Print and download a letter from sullivan ballou sheet music composed by john kander. Now a researcher claims to have unmasked the letter as a fake. Sullivan ballou was killed a week later at the first battle of bull run, july 21, 1861. Sullivan ballous letter to his wife, written a week before he was killed at bull run in 1861, is one of the great eulogies of sorrow and divided duty to nation and family. Letter to his wife while he was stationed in washington, dc during the civil war. Sullivan ballou letter few letters from the civil war are more famous than that of major sullivan ballou left of the 2nd rhode island volunteers to his wife sarah. Ballou died a week later, at the first battle of bull run. Learning from sullivan ballou university of washington. The letter was penned by sullivan ballou, a major in the 2nd rhode island infantry regiment, just one week before the first battle of bull run.
Here, finally, is what he had to say in his famous letter of july 14th. For me, however, this remarkable letter has become far more than merely romantic. July 14, 1861, dear sarah, the indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow and. On july 14th, 1861, major sullivan ballou of the 2nd rhode island infantry wrote a letter to his wife expressing his concerns about upcoming. As the story notes, the full text of the letter was read at a crucial, summary, moment in the civil war. Historian youngs debut tells the story of sullivan ballou, whose moving letter to his wife on the eve of the first battle of bull run was an emotional highlight of ken burnss pbs documentary about the war. Sullivan ballou letter civil war history discussion. At age 34, ballou seemed destined for a distinguished political career. He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife sarah, two weeks before he was killed in the first battle of bull run. Within the first alphabet sullivan ballou letter worksheet, children discover ways to write the alphabet.
Sullivan and sarah ballou are buried next to each other at swan point cemetery in providence, rhode island. Today i found out about sullivan ballous letter to his wife written just a few days before the first major land battle of the american civil war, the first battle of bull run, fought this day july 21 in 1861 in manassas, virginia. Download the civil war letters lesson plan pdf overview. My very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou, civil war, 1861. Jay ungar and fiddle fever sullivan ballou letter ashokan source. Sullivan ballou examples of courage in the face of mortal danger and examples of willing selfsacrifice in the service of country are the subject of story, song, and legend. A handwritten copy of the original sullivan ballou letter to his wife.
Sullivan ballou march 28, 1829 july 29, 1861 was a lawyer and politician from rhode island, and an officer in the union army during the american civil war. His words are carefully selected and interposed to portray the depth of his feelings. Subject matter of literary works sift analysis s and hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years i how gladly would i wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness f when my last breath escapes me on the battle field. Continuing our discussion of the civil war, students and teacher will orally read the introduction to sullivan ballous letter, addressing any questions in class. Greatest sorts of writing sullivan ballou letter worksheet teachers and parents basically are the first customers of sullivan ballou letter worksheets. Sullivan ballou letter and background the following is a letter written by maj. But rarely do we have a more moving and selfconscious account than the one presented in this letter by major sullivan ballou 182961 of the second rhode island. Sheet music arranged for singer pro, and pianovocal in c major transposable. Letter from captain sullivan ballou to his wife sarah.
This tune was created based on a letter, the sullivan ballou letter from a civil war soldier to his wife sarah and the lovely melody of the ashokan farewell by jay ungar. Some of ballous words about his family and childhood are missing from the television presentation of the letter. By midjuly, the swirling events in the summer of 1861 had brought ballou and his unit to a camp of instruction in the nations capital. An excerpted version, with minor word modifications, was featured prominently at the conclusion of part one of ken burnss landmark pbs documentary the civil war and touched the. On july 14, 1861, ballou wrote an eloquent letter to his wife predicting his death. The missive was celebrated in ken burns watershed pbs civil war series and is the focal point of dozens of web sites, though what happened to his body after he died is seldom mentioned. Jul 21, 2010 today i found out about sullivan ballous letter to his wife written just a few days before the first major land battle of the american civil war, the first battle of bull run, fought this day july 21 in 1861 in manassas, virginia. Civil war overview lesson plan american battlefield trust.
The copied letter is believed to be transcribed by a relative of sullivan ballou. Sullivan ballous letter to his wife sarah has become one of the most famous letters home of the civil war. Sullivan ballou has become famous in civil war lore for the poignant letter he reportedly wrote to his wife, sarah, a few days before he was mortally wounded. It was in this context that sullivan ballou wrote to his young wife.
Sullivan ballou to his wife sarah nee shumway at home in rhode island. Sullivan ballou letter pdf category of templates you can also download and share resumes sample it. In 1861, men on both sides of the conflict were willing to lay down their lives for what they believed to be right. There are lots of sorts of writing sullivan ballou letter worksheets. The attorney from providence, rhode island had everything to look forward to a beautiful wife, two young sons to carry on his name and a successful law practice. The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days. With the movement of the federal forces into virginia imminent, sullivan ballou penned this letter to his wife. God in the sullivan ballou letter updated getreligion. They fluctuate in complexity of the exercise depending on the age and grade. 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. An excerpted version, with minor word modifications, was featured prominently at the conclusion of part one of ken burnss.
He was wounded at the first battle of bull run on july 21, and died from his injuries a week later. 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. Sullivan ballous letter is featured in our collection of civil war stories. Some of ballou s words about his family and childhood are missing from the television presentation of the letter. There are numerous extra sullivan ballou letter worksheets out. His concern that he should fall on the battlefield proved all too true. In this lesson, students will use one of the major tools of a historian. They fluctuate in complexity of the exercise depending on the age and grade degree of a child.
He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife sarah, two. An excerpt of the chicago letter was briefly quoted by bruce catton in his 1961 book the coming fury, though catton mistakenly called ballou major sullivan bullen and stated he was from illinois, rather than rhode island. He was wounded at the first battle of bull run on july 21, and died from his injuries a week. Read an interview with rob grandchamp who argues that. Southerners fought for states rights and a society built.
There are numerous extra sullivan ballou letter worksheets out there. Sullivan ballou sat in his tent among 2,000 other rhode island volunteers. Jul 21, 2011 it was the nowfamous sullivan ballou letter, written by the union officer a few days before his mortal wounding at the battle of bull run, on july 21, 1861 150 years ago thursday. The sullivan ballou letter as it was read on the pbs series the civil war by ken burns series 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. Letter to sarah ballou essaysin his letter to sarah ballou, major sullivan ballou uses diction, syntax, and imagery to create a tone of profound, yet deferential, love and tribute. Sullivan ballou letter questions and answers letter. In 1976, civil war historian edward longacre discovered the chicago ballou letter.
He served as major of the 2nd rhode island volunteer infantry. Its an effective software in helping kids learn to write. Jan 16, 2012 for me, however, this remarkable letter has become far more than merely romantic. Mar, 2011 my very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou duration.
If desired, the teacher may wish to play the segment that includes the ballou letter, or locate and have the teacher may also wish to lead a discussion students view the segment including the ballou letter in. World war ii lesson plans lesson 1william forbes belcher. These primary source materials provide firsthand evidence of events and information on the perspective, cognition, values, and attitudes of the person writing the letter. My very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou. American civil war letter in 1861, a union officer named sullivan ballou, assigned to the grand army of the potomac, wrote home to his wife in smithfield, rhode island. There may be the cursive writing sullivan ballou letter worksheets and the kindergarten sullivan ballou letter. The sullivan ballou letter as it was read on the pbs series the civil war by ken burns series a week before the battle of bull run sullivan ballou, a major in the 2nd. And in the first animals sullivan ballou letter worksheet, children try to recognize the animals in the image and learn the names of those animals. Zbailey special to the washington post sunday, july 8, 2001. It was the nowfamous sullivan ballou letter, written by the union officer a few days before his mortal wounding at the battle of bull run, on july 21, 1861 150 years ago thursday. Born march 28, 1829, in smithfield, rhode island, ballou was educated at phillips academy in andover. If desired, the teacher may wish to play the segment that includes the ballou letter, or locate and have the teacher may also wish to lead a discussion students view the segment including the ballou letter in the ken burns film, the civil war. Letter to his wife sullivan ballou love of country is not unique to americans, but in a democracy, sending citizens to war requires far more than a dictators fiat. On july 21st 2011, the 150th anniversary of the first battle of bull run, national public radio included a segment featuring the sullivan ballou letter made famous by ken burns civil war documentary.
Copy of a letter from sullivan ballou to his wife before the battle of bull run headquarters camp clark july 14th 1861 washington, d. July the 14th, 1861 washington dc my very dear sarah. Sullivan ballou the following is a letter written by maj. Civil war letters lesson sullivan ballou letter pbs. Fillable www tc pbs civil war letters lesson sullivan source. Text of sullivan ballous letter the washington post.
Page f01 in what is now the national arboretum, 140 years ago this week, maj. Sullivan ballou letter youtube category of templates you can also download and share resumes sample it. The letter has since become a popular reading for a variety of occasions, from weddings to funeralsand, most recently the 2017 presidential inauguration. This lesson asks students to analyze letters written. Several versions of the sullivan ballou letter, with small variations, seem to exist. Emma and halie danielson add fiddle and mandolin in the instrumental section. Jan 30, 2016 my very dear wife the last letter of major sullivan ballou, civil war, 1861.
The version of the sullivan ballou letter heard in the civil war documentary was a shortened one. Ballou was a lawyer and member of the state legislature from smithfield, rhode island. The last letter from major sullivan ballou, written to his wife leading up to the battle at first bull run. Expired image removedcamp clark, washington my very dear sarah. The actual letter was never delivered to sarah, the wife of major sullivan ballou. Sullivan ballou was 32 years old on july 14, 1861, when he sat at a camp of instruction in washington, d. Sullivan ballou s letter is featured in our collection of civil war stories. The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days perhaps tomorrow. Sep 03, 2017 sullivan ballou s letter to his wife sarah has become one of the most famous letters home of the civil war. Sullivan ballou letter audio from npr 20th maine volunteers. In fact, the original sullivan ballou letter apparently did not survive, and has been lost to history. It was written on the eve of bull run and ballou would soon be dead. Film maker ken burns believes that is because the letter was hand copied multiple times. John kander a letter from sullivan ballou sheet music in c.