For those that regret we lack eloquence like Sullivan Ballou's today, bear in mind that this letter is notable because it was so beautiful. It's not common--and perhaps it shouldn't be, or else we wouldn't get swept away in the beauty of it nearly so deeply or thoroughly.
I sent this pale echo of a man's last words to his his perfect Sarah in attempts to reflect a love smoothing also from my heart. I have no great war, no honorable cause for which to lay down my life. Still, I am without you. France has claimed, for now, the light of your presence. Your brilliance has driven you to places I am not able to follow. I wish only for your happiness, Genevieve. I hope this message finds you and that it finds you well...
This is such a powerful letter. It moves me every time I hear its poetic words and vibrant meaning behind its words. I wish people wrote like this today.
The placement at the very end of the part one really adds a certain significance to the letter. It brought the first sense of realness and the cost of war.
It is sad that after the Civil War there were thousands of pictures... many of them used in greenhouses to reduce the sun, because people no longer wanted to see the horrors of the war. The pictures faded, slowly into obscertiy and memory. Slowly those memories vanished into pages in history books, but words can never give something as grave as war justice.
This is definitely the most beautiful love letter, I have ever read. I heard this a long time ago and had to find it. Thank you for posting this on here. You can't find that kind of writing anymore. It's so touching, so heartfelt. Writing nowadays, doesn't seem to mean anything anymore like it use to. What a wonderful man, to have written this to his wife, she was one lucky woman.
@3sophdog It's sad that the human species and all life on earth will die when earth turn into venus because we can't quit burning up all our fossil fuels. sorry i'm obsessed over climate change.
wow, i can't believe a signle loveless person from the south was mad enough to dislike this video......THIS IS SIMPLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE LETTER EVER WRITTEN
Good luck finding a man of his caliber, with his love of God, family and country, in DEED, not in words only. How easy it would be for any of us to stay in the background of a battle to ensure our return home, but this man could do no such thing. His love of country was as strong as his love of family. Two sides of the same coin, to him... And his confidence in his Heavenly Father laid his anxiety aside when it came to leaving his wife and sons. He KNEW he would see them again! Extraordinary!
This has special meaning to me. My closest friend sent this to me months ago when he was reading about the Civil War. It moved him greatly. Weeks later he became ill. We again discussed this letter a week before he passed away -he said it took on a new meaning now. I know we will meet again.
"Do not mourn me dead, think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again." -Sullivan Ballou, possibly the best piece written in American history. It's a shame that great men like this had to die, I'd like like to see people these days write like that.
@blackyukon2001 You should read what happened to him. His leg was blown off by a cannon and he died days later. His body was dug up, his head was cut off, and he was never recovered. So the Confederates got their revenge on him
This made my cry and it's just so damn beautiful! I LOVE America. I'd serve in a heartbeat but I have a slew of physical problems. I'm from RI as well. I feel so proud to live where he lives. OOHRAH! Lest we forget ANYBODY who gave their lives for our FREEDOM
@sisbe come on of couse she did, today bullshit is out of hand u didn't have stupid shit like what we have now, no tv no radio no computer no phone except for the telegraph, and flag messaging thats all
Actually this letter wasn't mailed to his wife. It was found in his possessions after he was killed. But I digress.
This is possibly the most moving letter I have ever read. The passion and emotion he feels for his wife, their life together and his love of country are expressed so eloquently, yet simply that we are left to wonder that, if we feel that passionately about anything could we express it as well.
This man had a presentiment he would die: that letter was his last communication to his wife. He was a literate guy, who loved her dearly. What a way to say it.
He writes with the eloquence of Lincoln.
existential 2 months ago
For those that regret we lack eloquence like Sullivan Ballou's today, bear in mind that this letter is notable because it was so beautiful. It's not common--and perhaps it shouldn't be, or else we wouldn't get swept away in the beauty of it nearly so deeply or thoroughly.
FlutterbyLullaby 2 months ago
My Genevieve,
I sent this pale echo of a man's last words to his his perfect Sarah in attempts to reflect a love smoothing also from my heart. I have no great war, no honorable cause for which to lay down my life. Still, I am without you. France has claimed, for now, the light of your presence. Your brilliance has driven you to places I am not able to follow. I wish only for your happiness, Genevieve. I hope this message finds you and that it finds you well...
Humbly yours,
-Patrick
PatrickRob82 5 months ago
This is such a powerful letter. It moves me every time I hear its poetic words and vibrant meaning behind its words. I wish people wrote like this today.
gobluebuckeye 5 months ago
Excuse me for a minute, I have something in my eye.
lbz900 6 months ago
what is the name of the melody in the background?
Bankzta901 6 months ago
@Bankzta901 ashokan farewell
gobluebuckeye 5 months ago
He was laying it on pretty thick !! He probably had some southern belle's heels pinned behind her ears :)
cherirambler 6 months ago
Wow They Wrote Amazingly back then!!!!!
skaterforchrist75 7 months ago
The placement at the very end of the part one really adds a certain significance to the letter. It brought the first sense of realness and the cost of war.
bertmustin 8 months ago
It is sad that after the Civil War there were thousands of pictures... many of them used in greenhouses to reduce the sun, because people no longer wanted to see the horrors of the war. The pictures faded, slowly into obscertiy and memory. Slowly those memories vanished into pages in history books, but words can never give something as grave as war justice.
BatGoose 8 months ago
agreed, i even felt the sorrow of what his wife may have felt to received this letter and hear he had die. :(
acecobra2012 11 months ago
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5050zulu1 1 year ago
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5050zulu1 1 year ago
This is definitely the most beautiful love letter, I have ever read. I heard this a long time ago and had to find it. Thank you for posting this on here. You can't find that kind of writing anymore. It's so touching, so heartfelt. Writing nowadays, doesn't seem to mean anything anymore like it use to. What a wonderful man, to have written this to his wife, she was one lucky woman.
Lilbeauty91 1 year ago
I hate war. its so sad. loads of people die.
3sophdog 1 year ago 2
@3sophdog It's sad that the human species and all life on earth will die when earth turn into venus because we can't quit burning up all our fossil fuels. sorry i'm obsessed over climate change.
jffryh 1 year ago
im a Confederate reenactor, but that is one patriotic yankee man who has beautiful gifts of writing
comradeshow 1 year ago
wow, i can't believe a signle loveless person from the south was mad enough to dislike this video......THIS IS SIMPLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE LETTER EVER WRITTEN
145bobby 1 year ago 3
Your name....not you ..... sheeeezzzzz
irish89055 1 year ago
That is one of the most romantic letters ever. Man I bet his wife sobbed when she read it. It almost made me cry at how beautiful it was.
Broadwaygirl01 1 year ago
i guess the original clip unedited is unavailable..
irish89055 1 year ago
i dont wut a love letter
BOSSKING305 1 year ago
Good luck finding a man of his caliber, with his love of God, family and country, in DEED, not in words only. How easy it would be for any of us to stay in the background of a battle to ensure our return home, but this man could do no such thing. His love of country was as strong as his love of family. Two sides of the same coin, to him... And his confidence in his Heavenly Father laid his anxiety aside when it came to leaving his wife and sons. He KNEW he would see them again! Extraordinary!
datsyhoehoe 1 year ago
This has special meaning to me. My closest friend sent this to me months ago when he was reading about the Civil War. It moved him greatly. Weeks later he became ill. We again discussed this letter a week before he passed away -he said it took on a new meaning now. I know we will meet again.
lpride1 1 year ago 3
"Do not mourn me dead, think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again." -Sullivan Ballou, possibly the best piece written in American history. It's a shame that great men like this had to die, I'd like like to see people these days write like that.
lagnese4ever 1 year ago
this is classic ken burns
SuperPatch88 1 year ago
What a pity that a man being could show such love in a letter then bring him self to kill his fellow man : (
blackyukon2001 1 year ago
@blackyukon2001 You should read what happened to him. His leg was blown off by a cannon and he died days later. His body was dug up, his head was cut off, and he was never recovered. So the Confederates got their revenge on him
thriftyscotswoman 1 year ago
@blackyukon2001 Oh, shut up. Did you want him to go to WAR with a limp tulip to slap everyone around with? Get in the real world....
datsyhoehoe 1 year ago
just amazing ...have no words for that love letter, thank you for sharing it w us
darkskytm 1 year ago
This made my cry and it's just so damn beautiful! I LOVE America. I'd serve in a heartbeat but I have a slew of physical problems. I'm from RI as well. I feel so proud to live where he lives. OOHRAH! Lest we forget ANYBODY who gave their lives for our FREEDOM
alterbridgefan99 1 year ago
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gjpm101 1 year ago
@gjpm101
I just saved it to my favorites as well
alterbridgefan99 1 year ago
Comment removed
gjpm101 1 year ago
i couldnt write anything nearly this good. but then again, i have a degree in mathematics so i guess it evens out.
white12rhino 1 year ago
I cried when I heard this, and I'm only 13.
mappoprimo 1 year ago 2
@mappoprimo Im 14, and I teared up too.
xEmostudmuffin 1 year ago
i wonder if she cared for him the same way...
sisbe 1 year ago
@sisbe come on of couse she did, today bullshit is out of hand u didn't have stupid shit like what we have now, no tv no radio no computer no phone except for the telegraph, and flag messaging thats all
hooah002 1 year ago
WOW
henrynash 2 years ago
They sure knew how to write back then. This is a lost art - ridiculed in our time.
manco82 2 years ago 37
@manco82 We've lost the abiilty to spell, let alone communicate like this.
Paradoxical: we've the internet, cellphone, AIM and texting, but most of us
are less educated than the man who wrote this letter IMO. Absolutely heartfelt too.
bookkeeper57 1 year ago
@bookkeeper57 We have more technology, but less class. I see it every day around me. People don't even try to speak with decent grammar anymore.
manco82 1 year ago
@manco82 We might no longer speak this way, but we think it, through emotions.
BatGoose 8 months ago
Yes, the music has a powerful effect....
paulcarrola 2 years ago
The music pulls this so close to the heart...
SuzzyStohelit 2 years ago
Incredible writing talent!!! Only to be lost in the time.
fuhmeregan 2 years ago
Actually this letter wasn't mailed to his wife. It was found in his possessions after he was killed. But I digress.
This is possibly the most moving letter I have ever read. The passion and emotion he feels for his wife, their life together and his love of country are expressed so eloquently, yet simply that we are left to wonder that, if we feel that passionately about anything could we express it as well.
I think not.
2658flyfish 2 years ago 3
We are so highly educated in this time, but good luck finding someone who can write a letter like that.....
MegaAspen 2 years ago 29
This is like the song Bobby and June from A Mighty Wind!
carahpants 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Google Jeff Fisher Politico
Whoa!!!!!
Now its 30 America Cities and ten nations outside of the USA
Moscow Berlin Belfast Rome London Athens Lisbon Mexico City Toronto plus one more.
Nobody messes with Jeff Bootstraps Fisher and Tom Heneghan.
I am the man who puts George W Bush and Richard B (Dick) Cheney in prison for Crimes against Humanity to begin with.
LoveAmericaStyle 2 years ago
This man had a presentiment he would die: that letter was his last communication to his wife. He was a literate guy, who loved her dearly. What a way to say it.
bookkeeper57 2 years ago
Sigh...I wish I could find a man to love me like that...
Elly3981 2 years ago 2
good luck with that hun.....sorry...
wilatemodel 2 years ago
i loved how they used to write back then, they had no stupid abbreviation and cyber talk bullshit
CorvZr1 2 years ago 4
oh man thats sad i did't cry when i had 2 surgerys on my elbow but that made me cry how sad
soccer12bug 3 years ago
Love like this is hard to find
UCFCamaroSS 3 years ago
Oh, dammit. This thing should have a 'tearjerker' warning on it.
I should have remembered that this documentary made me cry like a little girl...
wastedfrustration 3 years ago 3