Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates tpts content guidelines. Ask the students how the audio reading made them feel. Letter to his wife while he was stationed in washington, dc during the civil war. Sullivan ballous letter to his wife, written a week before he was killed at bull run in 1861, is one of the great eulogies of sorrow and divided duty to nation and family. Historian youngs debut tells the story of sullivan ballou, whose moving letter to his wife on the eve of the first battle of bull run was an emotional highlight of ken burnss pbs documentary about the war. In response to sullivan ballous letter to his wife. The copied letter is believed to be transcribed by a relative of sullivan ballou. Jan 30, 2016 my very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou, civil war, 1861. Sullivan ballou march 28, 1829 july 29, 1861 was a lawyer and politician from rhode island, and an officer in the union army during the american civil war. Sullivan ballou the following is a letter written by maj.
The letter he wrote is presented here in condensed form. Burns never expected the letter to have quite the impact it did, but he placed it at the climax of the first episode for a reason. Sullivan ballou was a successful, 32yearold attorney in providence, rhode island, when abraham lincoln called for volunteers in the wake of fort sumter. Major sullivan ballou, of smithfield, rhode island, was a lawyer and politician who devoted his life to public service. His words are carefully selected and interposed to portray the depth of his feelings. First heard on a wide scale during ken burns the civil war documentary on september 23, 1990, a letter presented as the final missive by major sullivan ballou of the 2nd rhode island infantry has over the years been read repeatedly and published in many accounts as the finest expression of why northern. Expired image removedcamp clark, washington my very dear sarah. Print and download a letter from sullivan ballou sheet music composed by john kander.
Lest i should not be able to write you again, i feel impelled to write lines that may fall. Responding to his nations call, the former speaker of the rhode island house of representatives enlisted. Sullivan ballou camp clark, washington my very dear sarah. Sullivan ballou s letter to sarah expresses what every man wishes he could say to his wife and it is what every wife would like to hear, burns says now. July the 14th, 1861 washington dc my very dear sarah.
The actual letter was never delivered to sarah, the wife of major sullivan ballou. Next pass out copies of sullivan ballous letter to his wife. It would become immensely popular and was the subject of workplace water cooler conversations across. Sullivan ballou march 28, 1829 july 29, 1861 was a lawyer, politician from rhode island, and an officer in the union army during the american civil war. He was 32 at the time of his death at the first battle of bull run on july 21, 1861. Letter to sarah ballou essaysin his letter to sarah ballou, major sullivan ballou uses diction, syntax, and imagery to create a tone of profound, yet deferential, love and tribute. The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days perhaps tomorrow. Sullivan and sarah ballou are buried next to each other at swan point cemetery in providence, rhode island. A handwritten copy of the original sullivan ballou letter to his wife. The last letter from major sullivan ballou, written to his wife leading up to the battle at first bull run. An excerpted version, with minor word modifications, was featured prominently at the conclusion of part one of ken burnss landmark pbs documentary the civil war and touched the. Sullivan ballou s letter is featured in our collection of civil war stories. Sullivan ballou died one week later at the first battle of bull run. Jul 15, 2012 this is a letter written by major sullivan ballou of the union armys second regiment, rhode island volunteers, to his wife sarah days before he was killed in the battle of bull run.
Ballou, a 32yearold lawyer who joined the union army shortly after war was declared. I follow our lesson on the first battle of bull run on the same day. 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. The civil war love letter of sullivan ballou new england. Dec 20, 2006 historian youngs debut tells the story of sullivan ballou, whose moving letter to his wife on the eve of the first battle of bull run was an emotional highlight of ken burnss pbs documentary about the war. Memories of the blissful moments i have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and. He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife sarah, one week. An excerpted version, with minor word modifications, was featured prominently at the conclusion of part one of ken burnss. Sullivan ballou s letter to his wife, written a week before he was killed at bull run in 1861, is one of the great eulogies of sorrow and divided duty to nation and family. Text of sullivan ballous letter the washington post. Sullivan ballou sat in his tent among 2,000 other rhode island volunteers. Some of ballous words about his family and childhood are missing from the television presentation of the letter. The version of the sullivan ballou letter heard in the civil war documentary was a shortened one. Some of ballou s words about his family and childhood are missing from the television presentation of the letter.
By midjuly, the swirling events in the summer of 1861 had brought ballou and his unit to a camp of instruction in the nations capital. Ironically, sullivan ballous letter was never mailed. Sullivan ballou letter few letters from the civil war are more famous than that of major sullivan ballou left of the 2nd rhode island volunteers to his wife sarah. At age 34, ballou seemed destined for a distinguished political career. Ballou was elected as clerk of the rhode island house of representatives and was married the following year to sarah hart shumway on october 15, 1855. It was written on the eve of bull run and ballou would soon be dead. Dear sarah, the indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow. Sullivan ballou to his wife sarah nee shumway at home in rhode island.
William forbes belcher and sullivan ballou indiana historical society. Ballou wrote the letter on july 14, 1861 while awaiting orders that would take him down to manassas, virginia where he was killed on july 28. My very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou. It would become immensely popular and was the subject of workplace water cooler conversations across the nation during its initial airing that fall. My very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou, civil war, 1861. Born march 28, 1829, in smithfield, rhode island, ballou was educated at phillips academy in andover. In response to sullivan ballou s letter to his wife on july 14th, 1861 from washington d. John kander a letter from sullivan ballou sheet music in. Letter from captain sullivan ballou to his wife sarah. American civil war letter in 1861, a union officer named sullivan ballou, assigned to the grand army of the potomac, wrote home to his wife in smithfield, rhode island. This is a beautiful reading of the sullivan ballou letter, since made famous by the program itself. Love of country is not unique to americans, but in a democracy, sending citizens to war requires far more. Civil war letters lesson sullivan ballou letter pbs.
A civil war soldiers letter to his wife townsend press. Page f01 in what is now the national arboretum, 140 years ago this week, maj. Point out that the letter is longer than the audio clip. Several versions of the sullivan ballou letter, with small variations, seem to exist. He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife two weeks before he was killed in the first battle of bull run. John kander a letter from sullivan ballou sheet music in c. Read an interview with rob grandchamp who argues that. The marriage flourished and saw the birth of their first child, edgar, followed by a second son, william. The students have heard a powerful letter read against difficult photographs of war, and with the beautiful ashokan farewell playing in the background the final words spoken are, sullivan ballou was killed a week later at the first battle of bull run, leaving the kids surprised, shocked, even upset as they sit in silence. Reading letters from the civil war now show the very last segment of the video, honorable manhood from 2. She later moved to new jersey to live out her life with her son, william, and never remarried. His regiment, the 2nd rhode island infantry, was about to go into battle. Sheet music arranged for singer pro, and pianovocal in c major transposable.
The sullivan ballou letter a week before the battle of bull run, sullivan ballou, a major in the 2nd rhode island volunteers, wrote home to his wife in smithfield. Sullivan ballou letter audio from npr 20th maine volunteers. Jul 21, 2010 today i found out about sullivan ballous letter to his wife written just a few days before the first major land battle of the american civil war, the first battle of bull run, fought this day july 21 in 1861 in manassas, virginia. One of our own union officers showed his loyalty and love to his country and our cause in the war. It is a quest that is quite well hidden away, under the thandol span bridge, between arathi highlands and the wetlands. Sep 03, 2017 sullivan ballou s letter to his wife sarah has become one of the most famous letters home of the civil war. The following is a letter of farewell written by sullivan ballou, a union officer during the civil war, to his wife sarah. The following is a letter of farewell written by sullivan.
Perhaps they were left off the reading of the letter on the tv special. Sullivan ballou letter us civil war by stevens social. Sullivan ballous letter to his wife sarah has become one of the most famous letters home of the civil war. The letter has since become a popular reading for a variety of occasions, from weddings to funeralsand, most recently the 2017 presidential inauguration. Ballou wrote a letter to his wife just before the first battle of bull run. Jul 20, 2011 several versions of the sullivan ballou letter, with small variations, seem to exist. Licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of new rounder. He is best remembered for the eloquent letter he wrote to his wife a week before he fought and was mortally wounded alongside his rhode island volunteers in the first battle of bull run. This is a letter written by major sullivan ballou of the. Introduction to sullivan ballous letter about the usa. Sullivan ballou was killed a week later at the first battle of bull run, july 21, 1861.
Emma and halie danielson add fiddle and mandolin in the instrumental section. This tune was created based on a letter, the sullivan ballou letter from a civil war soldier to his wife sarah and the lovely melody of the ashokan farewell by jay ungar. The sullivan ballou letter as it was read on the pbs series the civil war by ken burns series a week before the battle of bull run sullivan ballou, a major in the 2nd rhode island volunteers, wrote home to his wife in smithfield. With the movement of the federal forces into virginia imminent, sullivan ballou penned this letter to his wife. Sullivan ballou letter and background the following is a letter written by maj. Sullivan ballou born march 28, 1829 died july 28, 1861 sullivan was a lawyer, politician, and major in the united states army. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Subject matter of literary works sift analysis s and hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years i how gladly would i wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness f when my last breath escapes me on the battle field. Ballou immediately entered the military in 1861 after the war broke out. On july 21st 2011, the 150th anniversary of the first battle of bull run, national public radio included a segment featuring the sullivan ballou letter made famous by ken burns civil war documentary. There are several copies of this letter on the internet, but, curiously, all the others leave off the final two paragraphs.
It is one of the most celebrated letters in american history. Sullivan ballou letter and ashokan farewell youtube. But rarely do we have a more moving and selfconscious account than the one presented in this letter by major sullivan ballou 182961 of the second rhode island. The sullivan ballou letter is perhaps the most emotional and memorable letter written by a soldier in the civil war. His concern that he should fall on the battlefield proved all too true. In the summer of 1861, one week before the first major battle of the american civil war, an officer in the union army, maj. Sarah, my love for you is deathless, yet my love of country bears me irresistably to the battlefield. It communicates what the stakes in the war really were, he. Film maker ken burns believes that is because the letter was hand copied multiple times. Before joining the army, ballou was a self made lawyer and budding politician. The sullivan ballou letter 2 comments on september 23, 1990, ken burns miniseries documentary, the civil war, made its debut on pbs. Ballou died a week later, at the first battle of bull. Read by paul roebling for ken burns the civil war documentary 1990.
Now a researcher claims to have unmasked the letter as a fake. Today i found out about sullivan ballous letter to his wife written just a few days before the first major land battle of the american civil war, the first battle of bull run, fought this day july 21 in 1861 in manassas, virginia ballou was a major in the u. Sullivan ballou examples of courage in the face of mortal danger and examples of willing selfsacrifice in the service of country are the subject of story, song, and legend. In response to sullivan ballous letter to his wife on july 14th, 1861 from washington d. Sullivan ballou of the rhode island volunteers, wrote home to his wife sarah as she awaited his safe return. He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife sarah, one week before he was killed in the first battle of bull run. Funding for the 25th anniversary presentation of the civil war was provided by bank of america, the corporation. Bank of america corporation for public broadcasting. 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.
Sullivan ballous letter is featured in our collection of civil war stories. Ballou, 32, was a lawyer and father of two small boys. Ballous letter the battle of bull run marked the start of some of the fiercest early fighting of the civil war. The sullivan ballou letter as it was read on the pbs series the civil war by ken burns series a week before the battle of bull run sullivan ballou, a major in the 2nd. Zbailey special to the washington post sunday, july 8, 2001. Ballou died a week later, at the first battle of bull run.
1282 1131 663 261 227 426 199 1263 198 187 92 136 47 727 660 1384 560 1131 846 1581 19 784 694 1081 189 541 1269 73 871 735 923 238 371 147 787 398 351 455 1382 1043 386