Song | Ashokan Farewell/Sullivan Ballou Letter |
Artist | Paul Roebling |
Album | The Civil War (O.S.T Recording) |
[00:00.300] | |
[00:07.000] | 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. |
[00:18.000] | July 14, 1861. Washington DC |
[00:24.000] | Dear Sarah: The indications are very strong |
[00:28.000] | That we shall move in a few days — perhaps tomorrow. |
[00:31.000] | And lest I should not be able to write you again, |
[00:35.000] | I feel impelled to write a few lines |
[00:37.000] | That may fall under your eye |
[00:38.000] | When I shall be no more … |
[00:42.000] | I have no misgivings about, |
[00:44.000] | Or lack of confidence |
[00:45.000] | In the cause in which I am engaged, |
[00:48.000] | And my courage does not halt or falter. |
[00:52.000] | I know how American Civilization |
[00:54.000] | Now leans on the triumph of the Government |
[00:57.000] | And how great a debt we owe to those |
[00:59.000] | Who went before us |
[01:00.000] | Through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. |
[01:04.000] | And I am willing — perfectly willing — |
[01:06.000] | To lay down all my joys in this life, |
[01:09.000] | To help maintain this Government, |
[01:11.000] | And to pay that debt … |
[01:15.000] | Sarah, my love for you is deathless, |
[01:20.000] | It seems to bind me with mighty cables |
[01:22.000] | That nothing but Omnipotence could break; |
[01:25.000] | And yet my love of Country |
[01:26.000] | Comes over me like a strong wind |
[01:29.000] | And bears me irresistibly |
[01:30.000] | With all those chains to the battle field. |
[01:35.000] | The memories of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you |
[01:38.000] | Come crowding over me, |
[01:41.000] | And I feel most deeply grateful to God |
[01:43.000] | And to you |
[01:45.000] | That I have enjoyed them for so long. |
[01:48.000] | And how hard it is for me to give them up |
[01:50.000] | And burn to ashes the hopes of future years, |
[01:55.000] | When, God willing, |
[01:56.000] | We might still have lived and loved together, |
[01:59.000] | And seen our boys grown up, |
[02:00.000] | To honorable manhood around us. |
[02:04.000] | If I do not return, |
[02:06.000] | My dear Sarah, |
[02:08.000] | Never forget how much I loved you, |
[02:10.998] | Nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, |
[02:15.998] | It will whisper your name. |
[02:20.998] | Forgive my many faults |
[02:22.998] | And the many pains I have caused you. |
[02:26.998] | How thoughtless, |
[02:27.998] | How foolish I have sometimes been! |
[02:31.998] | But, O Sarah! |
[02:33.998] | If the dead can come back to this earth |
[02:36.998] | And flit unseen around those they love, |
[02:39.998] | I shall always be with you; |
[02:41.998] | In the brightest day and the darkest night … |
[02:44.998] | Always, always, |
[02:49.998] | And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, |
[02:52.998] | It shall be my breath, |
[02:54.998] | When the cool air your throbbing temple, |
[02:57.998] | It shall be my spirit passing by. |
[03:03.998] | Sarah do not mourn me dead; |
[03:07.998] | Think I am gone |
[03:09.998] | And wait for me, |
[03:11.998] | For we shall meet again … |
[03:19.998] | Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the First Battle of Bull Run. |
[00:00.300] | |
[00:07.000] | 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. |
[00:18.000] | July 14, 1861. Washington DC |
[00:24.000] | Dear Sarah: The indications are very strong |
[00:28.000] | That we shall move in a few days perhaps tomorrow. |
[00:31.000] | And lest I should not be able to write you again, |
[00:35.000] | I feel impelled to write a few lines |
[00:37.000] | That may fall under your eye |
[00:38.000] | When I shall be no more |
[00:42.000] | I have no misgivings about, |
[00:44.000] | Or lack of confidence |
[00:45.000] | In the cause in which I am engaged, |
[00:48.000] | And my courage does not halt or falter. |
[00:52.000] | I know how American Civilization |
[00:54.000] | Now leans on the triumph of the Government |
[00:57.000] | And how great a debt we owe to those |
[00:59.000] | Who went before us |
[01:00.000] | Through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. |
[01:04.000] | And I am willing perfectly willing |
[01:06.000] | To lay down all my joys in this life, |
[01:09.000] | To help maintain this Government, |
[01:11.000] | And to pay that debt |
[01:15.000] | Sarah, my love for you is deathless, |
[01:20.000] | It seems to bind me with mighty cables |
[01:22.000] | That nothing but Omnipotence could break |
[01:25.000] | And yet my love of Country |
[01:26.000] | Comes over me like a strong wind |
[01:29.000] | And bears me irresistibly |
[01:30.000] | With all those chains to the battle field. |
[01:35.000] | The memories of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you |
[01:38.000] | Come crowding over me, |
[01:41.000] | And I feel most deeply grateful to God |
[01:43.000] | And to you |
[01:45.000] | That I have enjoyed them for so long. |
[01:48.000] | And how hard it is for me to give them up |
[01:50.000] | And burn to ashes the hopes of future years, |
[01:55.000] | When, God willing, |
[01:56.000] | We might still have lived and loved together, |
[01:59.000] | And seen our boys grown up, |
[02:00.000] | To honorable manhood around us. |
[02:04.000] | If I do not return, |
[02:06.000] | My dear Sarah, |
[02:08.000] | Never forget how much I loved you, |
[02:10.998] | Nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, |
[02:15.998] | It will whisper your name. |
[02:20.998] | Forgive my many faults |
[02:22.998] | And the many pains I have caused you. |
[02:26.998] | How thoughtless, |
[02:27.998] | How foolish I have sometimes been! |
[02:31.998] | But, O Sarah! |
[02:33.998] | If the dead can come back to this earth |
[02:36.998] | And flit unseen around those they love, |
[02:39.998] | I shall always be with you |
[02:41.998] | In the brightest day and the darkest night |
[02:44.998] | Always, always, |
[02:49.998] | And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, |
[02:52.998] | It shall be my breath, |
[02:54.998] | When the cool air your throbbing temple, |
[02:57.998] | It shall be my spirit passing by. |
[03:03.998] | Sarah do not mourn me dead |
[03:07.998] | Think I am gone |
[03:09.998] | And wait for me, |
[03:11.998] | For we shall meet again |
[03:19.998] | Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the First Battle of Bull Run. |