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A letter from a Civil War officer to his wife - July 14, 1861
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:27 pm
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:27 pm
Major Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment. It was written just days before the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the Civil War:
Major Sullivan Ballou was killed by a cannonball while leading his men on horseback at the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861).
quote:
Headquarters, Camp Clark
Washington, D.C., July 14, 1861
My Very Dear Wife:
Indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps to-morrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write a few lines, that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.
Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine, O God be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battle-field for any country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American civilization now leans upon the triumph of government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution, and I am willing, perfectly willing to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.
But, my dear wife, when I know, that with my own joys, I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with care and sorrows, when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it, as their only sustenance, to my dear little children, is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country.
I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death, and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country and thee.
I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in this hazarding the happiness of those I loved, and I could not find one. A pure love of my country, and of the principles I have often advocated before the people, and "the name of honor, that I love more than I fear death," have called upon me, and I have obeyed.
Sarah, my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables, that nothing but Omnipotence can break; and yet, my love of country comes over me like a strong wind, and bears me irresistibly on with all those chains, to the battlefield. The memories of all the blissful moments I have spent with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up, and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our boys grow up to honorable manhood around us.
I know I have but few claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me, perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, nor that, when my last breath escapes me on the battle-field, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears, every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot, I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.
But, O Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the garish day, and the darkest night amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours always, always, and, if the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air cools your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dear; think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again.
As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care, and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers, I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.
- Sullivan
Major Sullivan Ballou was killed by a cannonball while leading his men on horseback at the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861).
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:28 pm to RollTide1987
People wrote more elegantly back then.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:30 pm to RollTide1987
This proves but one fact.
The American education well over 150 years ago was eons better than today. That Baw could write.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:31 pm to RollTide1987
That's some heavy shite.
People could write in those days
People could write in those days
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:34 pm to RollTide1987
Wow.
Now a days he would have to fit that into 140 characters or less.
Now a days he would have to fit that into 140 characters or less.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:35 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
Letter from typical E1-E3 July 14th, 2015
"Dear Julie,
It is hot as frick out here in the dessert. ...
Love,
Rodney
P.S. Don't frick nobody while I'm gone "
"Dear Julie,
It is hot as frick out here in the dessert. ...
Love,
Rodney
P.S. Don't frick nobody while I'm gone "
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:37 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
People were well practiced. They wrote all the time. Journals, letters, etc.
Theodore Roosevelt’s journal entries are incredibly beautiful and well written.
Theodore Roosevelt’s journal entries are incredibly beautiful and well written.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:37 pm to RollTide1987
Thanks for sharing OP!
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:37 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
quote:
People wrote more elegantly back then.
quote:
This proves but one fact. The American education well over 150 years ago was eons better than today. That Baw could write.
Today, a lot more people can write. But a lot fewer people can write as well as this.
This post was edited on 7/14/19 at 8:39 pm
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:38 pm to RollTide1987
That's both beautiful and depressing.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:38 pm to kywildcatfanone
The Koch letters during the civil war are good too. Christian Koch was not allowed through the union blockade and back up the east pearl to his home in Pearlington ms. Logtown area. The letters he wrote home and the letters he received are pretty cool. Neat to hear how things were back then. Most People in that area were not fans of the confederate
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:39 pm to RollTide1987
Abraham Lincoln was a tyrant
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:40 pm to RollTide1987
People read a lot, wrote a lot. Their expression was far deeper than it is today, it had more soul. People were unafraid to the express strong opinions about what they were feeling.
This post was edited on 7/14/19 at 9:09 pm
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:42 pm to RollTide1987
One of the most beautiful letters ever written. I first head it in Ken Burn’s Civil War and I’ve kept the tab to it open on my tablet ever since. 2 years.
I wish I could write like that.
I wish I could write like that.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:43 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
People were apunafraid to the xpress strong opinions about what they were feeling.
That's beautiful, Man.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:43 pm to Vols&Shaft83
Greg Girlado, taken too soon.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:43 pm to RollTide1987
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:44 pm to theunknownknight
quote:
Abraham Lincoln was a tyrant
The man had no problem letting half a million human beings be butchered to death just to keep a ragtag band of states together that was never a single unified country but rather a collection of sovereigns.
Anyone who is comfortable with that much blood being shed for so little a cause is a goddamn genocidal monster.
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:45 pm to theunknownknight
quote:
Abraham Lincoln was a tyrant
Booth was correct
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Posted on 7/14/19 at 8:47 pm to RollTide1987
I found some pretty cool copies of letters that a wife from Claiborne parish would send to her husband who was at war. It was mostly just random everyday stuff but things like about how hungry her and kids were, pig getting out and her having to chase it for several days until a black neighbor helped her catch it. Ended up she got real sick and was writing about that to him and died before he got back home. The black family raised the kids till he came back
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