Much of Bierceâs work revolves around the foolish idea of a glorious war, the idea that there is glory in death and violence. This theme can be seen in the title itself, it is a bloody violent battle but it is merely an âAffairâ, as such occurrences are regular, everyday things. This is a story which focuses on the divide that the Civil War wreaked in America, tearing families and friendships apart.
In this story we follow a Union brigade as they push the retreating Confederate army deeper in to their own territory. The retreating army guards a perilous pass for which Captain Coulter, a Union soldier from a Southern family is sent to take.
It is a heart-breaking tale, fraught with brutal imagery much like Mel Gibsonâs âHacksaw Ridgeâ.
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) was an American author, journalist, critic and soldier, best known for his works of horror and fiction. He was a truly talented writer whose ability was not bound to one genre. His works of horror draw honourable comparison to Edgar Allan Poe and H.P Lovecraft while his more humorous, satirical work draws the comparison to such literary greats as Jonathan Swift and Voltaire. Bierceâs âThe Devils Dictionaryâ has been named one of âThe 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literatureâ. His war stories such as âAn Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridgeâ and âTales of Soldiers and Civiliansâ are amongst his best works and are said to have inspired Ernest Hemingway and Stephen Crane. Even Bierceâs end is as mysterious as one of his own tales, travelling to Mexico to cover the revolution first-hand but never being heard or seen from again.