Every man in America needs to read this letter. Too many modern American men don't have 1/10th of the character exhibited by Sullivan Ballou in this letter. Within a few paragraphs he completely conveys his love not only for Sarah but also to the duty and purpose of his involvement in the war. He clearly believed in something greater than himself. Too many men these days are so stupidly selfish that they cant even conceive of anything greater than themselves and refuse to put anything on the line. I hope that someday we men are able to strive again and remember that "we do not pray for easy lives, gentlemen..... we pray to be stronger men."
I’m a big, hairy, smelly, beer drinking man, stuck in my ways, barbecues and ball games, working class hero, but this letter reduces me to a blubbering wreck whenever I hear it.
How people back then could put so much beauty into words while during a long period of horror and violence simply amazes me. What life must have been like back then.
Fast forward to so called "modern times" .......most can't even put a complete sentence together . This kind of depth and elegance is certainly out of the question. Beautiful, thanks for posting.
The thing is, this is before all the horror started, and everyone north and south still kind of had a romanticized idealistic view of war true terror hadn’t played out yet
This is absolutely an immensely special letter, and recording. Thank you so much for visiting it in your time of need. I hope that healing has begun, and I thank you for having the bravery to share this comment with us. We are here for you.
To hear a man's words in a letter is to know his thoughts. To hear them over a century later brings that man to life. Not even 50 years from now, I will have been completely forgotten and probably no one will ever know I had even existed.
I guess I have to disagree, although some days I feel like that too. I think in some respects we all have the chance to be remembered. We just have to have the courage to rise above our circumstances and fears. Sullivan gave up the greatest gifts he had, his own life, and his future with his beloved wife for a selfless cause.... so a generation of human beings had the chance to know what it was like to live without the fear of the whip or shackle, and he gave the full measure of devotion to his country not just for the enslaved people of the era, but the generations to come to know one, free country, open to people of all colors to exist in, and reap the bounties of. He gave everything he held dear, for people he would never know. If you find that his words bring him to life, what would he say to you when you say nobody will know you existed? I think many soldiers of all wars fight because they want to preserve not just a country but what freedom represents, which is the ability to make oneself into anything so long as they are willing to fight for it. While some have it harder than others, there is no denying that. Most people have a chance to be remembered because this country, remains the land of opportunity and freedom and thats why this generation laid down their lives. They were fighting for the identity of the country. If you want to be rememered you have the chance. I say to myself it would be a shame not to try to take that
I did a Battlefield Tour to Bull Run and our guide read this letter at my request. He surmised that Sullivan Ballou was killed just a few hundred yards from where we were standing. I would have loved to have read the letter to our group myself, but I didn't get the opportunity. In fairness the guide did a good job!
Thanks friend, that was very moving. When I think of what these men sacrificed for our Republic and compare it to today's dregs of society it makes me grieve for our future.
How far we have fallen in eloquence of speech and manners and honor and marriage. Today's society with more information/education/technology/comforts....... we seem to be more barbaric and animalistic in our behavior of violence/vulgarity and ungratefulness. What has happened ???
There is no less love, longing, regret or feeling in a soldier today writing to their loved ones back home, only the way they express it in the written form has lost much of it's potency. Nevertheless, the heart behind the words does and will always remain.
@@errickflesch5565 As an overall, general society, Mr. Flesch, we've proverbially taken 1 step forward and 3 steps back. We're not in progression, but regression, sir.
Yeah... in no way is what you just said true.... we live in a FAR more peaceful time where human rights protect millions that even a hundred years ago would have suffered much more. Sure, his words are beautiful and it would be rare today for someone to write a letter with such eloquence but in no way does that mean we live in a worse or crueler or more violent world.... there were millions of people enslaved back then... I mean, come on
Paul Robeling is the narrator of the letter . Just a note : his own wife was terminal from cancer, when he preformed the narration. He took his own life after her passing.
I heard this letter years ago from Ken Burns incredible documentary. Even to this day it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. The words in this letter are literally life-changing. What an amazing life changing opportunity to hear his words
Sullivan Ballou's letter is so beautifully written, and inspired an equally beautiful ballad called ''Sarah'' in ''The Civil War,'' a 1999 Broadway musical by Jack Murphy and Frank Wildhorn. If you've never heard it, listen to the glorious version sung by Broadway star Jeremy Jordan on CZcams.
When a person.. only when a person knows that today may be their last with their loved ones..then all the love, all the emotions come forth from the heart.. all the beautiful moments and memories together are then filling up their minds.. and the words then are shared.. cause knowing u made sure to speak them..made sure they knew.. what ur heart held for them.. what ur love meant to them..then in a letter the words and tears fall upon paper for u to cherish till ur dying day in memorize of their passion and love..
The choice of words...the bautiful way they expressed themselves...compared to nowadays with the word"like,like, like,like,like,like,like in nearly every "sentence...
While serving in the Republic of Vietnam, I never wrote home about the horrors or my bad experiences. I didn't want my family to get emotionally distraught. We were told to burn our letters we got from home least they should ever fall into the enemies hands. I spent a fortnight in a Vietnam field hospital. The low down cowardly federal government never notified my family. P.S. With what I've experienced, I'd served in the Rebel army. I was a slave anyway! Eaglegards...
Sir, thank you for your service. Even if it was for the south Vietnamese to have any kind of chance at remaining a “a free republic”.... I’m sorry our government screwed you over, & for the way people treated you guys coming home... My most best friend in this hole world & my uncle.. my uncle John, had served 2 tours in the Republic of south Vietnam as a Marine. He was 6757 “air support operations radio operator”, basically just a 0311 infantry rifleman with a radio. (I’m sure you already knew that) with the 1st Marine Division.. he openly talked about Vietnam and was proud to have served there. But there was things that happened over there he had only ever told me about... I guess we helped each other out, he gave me the knowledge of that side of life early on, and I gave him the chance to get those certain more difficult things off his chest finally... I’ll never try to pretend like I went through what you two did in Vietnam. Because I wasn’t there. But I just wanted to explain that I do have a big understanding of how/what/and why because of him. He gave me the hole story, everything from start to end. Volunteering to the central highlands, to fighting in Hue city/the TET offensive, to the day he left Vietnam for the last and final time when Nixon called his division home to the US..... the good, the bad, and the horrible he told me everything like he was reading his life story out of a book.. and I truly appreciate you and the service you did for this country, the Republic of South Vietnam, the Vietnamese people and everyone else. I could never fully Express my gratitude for you. Thank you so much, and welcome home! in case you haven’t been already...
@@tonybastunas6350 You're welcome. Our government even mandated me into a medical experiments. These experiments were never put into my Army medical records. Our government is run by tyrants. Never again for me. I'll die first. Your relative had it right. God speed. Eaglegards...
@@fastsetinthewest I believe that 100%. I love this country, but I can’t stand this government. My dads family fought and died fighting for the confederacy. One is buried in Jefferson barracks cemetery in St. Louis, with the other 400 confederate prisoners of war who died while in captivity and got buried there. They did it, And I’ll damn sure do it again today.
Very cool Shawn! I can imagine that feeling. I get goosebumps just listening to the letter over my speakers, but actually playing it, that would be emotional!
And WE, as in our government, are throwing away, and spitting in the faces of ALL of these great common men who sacrificed it all on some battlefield of all the wars in the past, right now.
Another gem, HB. Combining the narration from Ken Burns' classic series with different, well-selected mages was an inspired choice.
Thank you Michael Harding! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! I work very hard to get the best images and paintings!
Sarah didn’t receive this letter till after the war. No doubt it brought tears to her eyes.
Is this correct? How amazing.
Every man in America needs to read this letter. Too many modern American men don't have 1/10th of the character exhibited by Sullivan Ballou in this letter. Within a few paragraphs he completely conveys his love not only for Sarah but also to the duty and purpose of his involvement in the war. He clearly believed in something greater than himself. Too many men these days are so stupidly selfish that they cant even conceive of anything greater than themselves and refuse to put anything on the line. I hope that someday we men are able to strive again and remember that "we do not pray for easy lives, gentlemen..... we pray to be stronger men."
And I'm willing to bet that 50% of modern American women can't hold a candle to Sarah!
because modern american wives are too busy fcking their boyfriends while theyre husbands are fighting for their country
That's a tearjerker. "My love for you is deathless" 😢 I wonder how many times she read that letter throughout her remaining lifetime?
This guy is a simp
People were far more eloquent in those days.
Haha, very true.
True, not even one "like" or 'um' or "ah' .
@@HistoryBoy Nowadays, sir, there's sadly no shortage of ppl using incorrect or mangling English grammar. Wannabe Ebonics was such an appalling joke😕
yeah well, Francis Galton tried to warn you
Now it’s “bae, yk I always fw you the longway twin, stay up gang 🤘🏽”
I’m a big, hairy, smelly, beer drinking man, stuck in my ways, barbecues and ball games, working class hero, but this letter reduces me to a blubbering wreck whenever I hear it.
Im a german proud young man wanting to protect me country, but this Breaks my heart and im just a little boy.
Very sad
Same here.
The saddest and most beautiful thing i have ever heard. Men were different back then. They were real men.
How people back then could put so much beauty into words while during a long period of horror and violence simply amazes me. What life must have been like back then.
Fast forward to so called "modern times" .......most can't even put a complete sentence together . This kind of depth and elegance is certainly out of the question.
Beautiful, thanks for posting.
The thing is, this is before all the horror started, and everyone north and south still kind of had a romanticized idealistic view of war true terror hadn’t played out yet
Poor man died the in the first battle, darn…
At least he died fighting for what he thought was right.
Indeed he did. Nice to see you once again Jack! Especially on an older video.
“Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.”
Robert E. Lee
What a beautiful letter. May both of them rest in peace. May god unite them.
Amen. All I can think to say is to this us soldier thank you for your service
Brooo
this is cringe.... he is a simp
@@Moonchilddbk thats his wife mate💀
I read this letter at my sister's funeral and will read it again at my cousins eulogy.
I cry every time I hear it.
This is absolutely an immensely special letter, and recording. Thank you so much for visiting it in your time of need. I hope that healing has begun, and I thank you for having the bravery to share this comment with us. We are here for you.
I wrote this down when I heard it years ago, keep it in my journal and read it ever so often. His words speak eloquently.
In Joy
This letter always makes me cry! What a wonderful man Sullivan Ballou must have been.
I cried when I first heard this! It still touches me.
I am so happy to hear that the video evoked some emotion for you! Thank you for sharing.
@@HistoryBoy When Ken Burns did it, it just worked.
To hear a man's words in a letter is to know his thoughts. To hear them over a century later brings that man to life. Not even 50 years from now, I will have been completely forgotten and probably no one will ever know I had even existed.
I hope you do know you may yet touch people.
I guess I have to disagree, although some days I feel like that too. I think in some respects we all have the chance to be remembered. We just have to have the courage to rise above our circumstances and fears. Sullivan gave up the greatest gifts he had, his own life, and his future with his beloved wife for a selfless cause.... so a generation of human beings had the chance to know what it was like to live without the fear of the whip or shackle, and he gave the full measure of devotion to his country not just for the enslaved people of the era, but the generations to come to know one, free country, open to people of all colors to exist in, and reap the bounties of. He gave everything he held dear, for people he would never know. If you find that his words bring him to life, what would he say to you when you say nobody will know you existed? I think many soldiers of all wars fight because they want to preserve not just a country but what freedom represents, which is the ability to make oneself into anything so long as they are willing to fight for it. While some have it harder than others, there is no denying that. Most people have a chance to be remembered because this country, remains the land of opportunity and freedom and thats why this generation laid down their lives. They were fighting for the identity of the country. If you want to be rememered you have the chance. I say to myself it would be a shame not to try to take that
@@devastator665 I just wanted to say, this is beautifully said
This eloquently wonderful letter, it too is deathless. What a beauty this was.
This letter moves me like no other. This man, Sullivan Boullou, wrote with so much passion and love I cry.
I feel ya, Mr. Birkeland👌 It's tragic he was killed during a charge at 1st Bull Run😟
I did a Battlefield Tour to Bull Run and our guide read this letter at my request. He surmised that Sullivan Ballou was killed just a few hundred yards from where we were standing. I would have loved to have read the letter to our group myself, but I didn't get the opportunity. In fairness the guide did a good job!
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing that memory! Pleased to receive your comment.
This makes me cry every time, makes me think about my father.
Thanks friend, that was very moving. When I think of what these men sacrificed for our Republic and compare it to today's dregs of society it makes me grieve for our future.
Anytime! Thank you for watching and taking time to comment! I agree with your sentiment!
These brave men are turning over in their graves if they see what has happened now.
So beautiful yet so heartbreaking
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Happy that my video created such emotion for you.
How far we have fallen in eloquence of speech and manners and honor and marriage. Today's society with more information/education/technology/comforts....... we seem to be more barbaric and animalistic in our behavior of violence/vulgarity and ungratefulness. What has happened ???
There is no less love, longing, regret or feeling in a soldier today writing to their loved ones back home, only the way they express it in the written form has lost much of it's potency. Nevertheless, the heart behind the words does and will always remain.
They were God fearing people then -
@@ryansanders5977 Absolutely agree.
@@errickflesch5565 As an overall, general society, Mr. Flesch, we've proverbially taken 1 step forward and 3 steps back. We're not in progression, but regression, sir.
Yeah... in no way is what you just said true.... we live in a FAR more peaceful time where human rights protect millions that even a hundred years ago would have suffered much more. Sure, his words are beautiful and it would be rare today for someone to write a letter with such eloquence but in no way does that mean we live in a worse or crueler or more violent world.... there were millions of people enslaved back then... I mean, come on
It's hard to imagine having to write such a letter, and then to put such poetic love into it.
Paul Robeling is the narrator of the letter . Just a note : his own wife was terminal from cancer, when he preformed the narration. He took his own life after her passing.
I had absolutely no idea… my lord. Thank you so much for this truth, which makes the letter all the more meaningful.
That is so sad.
Suicide is gay
I wish he could see what he fought for😢
Yeah, sadly we are throwing it away all over again
His love for his country was as great as his love of family
I heard this letter years ago from Ken Burns incredible documentary. Even to this day it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. The words in this letter are literally life-changing. What an amazing life changing opportunity to hear his words
masterful use of narration, visual and music that bring to life the powerful emotions of those who came before us
Thank you very much Scott!
I one day hope to speak with this man.
Sullivan Ballou's letter is so beautifully written, and inspired an equally beautiful ballad called ''Sarah'' in ''The Civil War,'' a 1999 Broadway musical by Jack Murphy and Frank Wildhorn. If you've never heard it, listen to the glorious version sung by Broadway star Jeremy Jordan on CZcams.
@@waymanwong6899 thank you so kindly for this suggestion! I have been lent the CDs and am anxious to hear it!
How beautiful he wrote!!
Indeed miss!
beautifully
Unlike those today !
Beautiful.
I am so pleased that you enjoyed it. This recording and video are immensely special to me.
When a person.. only when a person knows that today may be their last with their loved ones..then all the love, all the emotions come forth from the heart.. all the beautiful moments and memories together are then filling up their minds.. and the words then are shared.. cause knowing u made sure to speak them..made sure they knew.. what ur heart held for them.. what ur love meant to them..then in a letter the words and tears fall upon paper for u to cherish till ur dying day in memorize of their passion and love..
Beautiful. Beautiful.
A beautiful letter
So many untold stories of America’s Civil War
Absolutely. The time period is eternally fascinating.
tears every time
I learned a lot from this video. Thanks so much 😃
Of course kid Awsome! I’m glad you enjoyed it and learned a little!
The letter was a lot longer than what was said here but still very moving
That is true, it is a shortened version form Ken Burns: Civil War. Thanks for commenting!
Break my heart...for the 1202 time
****HONORABLE**** was the keyword.
Morally and spiritually that was the best of times.
Just BEAUTIFUL
The choice of words...the bautiful way they expressed themselves...compared to nowadays with the word"like,like, like,like,like,like,like in nearly every "sentence...
While serving in the Republic of Vietnam, I never wrote home about the horrors or my bad experiences. I didn't want my family to get emotionally distraught. We were told to burn our letters we got from home least they should ever fall into the enemies hands. I spent a fortnight in a Vietnam field hospital. The low down cowardly federal government never notified my family. P.S. With what I've experienced, I'd served in the Rebel army. I was a slave anyway! Eaglegards...
Sir, thank you for your service. Even if it was for the south Vietnamese to have any kind of chance at remaining a “a free republic”.... I’m sorry our government screwed you over, & for the way people treated you guys coming home... My most best friend in this hole world & my uncle.. my uncle John, had served 2 tours in the Republic of south Vietnam as a Marine. He was 6757 “air support operations radio operator”, basically just a 0311 infantry rifleman with a radio. (I’m sure you already knew that) with the 1st Marine Division.. he openly talked about Vietnam and was proud to have served there. But there was things that happened over there he had only ever told me about... I guess we helped each other out, he gave me the knowledge of that side of life early on, and I gave him the chance to get those certain more difficult things off his chest finally... I’ll never try to pretend like I went through what you two did in Vietnam. Because I wasn’t there. But I just wanted to explain that I do have a big understanding of how/what/and why because of him. He gave me the hole story, everything from start to end. Volunteering to the central highlands, to fighting in Hue city/the TET offensive, to the day he left Vietnam for the last and final time when Nixon called his division home to the US..... the good, the bad, and the horrible he told me everything like he was reading his life story out of a book.. and I truly appreciate you and the service you did for this country, the Republic of South Vietnam, the Vietnamese people and everyone else. I could never fully Express my gratitude for you. Thank you so much, and welcome home! in case you haven’t been already...
@@tonybastunas6350 You're welcome. Our government even mandated me into a medical experiments. These experiments were never put into my Army medical records. Our government is run by tyrants. Never again for me. I'll die first. Your relative had it right. God speed. Eaglegards...
@@fastsetinthewest I believe that 100%. I love this country, but I can’t stand this government. My dads family fought and died fighting for the confederacy. One is buried in Jefferson barracks cemetery in St. Louis, with the other 400 confederate prisoners of war who died while in captivity and got buried there. They did it, And I’ll damn sure do it again today.
I have some lovely civil war letters from my ancestors that before we donated them to a museum we copied them
Incredible. I would love to see them!
Very moving
Thank you the Kings Reign!
Ashokan farewell great tune. Ken Burns miniseries on the civil war great show.
I agree Shawn. Nice to hear from you again!
@@HistoryBoy I own that miniseries and I play ashokan farewell on the violin. It can put a lump in your throat you can't get down
Very cool Shawn! I can imagine that feeling. I get goosebumps just listening to the letter over my speakers, but actually playing it, that would be emotional!
Did you enjoy the visuals Shawn?
@@HistoryBoy very much so keep up the good work.
Not a dry eye in the house.
Nowadays.... Bruh I'm gonna go to war. Be easy!
Unfortunately some believe it to be so…
And WE, as in our government, are throwing away, and spitting in the faces of ALL of these great common men who sacrificed it all on some battlefield of all the wars in the past, right now.
I think that my Civil War reenactment unit is featured in this video
Truly? What is your unit?
I'm from Virginia and I live near manassas! When I hear these letters from Americans past,I think how relevant they are still....today1
Absolutely and exactly what I am trying to bring to a viewing audience. Thank you for your comment!
“People don’t talk that way anymore.”
This is true, for most people.
We are too busy laughing at stupid stuff on our cell phones to ponder any thoughts worth sharing.
Good lookin guy
Yes sir he is!
To the lost..
Where did you find this recording?
This is the famous narration of the letter wrote by Sullivan Ballou, that was featured on “Ken Burns: Civil war”
History boy would you be union or confedarate
Hello Gideon! I would be in the union army, fighting to preserve the country. You?
If you watched the video the Union propaganda was clear. How do people not pick this stuff up?
@@HistoryBoy well at least you know what they were fighting for.
Union, confederate, of what concern is it to you, Gideon? Not enough politics in your morning cereal?
Did he die in the civil war?