Sullivan Ballou

Sullivan Ballou (August 28, 1829 – July 21, 1861) was an American lawyer, politician, and military officer who became historically significant primarily through a single letter he wrote to his wife. As a major in the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment, Ballou wrote to his wife Sarah on July 14, 1861, just days before the Battle of First Bull Run (the first major land battle of the American Civil War). His letter, expressing his devotion to both his family and the Union cause, and poignantly reflecting on the possibility of his own death, has become one of the most celebrated American letters of all time. Ballou was indeed killed in action at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. His letter gained wider recognition centuries later through its inclusion in the documentary 'Ken Burns' Civil War' (1990) and subsequent popularizations. The letter exemplifies the humanity, eloquence, and sacrifice of Civil War soldiers, and continues to move readers with its themes of love, duty, and mortality. Before his military service, Ballou had been a prominent Rhode Island lawyer and politician, but it is his final letter that secured his place in American historical memory.