Think You've Read a Love Letter? Nothing Beats Ballou

The Daily Mail recently published extracts from the letters of dead soldiers to their families, stretching from the seventeenth century to the present war in Iraq. They do not make easy reading. What is striking though is the devotion these soldiers had to their cause, whether it was against the French in the 1800’s or the Nazis in the 1940’s. It makes me wonder whether I would, or could, show the same level of devotion:

“My Mary, let the recollection console you that the happiest days of my life have been from your love and affection, and that I die loving only you, and with a fervent hope that our souls may be reunited hereafter and part no more.” (Major Arthur Rowley Heyland, Battle of Waterloo, 1815).

‘I don’t know why I am writing this because I really hope that this letter never gets to you, because if it does that means I am dead…just because I have passed away does not mean I am not with you…I’ll always be there looking over you, keeping you safe…So whenever you feel lonely, just close your eyes and I’ll be there right by your side. I really did love you with all I had, you were everything to me.’ (Gunner Lee Thornton to his fiancée, age 22. Died in Iraq, 2006.)

The article reminded me of a letter written by an American soldier in the Civil War. I had heard it from Ken Burn’s series, The American Civil War, and it has stayed with me since, mainly because it is one of the most heart-breaking letters I have ever read:

 

“My very dear Sarah:

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 O 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.

  

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, 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…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 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.”

  

Major Sullivan Ballou, Union Army. (1829-1861). His wife never remarried.

Photo Fakery!

I found this great article today about famous faked photographs – from Lincoln to Stalin, Hitler to Mussolini, photos could be “modified” long before photoshop! Hardly surprising perhaps from the dictators, but it’s incredibly interesting to see how past events were faked to get a “perfect” shot, for a variety of different reasons. Take the Grant picture: this was made up of three different photographs, and the Russian troops celebrating victory over the Nazis had to be free from looted goods.

This is a great selection of photos, although it’s slightly terrifying how easy it is to manipulate history…some of these photographs have only been altered slightly, but it’s still enough to send shivers down the spine…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107109/Iconic-Abraham-Lincoln-portrait-revealed-TWO-pictures-stitched-together.html

Faces of the First World War

Continuing the theme on WW1 remembrance, the Great War Centenary Website has launched a flickr site, sharing photos of those who died in the war. The Imperial War Museum is providing these photos every day until August 2014, organising them into a special “Bond of Sacrifice” gallery, depicting the men who fought. The museum is encouraging the public to get involved, urging us to find out more about the people in these photographs through newspapers, museums and archives to help remember these brave men. This is a great example of public history being used in the best possible way – using social media to get people involved in an incredibly important cause. Through this research, we restore some measure of life to them – a name, a hometown, close family – and relate to them as people.

http://www.1914.org/faces/

Sex, Violence and History

There are some great history shows on television. I am a big fan of HBO’s latest drama, Boardwalk Empire (it’s set in the 1920’s, what’s not to love?) but it raises some issues about content, and not necessarily historical accuracy. Historical dramas like Boardwalk Empire, Rome, and The Tudors contain graphic scenes of sex and violence, forcing us to ask – is this necessary? Does history need sex and violence to become successful, or is it part of mainstream society? Don’t get me wrong, I am not a prude – the violence doesn’t bother me, although I can understand why it may bother other people. However, the graphic sex scenes make me a little uncomfortable, so much so that I could never watch it with my dad, who has expressed an interest in watching it with me (my reply: “No I don’t think you’d like it”). I don’t want to be a hypocrite here – if it makes me slightly uncomfortable, why do I watch it? Because it’s great TV – the 1920’s is a fascinating era, and all the actors are incredible, especially Steve Buscemi as crime boss Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson and Michael Pitt as Jimmy Darmody. There’s nothing wrong with sex on television – just when it verges on soft porn. Perhaps the show’s success does ride on the level of sex and violence. I love the show, and ultimately it doesn’t bother me enough to stop me watching it. It’s just a shame that this might put off people who have a genuine interest in history. Let the amazing performances, beautiful sets, and interesting history attract the audience, not the sex. 

Far Reaching Consequences of History...

While researching an essay on the Holocaust, I came across some comments on an online news article that were quite disturbing. There was a general discussion on the idea that “only twentieth century history has major implications for today”. Really? Can anyone seriously be that short-sighted? Harsh perhaps but the evidence is overwhelmingly against this. Let’s take America, because it’s the history I know best. According to this theory, nearly three hundred years of enslaving African Americans has no bearing on today’s society – so how do we explain the persistent racism towards black people, a large percentage of whom live in disadvantaged communities? And don’t forget the activists lobbying for reparations. Similarly, the poverty of many Native America groups is directly linked to their appalling treatment by the American government for four hundred years. And can anyone say the Civil War? This conflict ruptured American society, a division that still exists in parts of the south today –the debates over the use of the confederate symbol on state flags and a roaring trade of confederate memorabilia are a few remnants of that legacy. 

Many institutions in America and the UK are connected with slavery – Brown University issued a report chronicling the relationship between Rhode Island and the Atlantic Slave Trade, and many buildings in Liverpool, Bristol, London and Glasgow were built with the profits of slavery. 

And what about the Middle East?

I could go on. The nature of our society is inevitably shaped by the past, one that reaches beyond the twentieth century. Just because these “implications” are not always concrete or physically visible, does not mean they are not there.