IA-CIVIL-WAR-L Archives

Archiver > IA-CIVIL-WAR > 2003-05 > 1053870216


From: "Jessie" <>
Subject: Re: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] Civil War Letter
Date: Sun, 25 May 2003 09:44:06 -0400
References: <002301c31b16$4f366060$c88f0d44@om.cox.net> <003a01c31b1f$3809ac40$63dcf7a5@js>


Jeanne,
Would you please send me the link you used to look him up? Thank you.
Jessie Parker
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeanne Surber" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] Civil War Letter


> Thank you for posting that very poignant letter from Major Ballou. I
looked
> him up in a Civil War on-line source and learned that he was a 32 year-old
> Lawyer from Woonsocket RI, and was listed as wounded 7/21/1861 at Bull
Run,
> VA. He died of wounds on 7/28/1861. There was also a photograph of him
> showing a rather serious and determined-looking but handsome man in his
new
> Union uniform. I wonder what happened to Sarah. Or if Sullivan Ballou
had
> any idea his letter would still bring tears to the eyes of people such as
> myself nearly 150 years later.
>
> Jeanne Surber
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard McConnell" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 12:15 PM
> Subject: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] Civil War Letter
>
>
> > I thought the group might be interested in this letter.
> >
> > Camp Clark [Washington, D.C.]
> > July 14, 1861
> >
> > My Very Dear Sarah,
> >
> > The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few
days—perhaps
> tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to
> write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more. I
> cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer Sabbath night, with
> 2,000 men sleeping around me, many of them enjoying perhaps the last sleep
> before that of death—while I am suspicious that death is creeping around
me
> with his fatal dart as I sit communing with God, my country, and thee. I
> have searched most closely and diligently and often in my breast for a
wrong
> motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I love, and I can find
none.
> A pure love of my country, which I love more than I fear death, has called
> upon me and I have obeyed.
> >
> > 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 on the triumph of the 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 joy in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that
> debt…
> >
> > Sarah, my love for you is deathless—it seems to bind me with mighty
> cables. 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
> blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel
> most grateful to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And
hard
> it is for me to give them up and to burn to ashes the hopes of future
years
> when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen
our
> sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. How careless and foolish I
> have oftentimes been, how gladly would I wash out with my tears ever
little
> stain upon your happiness.
> >
> > But, oh, Sarah, if the dead can come back to this life and float unseen
> around those they have loved I shall always be near you—in your brightest
> days and your darkest nights, amid your happiest scenes and gloomiest
> hours—always, always! And if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek it
> shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple it shall be
> my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dead—think I have gone
> somewhere to wait for you, for we shall meet again.
> >
> > As for my little boys, they will grow up as I have done and never know
a
> father’s love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me, but my
> blue-eyed Edward will keep my face with him among the dim memories of
> childhood. I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and the
> development of their character and feel that God will bless you in your
bold
> work…Oh, Sarah, I go somewhere to wait for you. Come to me, and lead
> thither my children.
> >
> > Sullivan
> >
> > [Major Sullivan Ballou, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, killed in action 21
> July 1861]
> >
> > Richard L. McConnell
> > 2235 St. Marys Ave., Apt. 421
> > Omaha, NE 68102-2438
> > (402)342-6896
> >
> >
> >
> > ==== IA-CIVIL-WAR Mailing List ====
> > To contact the administrator of this mailing list, send mail to
> > .
> >
> > ==============================
> > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy
records,
> go to:
> > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
> >
>
>
>
> ==== IA-CIVIL-WAR Mailing List ====
> For more information on Iowa in the Civil War, check out the Iowa History
Project at http://iagenweb.org/history/
>
> ==============================
> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to:
> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
>

This thread: