A love letter from a Civil War soldier still rings true on Memorial Day

He was a major in the Union Army about to enter the first great battle of the Civil War.

Sullivan Ballou settled into his tent in one of the loveliest spots on Earth – site of today's National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. – and wrote a letter to his wife and generations to come.

When he finished, this 32-year-old officer, lawyer and former speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives placed the letter in a trunk with other belongings and trooped off to Bull Run. In battle, he was struck by cannonball and died a week later from his wounds. 

In 1990, his missive became America's most famous love letter when Ken Burns featured it in his landmark PBS documentary "The Civil War."

Sarah Ballou's original copy of the letter is not to be found. Burns told the Washington Post, "I think that Sarah showed it to some friends who copied it, but the original is still with Sarah. Wouldn't you take a letter like that to the grave with you?"

On this Memorial Day, we share it once again with our readers.

July 14, 1861

Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days – perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be 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 strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings 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 could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field. 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 for 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 grown up to honorable manhood, around us.

I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me – perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that 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 battle field, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness ...

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 gladdest days and in the darkest nights ... always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as 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 thee, for we shall meet again.

Phil Boas is editorial page editor of The Arizona Republic. He can be reached at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8292.