I have been listening to this, the end of the the "Civil War" soundtrack, the documentary by Ken Burns... if you find a web site for it, or something useful, not amazon, email me please. Anyhow, here it is in print, the best that I could do:

July 14, 1861, Washington DC

Dear Sarah,

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, and lest i should not be able to write you again, i feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when i am no more.

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 American civilization 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 help pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break, and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind, and bears me irresistably with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God, and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how 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 boys grown up to honourable manhood.

If I do not return, dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that while my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will say your name. Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been, but oh Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and the darkest night... always, always... And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, and the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead, think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again.

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first battle of bull run.

Ok, I'm interested in these things, and anything else I haven't listed yet:

• People
• Music
• Books (yes... all of them)
• Coding (read: banging head on keyboard)
• Religion (find me an agnostic who isn't, and i'll find you someone with an etymology disorder)
• Diving
• Ireland
• Pens
• More People
• Political Changes over time
• Forensics of all kinds
• Archaeology
• Anthropology
• Philosophy
• 14th Century Italian Art and Architecture and their repercussions on modern Western Culture
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Shintoism (soon)
• Catholicism
• Protestantism
• Hell, any organized religion of any kind
• did you get the irony of that?
• Greek and Roman Archaeology specifically
• though i've studied more Irish archaeology
• and haven't been to italy
• Going to Italy!
• i hear it's very nice
• so if you know of any good ticket prices
• Italian hotels
• or resorts,
• let me know.