Civil War Sullivan Ballou
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
North American (General) North American (US New England - Boston, Providence)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
a week before the Battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou, a major in the second Rhode Island volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield, July the 14th 18 61 Washington D. C. Dear Sarah. The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, unless I should not be able to write you again. I feel impelled to write you a few lines that may fall into your eye when I am no more. 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 American civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how greater debt we owe to those who enter for us through the blood and suffering of the revolution. And I'm willing, perfectly willing to lay down all my 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, and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield The memory of all the blissful moments I've 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 and how hard it is for me to give them up and burned to ashes The hopes and future years when God willingly might still have lived and loved together and see our boys grow up 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 battlefield it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and many pains I have caused you how thoughtless and how foolish have sometimes been. But all Sarah If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love I shall always be with you in the brightest day and the darkest night Always, always And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath or the cool air. Your throbbing temple. It shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah. Do not mourn me dead. Think I'm gon and wait for me for we shall meet again. Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first battle of bull run.