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Author | Topic: Belated 4th of July | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Percy Member Posts: 22499 From: New Hampshire Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
I intended to post this on July 4th, but I didn't check my reminders while on vacation, so here's my belated 4th of July post. I found this somewhere on the Internet a few months ago, it's famous of course, but I thought it was appropriate for the day.
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. July 14,1861 Camp Clark, Washington DC Dear Sarah: The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under 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 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. 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 have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown 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 battle field, it will whisper your name... Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!... But, 0 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 in 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 am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again... Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run. --Percy
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Tal Member (Idle past 5704 days) Posts: 1140 From: Fort Bragg, NC Joined: |
I helped scare an old person-I stopped someone from keeping more of their money-So what if people want to have say in the places they live and the cars that they drive-I gave money to an environmental group that helped keep us dependant on foreign oil-I help the enemies of democracy get stronger by telling them laws don’t matter-What if one day I need an abortion-Sex with an intern, everybody does it-I help teach kids around America that America is always wrong Do you know what your DNC stands for?
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Chiroptera Inactive Member |
Hi, Percy. I hope you had a nice holiday.
I suspect that I am reading this letter in a way that was not intended. As I have indicated in another thread before, I have respect for those who will make great sacrifices for what they believe in. But when I read this letter I mainly see yet another individual who died tragically in an unnecessary war.
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Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Happy 4th of July 2016!
That 2005 letter reminded me of a truth: While the quantity of communication has increased exponentially in the past century, the quality of communication has suffered greatly. How many people even write letters that eloquent any more? Not only that---how many text messages or e-mails even come close?Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith
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Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Happy Fourth 2018! And that letter serves as a timeless reminder of why we hear fireworks each and every year! Now more than ever in the Age Of Trump we need to remember our liberty and why we (should) fight...not to dominate world events, but to protect our own internal union.
Sullivan Ballou Edited by Phat, : No reason given.Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith |
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jar Member (Idle past 421 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
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Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
July the 14th, 1861 Washington D.C. My very dear Sarah: The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few daysperhaps 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 pleasureand 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 willingperfectly willingto 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 sorrowswhen, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little childrenis 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. 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 meperhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgarthat 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 often 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 brightest day and in the darkest nightamidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hoursalways, 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 me, 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 Additional research apart from wikipedia..(which I don't fully trust, anyway)
Manassas National Battlefield Park Edited by Phat, : added informaationChance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith
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Phat Member Posts: 18338 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Confirmed! That is Fort McHenry. One must be careful doing research via google...and I dont trust Wikipedia fully. Also, in reading about Sullivan Ballou, I noticed that he was an educated man...at least according to Wikipedia.
quote:How many of todays lawyers and politicians would volunteer for the Army? Edited by Phat, : additional research wikipedia style Edited by Phat, : No reason given.Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith
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jar Member (Idle past 421 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined:
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But the basic idea is to get the periods right.
The 4th of July celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, 4 July, 1776. The Star Spangled Banner celebrates the defense of Baltimore during the US War of 1812. The letter relates to the US Civil War that lasted from 1861 through 1865. There is almost a century of US history there.
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ringo Member (Idle past 439 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes:
The Army is the last line of defense - after the lawyers and politicians have already made a mess of guarding our freedoms. How many of todays lawyers and politicians would volunteer for the Army?And our geese will blot out the sun.
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dwise1 Member Posts: 5951 Joined: Member Rating: 5.1 |
How many of todays lawyers and politicians would volunteer for the Army? Depends on what it has to offer. Admittedly, more of my experience and knowledge is on the medical side and less on the JAG side. Every profession has its own professional progression. The medical profession has a long term of internship during which the new physicians just barely survive financially the first years of their profession. So why not parlay your medical degree into a military commission and turn your internship into a financial coup? Do JAG types have a similar career path? I simply do not know.
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