My letter to Janks

So I have this class called Sword of Freedom ( or Only Sorta Freedom, Get it?)  And I had to write a letter and pretend I was an solider in the civil war that had just fought in the battle of Gettysburg. And while I was writing this letter It made me think.

I hope reading this will also make you think also.



Corporal Gidion Stuart                                                                                                          July 5, 1863
20th Main Infantry

Dear Janks,

You know how I say “You should be glad you can’t join the war?”  Well, be glad you can’t. As you probably have heard of late... this battle was one of the most terrible battles of the war. I am sorry to have you receive this tear stained letter. Words can’t compensate for the dead, and the memories inside my head. First .... the fear. So much fear you've already died, just from fear. They say brave man only die once, and fools die a thousand times over. I don’t care if you are Hercules, but any man that did that bayonet charge died a thousand times. So many miracles happened that day, and some of the worst things that would happen in history also happened. Angels walked down that hill with us while the devil was grabbing at our heels. We thought the worst was over. Then thousands of men marched a mile in front of a thousand guns pre-aimed at them. The bodies. So many bodies. Gray and red faces forming an adequate funeral carpet for the others behind. I am lucky, Janks, because I don’t have a family that will miss me when I am gone and I will be in a better place than this blood-stained earth.  To think that each one of those men, both Confederate and Union have their lovers awaiting them in Georgia, or a poor nine year old son waiting in New York. All the actors, musicians, the farmers, the dreamers, singers.... Their thoughts, feelings, memories entombed on this battlefield, never to rise again. Their loved ones will never feel their warm hand, or helping smile. I have only you Janks. And I am glad to have you. Because if not, I am afraid I would go insane. The one good thing this war has done, is make me think. I will never see another person on the street and brush them of like dust. I will see them as a lover, hater, or human being. It has made me think which side is the right side. And quite frankly, I am not all the way sure which side is the right side when both sides can let such Horror happen the last three days. I don’t know what to think any more. I guess I will have to follow the one side that has the best heart. Because it seems to me that neither side is completely right. Well, it looks as though I have gone off rambling in the raspberry bushes again and said too much.

Thanks for being there for me,

Gidd


Dallin Adams