Thread: Sullivan Ballou loved his country and gave his life...

I thought I might put this here for conversation. Saw it on the Burn's Civil War special. It made me think about the Dream Act, what Americans do for their country, giving up the comfort and love of family to die for what they believe in, the loss of the family of their loved one, on and on. I have very complicated feelings reading this. But in the end this gentleman from so long ago captures what some Americans will do to preserve our country, the United States of America. So alipacers? Why do we fight the fight? Read on....



INTRODUCTION TO SULLIVAN BALLOU'S LETTER

Love of country is not unique to Americans, but in a democracy, sending citizens to war requires far more than a dictator's fiat. In 1861, men on both sides of the conflict were willing to lay down their lives for what they believed to be right. Southerners fought for states' rights and a society built upon human slavery, which many considered the natural order of the universe. When the war started, few volunteers in the northern army marched off to end slavery, but many were ready to fight and die to preserve the Union.

One such soldier was Major Sullivan Ballou of the Second Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers. Then thirty-two years old, Ballou had overcome his family's poverty to start a promising career as a lawyer. He and his wife Sarah wanted to build a better life for their two boys, Edgar and Willie. An ardent Republican and a devoted supporter of Abraham Lincoln, Ballou had volunteered in the spring of 1861, and on June 19 he and his men had left Providence for Washington, D.C.

He wrote the following letter to his wife from a camp just outside the nation's capital, and it is at once a passionate love letter as well as a profound meditation on the meaning of the Union. It caught national importance 129 years after he wrote it, when it was read on the widely watched television series, "The Civil War," produced by Ken Burns. The beauty of the language as well as the passion of the sentiments touched the popular imagination, and brought home to Americans once again what defense of democracy entailed.

Ballou wrote the letter July 14, while awaiting orders that would take him to Manassas, where he and twenty-seven of his men would die one week later at the Battle of Bull Run.


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LETTER TO HIS WIFE (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 you again, I feel impelled to write 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 battlefield for my 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 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 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 cares 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 thus 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 to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And 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 sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small 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, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and 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 in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, 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 his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

Thanks FedUp - now you got me crying while eating my dinner here


What a strong, beautiful letter that is. No doubt Major Sullivan Ballou and family are in God's presence. A man who is willing to die for his country knowing what precious gifts he would leave behind on the Earth.


It is a shame, that there are Americans who are willing destroy and bring our country all in the name of diversity, Globalism and so many other crap. However, I am not giving up on my country. There are still many many American's whose blood runs deep of Patriotism, as Mr. Ballou stated in his letter so beautiful:

my courage does not halt or falter

AMEN.......WE SHALL NOT FALTER.....NEVER

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus 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.

I don't know how we can thank you for that, Fedup. Wow. That's a moving letter from a true American hero.

American heroes exist today, and when American heroes cease to exist is when the entire world will truly suffer.

Let's hope that day never comes. I think that's a huge reason why we are here.

We just love our country so much, we cannot turn away when we see people walk into our country illegally and THEN raise their flag.

You have GOT to be kidding. What kind of a person would even think of doing that? God help us and God bless America.

Wow, Thank you, FedUp.

This heartfelt letter of so long ago is STILL the embodiment of the American spirit today.

WE ARE AMERICA -- PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. WE HAVE EARNED OUR PLACE IN HISTORY. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO HAVE DIED FOR US, PAST AND PRESENT. AND WE WILL FIERCELY PROTECT WHAT THEY HAVE DIED FOR WITH OUR VERY OWN LIVES TODAY.

THE OBL JUST WANT OUR "PRESENT." THAT IS WHY THEY LOSE. THEIR SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT TO WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE DIED FOR IS AN ABOMINATION TO US. WE DO NOT INVADE THEIR COUNTRIES AND CLAIM ENTITLEMENTS FOR OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS NOT RIGHT. THEIR FOREFATHERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRIES. WE RESPECT THAT HISTORY. ALL WE WANT IS THE SAME RESPECT.

OUR PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. IN THEIR MEMORY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP AMERICA THAT EASILY.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Yes, yes, you got exactly what I hoped to convey by posting this. Sullivan was a very special human being and makes me want to do even more to set things right.

Thanks for taking the time to read this beautiful heartwrenching letter.