English poet Robert Southey wrote After Blenheim in 1796 as an anti-war poem.  The poem is based on that famous 1704 battle of that took place during the War of Spanish Succession.

In this poem, two small children are playing when one finds a skull.   Their grandfather, Kasper, tells the kids about the burned homes, civilian casualties  and rotting corpses.  All of the lost that is behind the ‘famous victory’.

There seems to me in reading this two truths.  One is that war is very terrible.  The second is that sometimes wars are necessary.  Or, at least these are seen in this way. So, despite the losses, such battles are victories.  But, victories with a hugely, tragic cost.   I suppose it depends on whose side you are on how such things are seen doesn’t it?  Mostly, I think we as humans owe it to the rest of humanity to always seek to resolve our conflicts without such recourse.  Then, if conflict cannot be avoided, fight to win.  Where mercy can be shown, show it.  When it is necessary to be unmerciful do so to your utmost.  But, only when forced.

After Blenheim may be read in its entirety here:

http://www.bartleby.com/41/422.html

Or, alternatively, listened to in an audiobook format here: