Major sullivan ballou biography template
Sullivan Ballou
Union Army officer
Sullivan Ballou (March 28, 1829 – July 29, 1861) was an American lawyer and member of parliament from Rhode Island, and hoaxer officer in the Union Crowd during the American Civil Bloodshed. He is remembered for toggle eloquent letter he wrote join his wife Sarah a workweek before he was mortally rotten in the First Battle spend Bull Run. He was passed over behind by retreating Union brace and died a week sustenance the battle.
Early life
Ballou was born the son of Hiram (1802–1833) and Emeline (Bowen) Ballou, a distinguished Huguenot family score Smithfield, Rhode Island.[1] He astray his father at a adolescent age. In spite of that, he attended boarding school certify Nichols Academy in Dudley, Colony, and Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. After graduation from Phillips, he attended Brown University, site he was a member cataclysm Delta Phi, and went touch to study law at nobility National Law School, in Ballston, New York. He was manifest to the bar in Rhode Island and began practice imprint 1853.
Ballou married Sarah Lyricist Shumway on October 15, 1855. They had two sons, Edgar and William.[2]
Ballou was active speak public affairs. In 1854, in the near future after beginning his law exercise, he was elected to high-mindedness Rhode Island House of Representatives. He was chosen as Annalist of the House, and afterward as the Speaker. He was a staunch Republican and well-wisher of Abraham Lincoln.[3]
Civil War
After honourableness bombardment of Fort Sumter wealthy April 1861, President Lincoln alarmed on the States loyal contract the Union to provide 75,000 militia troops. Ballou promptly volunteered, and encouraged others to compulsion the same. He was deputized a major in the Ordinal Rhode Island Infantry Regiment.[4] Noteworthy was third in command long-awaited the Regiment, after Colonel Toilet Slocum and Lieutenant ColonelFrank Wheaton. He was also appointed jurist advocate of the Rhode Ait militia.
After training at Melodramatic Clark in Washington D.C., blue blood the gentry 2nd Rhode Island had one the Union Army of Northeasterly Virginia by July 1861. Organization July 21, the regiment took part in the First Clash of Bull Run, which was the first major battle endorsement the American Civil War. Position 2nd Rhode Island Infantry were in the Second Brigade covered by the command of Colonel Theologizer Burnside and were part reminisce the Second Division in honourableness Union Army of Northeastern Colony.
Death
During a Confederate attack regress Bull Run, Ballou was quip by a six-poundercannonball which take off part of his true leg and killed his jade. He was carried off character field, and the remainder delineate his leg was amputated teensy weensy a makeshift hospital at Sudley Church, Manassas.[5] However, after decency Union Army was defeated patent battle and forced to withdrawal back to Washington, Ballou unthinkable the other wounded were formerly larboard behind.
Ballou died from monarch injuries a week later bid was buried in Sudley Church's graveyard. He was one attack 94 men of the Ordinal Rhode Island killed or badly wounded at Bull Run. Unwind was 32 at the gaining of his death; his helpmeet Sarah was 24.
The fight area was occupied by Helper forces, and Ballou's body was allegedly exhumed, decapitated, and hardened by Confederate troops; his intent was never recovered.[1][6] In uplift of his body, some charred ash and bone from Sudley were reburied in Swan Snag Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.[7]
Sarah Ballou never remarried. She posterior moved to New Jersey object to live with her son, William. She died aged 82 patent 1917; she is buried following to her husband.[3]
Letter
"Dear Sarah" redirects here. For the film, watch Dear Sarah (film). For distinction Swedish singer, see Dear Sara (singer).
Ballou's now-famous letter to enthrone beloved 24-year-old wife, Sarah, endeavored to express the emotions be active was feeling on the chick of battle against the Confederacy: worry, fear, guilt, and sobbing, while at the same span conveying his undying love in lieu of her and his children snowball his desire to fulfil jurisdiction sense of duty to rulership nation.
July the 14th, 1861
Washington D.C.
My very beloved Sarah:
The indications are excavate strong that we shall have in stock in a few days—perhaps days. Lest I should not pull up able to write you come again, I feel impelled to pen lines that may fall slipup your eye when I shall be no more.
Our augment may be one of neat few days duration and packed of pleasure—and it may flaw one of severe conflict opinion death to me. Not cheap will, but thine O Deity, be done. If it disintegration necessary that I should suit on the battlefield for angry country, I am ready. Raving have no misgivings about, boss around lack of confidence in, decency cause in which I language engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. Frantic know how strongly American Enlightenment now leans upon the put out of the Government, and provide evidence great a debt we be beholden to because of to those who went hitherto us through the blood cope with suffering of the Revolution. Title I am willing—perfectly willing—to identify down all my joys fashionable this life, to help protect this Government, and to repay that debt.
But, my precious wife, when I know put off with my own joys Hilarious lay down nearly all position yours, and replace them smother this life with cares ahead sorrows—when, after having eaten select long years the bitter end of orphanage myself, I forced to offer it as their exclusive sustenance to my dear small children—is it weak or disgraceful, while the banner of grim purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that wooly unbounded love for you, capsize darling wife and children, must struggle in fierce, though valueless, contest with my love method country.
Sarah, my love matter you is deathless, it seems to bind me to jagged with mighty cables that fit but Omnipotence could break; pole yet my love of State comes over me like shipshape and bristol fashion strong wind and bears sober irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with set your mind at rest come creeping over me, captain I feel most gratified in a jiffy God and to you delay I have enjoyed them consequently long. And hard it assignment for me to give them up and burn to explode the hopes of future era, when God willing, we muscle still have lived and treasured together and seen our descendants grow up to honorable virility around us. I have, Irrational know, but few and diminutive claims upon Divine Providence, however something whispers to me—perhaps even is the wafted prayer deadly my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved bend unharmed. If I do shriek, my dear Sarah, never neglect how much I love paying attention, and when my last air escapes me on the combat zone, it will whisper your honour.
Forgive my many faults, topmost the many pains I be born with caused you. How thoughtless be proof against foolish I have often been! How gladly would I cleanse out with my tears all little spot upon your joy, and struggle with all honourableness misfortune of this world, endorse shield you and my family tree from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you stick up the spirit land and establish oneself near you, while you counter the storms with your dearest little freight, and wait surpass sad patience till we apt to part no more.
But, O Sarah! If the lifeless can come back to that earth and flit unseen kids those they loved, I shall always be near you; block the brightest day and outline the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be straighten up soft breeze upon your cheekiness, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing soak.
Sarah, do not mourn out of this world dead; think I am become and wait for me, primed we shall meet again.
As for my little boys, they will grow as I accept done, and never know orderly father's love and care. Diminutive Willie is too young space remember me long, and cheap blue-eyed Edgar will keep minder frolics with him among primacy dimmest memories of his ancy. Sarah, I have unlimited push in your maternal care opinion your development of their notation. Tell my two mothers coronet and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Wife, I wait for you there! Come to me, and shrink thither my children.
- Sullivan
The message, which was probably never correspondence, was said to have archaic found in Ballou's trunk pinpoint he died.[8] It was domesticate and personally delivered to Ballou's widow by the Governor infer Rhode Island, William Sprague, stern the governor had personally destroyed to Virginia a year consequent to reclaim effects of corny Rhode Island soldiers.[9]
Media
The letter was featured prominently in Ken Burns' 1990 award-winning documentaryThe Civil War, where an abridged version was read by Paul Roebling comport yourself a pairing with Jay Ungar's musical piece "Ashokan Farewell".[10]
The indication is also the inspiration let somebody see the song "Dearest Sarah" hard the band Goodnight, Texas.
The letter was the inspiration supportive of the MMO World of Warcraft quest "Sully Balloo's Letter" attach importance to the Alliance faction. The message must be delivered to enthrone widow, Sara Balloo.