Major Sullivan Ballou Heart Wrenching Letter

Today, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. However, with 23,049 casualties on the Union side and 28,063 on the Confederate side, it can also be considered one of the bloodiest (Civil War Trust). Such heavy losses naturally rattled the entire nation and Americans on both sides began to question the war and what it stood for. As Americans gathered together at the consecration ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the much acclaimed orator and politician Edward Everett delivered what was meant to be the Gettysburg Address. Yet, today, it is not Edward Everett’s Gettysburg Address that the world remembers, but Abraham Lincoln’s, who was invited to the ceremony almost as an afterthought. Lincoln’s 272 words helped remake America by giving hope to its citizens at a time when they were at their lowest.

In the first two paragraphs of Sullivan Ballou’s letter to his wife, he talks about the seriousness of the situation and how determined he is to follow through on the task he has set for himself. In the letter, Sullivan Ballou writes, “Lest I should not be able to write again…and it may be of some conflict and death to me” (paragraph 1). This quote shows the seriousness and the severity of the situation, and that it could be a life-threatening situation. However, Sullivan Ballou still does what it takes to complete his job and is determined to follow through. In paragraph 3 Sullivan Ballou writes, “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.” This shows that Sullivan Ballou is determined to do whatever it takes to help maintain the government even though it can cost him his life and all of the joys of his life. After the first two paragraphs of Sullivan Ballou’s letter, he transitions to the third paragraph where he changes the subject to his feelings for his wife Sarah. Sullivan Ballou starts paragraph 4 by writing her name at the beginning of the sentence to signify that he has stopped talking about the war and has now moved on to express his feeling and love to Sarah.

The bond between a husband and wife can be so strong sometimes and the two stories To My Dear Loving Husband and Major Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter show how much each spouse loves each other. Although, each one talks about the love towards one another they both have different ways of expressing it. Major Sullivan Ballou's Last Letter was written during the civil wars time so it was more based on that, while To My Dear Loving Husband was written way back in 1641.

Clara Barton, in her letter to her cousin Vira in the year 1862, shares her dread of the battle to come and the lives it will take. Barton expounds on this idea in her letter through the use of imagery and weaves the reoccurring idea of doom throughout it, writing in an informal and troubled tone. The author’s purpose is to inform her cousin of the thoughts that go through her head the night before a battle and the struggle she endures knowing that many of these people will die.

Louisa May Alcott narrates in the Death of a Soldier about the death of John, the soldier, and the commotion that is happening around him as he departs. Alcott’s narrative explains the difficulty of soldiers actions and emotions during warfare. The narrative starts off with the release that John is going to die. Later, Alcott illustrates the reason why soldiers react with a certain affection during the deathbed of a wounded soldier. The whole narrative of Louisa May Alcott argues about the compassion of a soldier during warfare and its acceleration for the contraction of harshness experienced frightfully in time of war.

I choose to read this letter because it appealed to me because of the short sentences, it shows the toll the war has taken on the soldier, “We captured a good many prisoners while in Mo. and killed a good many.” However, this soldier’s does seem to be hopeful of leaving this war alive, and reuniting with his family, but is somewhat doubtful, “I would give anything in the world to see you and the children. I have no idea when I will have that pleasure,” Many soldiers, as they marched off to face the enemy, had left behind a wife or sweetheart, and to them they would compose sweet, poignant, and occasionally funny letters that give life and personality to the participants in this great national conflict This soldier seems to know that his fate in the war is that he might will die at some point, but the pictures of his wife and kids give him the bit of hope.

Sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, in his speech, the Gettysburg Address, delivered after the battle of Gettysburg speaks solemnly of the soldiers who perished in the strife. Not just of the of the North, but the South as well. Lincoln’s purpose is to reflect upon the battle and demonstrate amongst the American public that it is their civil duty to not let these soldiers die in vain. More specifically, he stresses the issue for the nation to still stand and “not perish from the earth.” Lincoln adopts a sentimentally passionate tone in order to emphasize the gravity of the situation from the fifty-thousand who died in the battle. President Lincoln, in his address, utilizes the syntactic use of parallelism and further elaborates his purpose through use of appeals to authority.

The Gettysburg address is a very intriguing speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln. This speech touched bases on the many lives that have been lost during the civil war. This speech gained attention because it considered the impact that was made in the country’s history. Abraham did not want to forget the lives that were lost, but indeed give a dedication to the fallen soldiers. “It is for us the living, rather to be dedicated to the unfinished work which who they fought here have thus far so nobly advanced”.

Christopher Kleinwachter, patriot and a devoted son, was on a military operation with the National Guard in the Afghan War when he was killed on November 29, 2006. His mother, Carmen, numb with grief over the death of her close son, began a journey that she never expected to have to make in life: a road that passed through anger, sadness, terrible depression and then forgiveness and peace. Her small volume of poetry, essays and prayers tell the story of Christopher, the military family who came to support her in her time of need, her forgiveness of a person contributory to the accident which killed her son, and the patriotism and service of her son and all who fight for our liberty in the armed forces. This volume is a praise of those who serve

Some may minimalize these men’s death because they did not die in the glory of battle, but history shows that men are remembered by what they lived for than what they died by. Should these men not be remembered and honored amongst other soldiers killed in battle, after everything they have sacrificed? We, during our long day, will take a few pauses to remember the values and work of the past heroes these men have exemplified. Many may remember the question and comment of

This letter is set three years before the first aspect and it gives a concerned mother’s point of view since she already lost a loved one during this dangerous war. For example, “I’ve always told you both to follow your hearts and do what it says. The North wants the South to rejoin them and I do not disagree. The South seceded because they think the government is becoming too strong and is trying to control their way of life. The Union on the other hand thinks it’s so much more than that; they think that president Lincoln will force them to give up slavery and they do not want that. The recent attack on Fort Sumter was resulted in a Confederate victory and President Lincoln has called for 75,000 volunteers. Reading the results of Fort Sumter in the Clarion News has gotten me thinking about never seeing you both again. I can never forgive myself if I lost you both after your father died during John Brown’s Raid you two became the only family I have left.” This aspect not only prepared me for future history courses, but it also opens me up to new experiences such as: exploring the lives of military families and the ups and downs of the political world. I enjoyed writing this aspect because it gave me a chance to explore a parent’s view of war and their hesitation to let them enter a

“General William Howe” I heard over the sound of the howling wind through the valley. “Yes lieutenant,” I mustered. “Do you have any food to spare.” “No lieutenant, I do not,” I said apologetically. I was sitting in a shallow ditch around the tiny fire. The ice and snow feeling like tiny needles on my skin. As I looked around me at the other soldiers, all I saw were the faces of desolation and despair. The wind whipped across my face chilling my bones, reminding me just how cold it was. This winter was one of the worst I'd ever seen. It was relentless, and it showed no signs of stopping. Everyday that passed more people were falling sick to illnesses and starving. People were dying by the tens and supplies weren't supposed to arrive until February. Washington is even struggling to keep his army united and strong. It’s at the point that he will let the men leave to come back in the spring. Just as I was about to stand up to clear my head, I heard the strong and pronounced voice of Washington. “Gather around now,” he hollered politely to us. Almost immediately the men rose to their feet and started walking. “I have something to tell all of you,” said Washington. “These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right, but "to bind us in all cases whatsoever" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.” I then realized Washington had just read Thomas Paine’s The Crisis. I just stood still as it

Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs.Bixby was definitely written from passion and not duty! I feel that this letter was not something he was required to write to all who lost members in the war. The reason I say this is because of the casualty and lack of the professional mood its gives off to the recipient. He says, " I have been shown in the files of the War Department a Statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are a mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle". In my opinion, this is stating that he was shown files of casualties in the war and this one stood out to him in particular.

A lot can be learned from letters as these about the conditions that soldiers faced during the Vietnam War. They grudgingly yet persistently trudged on knowing that war is a “constant factor in this world and it has been since the beginning of time”. Keeping this in mind kept them fighting for month and months to come. All the while these brave soldiers wrote to their loved one seeking the emotional support that was so easily lost, fighting their silent, hidden enemies.

Last week, I went to the Veteran’s day reading. This event was divided into two sections: one of prose readings and another of poetry readings. All stories were interesting, emotional, and astonishing. One of the readings that truly impacted me was a prose read by a woman about his husband. She mentioned that she got married before his husband went to war once again; she shared how scared she was about her husband leaving to war and how her husband told her that everything was going to be fine. Later, she received the horrible notice, saying that her husband had been a good soldier, and that he had died as a hero. This prose was, in my opinion, outstanding and touching since she reflected her love for her husband and her pain for his decease.