leadership role. Take for instance General Joseph Hooker. Hooker was under Burnside command, but as the war went on many including Hooker were not impressed with his performance. Hooker went to Lincoln to voice his concern but informed him that he did not want to take over Burnsides role. However, after time went on Lincoln pratically foreced Hooker to take Burnsides position. By Lincoln not respecting the generals when they declined the higher position he hindered…

The Battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862, near Antietam creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. This battle brought about America’s bloodiest day, the product of Confederate bravery and Union command failure. Shortly after routing the Union Army of Virginia under Major General John Pope, General Lee led his own Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac into Maryland. Reasons for this assault included taking strain off the Shenandoah Valley which was referred to as” The Breadbasket of…