American Love Letter 1861
One of the most beautiful love letters - content is from Civil War Days, yet every bit as valid today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Major Sullivan Ballou, Second Rhode Island Volunteers,
to his wife Sarah, then in Smithfield Virginia, the letter was written from
Washington, D.C, one week before the First Battle of Bull Run:
"Dear Sarah,
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 am no more.
I have no misgiving about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged,
and my courage does not halt or falter.
I know how American civilization now leans on triumph of the government,
and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the Revolution.
And I am willng, perfectly willing, to lay down all joys 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 that nothing but Omnipotence can break.
Yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind,
bearing me irresistably with all those chains to the battlefield.
The memory of all those blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me,
and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you that I've enjoyed them for so long.
How hard it is 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 see our boys grow to honorable manhood around us.
If I do not return , my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved 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 sometimes been.
But, oh Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth
and flit unseen among those they love,
I'll always be with you,
in the brightest day and the darkest night, always.
And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath,
Or the cool air at your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think I am gone and wait for me.
For we shall meet again."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the First Battle of Bull Run.
-quoted in its entirety from PBS/Ken Burns'Video "Civil War"
Related links that may be of interest to you:
American History - Official Site
The White House - Official Site
Civil War Museum - GAR/Memorial Building, Rockville Connecticut, USA
Romance site - features famous love letters