What is the theme in Cavalry Crossing a Ford by Walt Whitman?

War and peace make up another theme in the story. A reader who is drawn into the poem's picturesque description of soldiers marching off to battle might easily forget for a moment about the serious, life-and-death issues involved when war is waged. The scene presented here is one of peaceful harmony, with horses loitering and men resting, the musical clank of the men's gear reflected by the poem's musical use of alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds) and assonance (repetition of vowels). The final line, describing how the "flags flutter gaily in the wind," in some way captures the tone of carefree comfort that pervades the entire piece.