Herman Melville (1819–1891) was an American poet and novelist of the American Renaissance, best known for his allusive adventure novel “Moby-Dick.” “Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War” is his first book of poetry, fully dedicated to the battles of the Civil War and its aftermath. This compilation includes 72 poems about almost every major event, passed through the author’s point of view on the war and its impact on people.