Woman+Spies+(Belle+Boyd)+SJL09

PoemSJL09

EssaySJL09
 * Topic:** Relationships within the war ♥


 * Focus:** Letters


 * Reason for choice:** I want to know how hard it was to keep a relationships during the Civil War.


 * What's your point? (thesis)** Why soldiers wrote letters home.


 * What are four various secondary sources you have found before your research?

What are two primary sources you have found to help your research?**


 * What four reasons do you have that will back up your point?**


 * 1)** Boredom


 * 2)** They are homesick


 * 3)** Asking for supplies


 * 4)** Telling their families things that the military wanted to keep secret

__Boredom__ ~ Soldiers were so bored that they would just write letters. ~ It kept their minds off the pain they were going through. ~
 * .What is your first reason and three to five facts to support it?**

Soldiers were bored so they would pass the time writing letters back home. They would also take the time to read the letters they recieved and then reply back.
 * What can you conclude from these facts?**

http://www.americancivilwar.com/kids_zone/soldiers_letters_civil_war.html
 * Sources:**

__Homesick__ ~ Soldiers were homesick so they would to keep up with all that is happening back home. ~ Soldiers wrote to their loved ones because they missed them and just wanted to have the best for them. ~ They would see what was going on back home and maiking sure that thier families were okay.
 * .What is your second reason and three to five facts to support it?**

Soldiers missed their friends and families so they would write to them.
 * What can you conclude from these facts?**

http://www.americancivilwar.com/kids_zone/soldiers_letters_civil_war.html
 * Sources**

__Asking for supplies__ ~ Solders would ask their families to send food to them because there was very few food supplies available. ~ They would also ask for extra clothing and shoes. ~ They would also send the money that they made back home.
 * .What is your third reason and three to five facts to support it?**

Soldiers asked their families for many things like food and clothes. They sent home the mone they made.
 * What can you conclude from these facts?**

http://www.americancivilwar.com/kids_zone/soldiers_letters_civil_war.html
 * Sources**

__Telling military secrets__ ~ Soldiers would tell their families secrets that the military didn't want people to know. ~ People at home would always feel out of the loop because they didnt know what was happeneing on the battlefirlds. The soldiers would write home describing the battles and what they are going through. ~ Generals would tell their loved ones about their plans for thhe war and explain where they were taking their troops and when the next battle would be.
 * .What is your fourth reason and three to five facts to support it?**

The soldiers were writing home telling secrets to their families that werent supposed to get out to the common people. The government later would check every letter to see if there were any codes on it. For example, they woulkd cut off the X's and O's because they thought that it might mean something.
 * What can you conclude from these facts?**

http://www.americancivilwar.com/kids_zone/soldiers_letters_civil_war.html
 * Sources**

Soldiers wrote home for many reasons. They wrote home because of bordom, they were homesick, they would ask for supplies or send money home, or because they were telling their families military secrets. This topic doesnt apply to my life personaly because i am not in the war and i do not write letters. In my generation we use more technology when we communicate with others. Even though this topic doesnt apply to me doesnt mean im not interested. I am very interested in the relationships during the Civil War because it must have been so hard to keep them. Mothers were worried about their husbands and sons, young girls were worried about their signifigant others, and children were worried about everyone they loved. I would not have been able to cope with the pain and sufferings of the lose of my loved ones. Those people were so brave.
 * .Based on your research, what conclusions would you make and how does your research connect to your life?**

~ Write a poem and present it to the class ~
 * .Ideas on how you are going to present? Involve the class? Be exciting? Interesting? Wow? Huh? Ahhh?**

[]

Major Sullivan Ballou of the Union Army wrote this letter home to his wife Sarah in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It is considered to be one of history's most beautiful and moving love letters.

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 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 pleasure -- and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine 0 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 willing -- perfectly willing -- to 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 sorrows -- when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children -- is 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?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

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 me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not return, 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 oftentimes 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 garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or if 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.

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

Sullivan Ballou, age 32, was killed on the battlefield in the 1st Battle of Bull Run seven days after writing this letter.