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. He has a wife and two sons waiting for him at home. In the event of his death, he hopes that this letter will ease her pain. He does everything he can to give her comfort and encouragement. It is one of the most noble things I have ever read. What stands out is not only his love and commitment to his wife but also to his country. He states that he fights because of those who fought before him in the American Revolution, and he cannot let them down. You can imagine his wife reading these words and being heart broken but at the same time so proud of her husband.