The Burial of the Guns

The novel The Burial of the Guns by Thomas Nelson Page is a work of historical fiction centered on the aftermath of the Civil War. Set after General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, it follows an old Colonel and his battery of soldiers stationed at a mountain pass, exploring how surrender and the return to civilian life reshape both social relationships and personal identity. As the men confront the end of the war and the loss of what their service had meant, the Colonel must lead them through a painful transition. He grapples with pride, duty, and the bonds formed during the conflict, confronting the question of what should be done with the guns as the soldiers seek to preserve the legacy they associate with their shared experience.