Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Products of 1865

1. Drum-Taps

   Released in 1865 by Walt Whitman

   Published in 1865, the year the Civil War concluded, 'Drum-Taps' is historically significant as one of the most immediate and visceral poetic responses to the conflict. It arrived at a moment when the nation was grappling with immense loss, shattered ideals, and the monumental task of reconstruction. Whitman's collection offered a voice to the collective sorrow and a stark portrayal of the battlefield's physical and psychological toll, moving beyond romanticized notions of war to present the grimmer truths witnessed firsthand. Its timely release helped to shape the initial national narrative of remembrance and processing the unprecedented four-year struggle, serving as a powerful elegy for a divided nation.