MyverydearSarah,
Indicationsareverystrongthatweshallmoveinafewdays,perhapstomorrow.
LestIshouldnotbeabletowriteyouagain,IfeelimpelledtowriteafewlinesthatmayfallunderyoureyewhenIshallbenomore.
IhavenomisgivingsaboutorlackofconfidenceinthecauseinwhichIamengaged,andmycouragedoesnothaltorfalter.
IknowhowstronglyAmericancivilizationnowleansonthetriumphofthegovernment,andhowgreatadebtweowetothosewhowentbeforeusthroughthebloodandsufferingoftheRevolution.AndIamwilling—perfectlywilling—tolaydownallmyjoysinthislifetohelpmaintainthisgovernmentandtopaythatdebt.
Sarah,myloveforyouisdeathless.ItseemstobindmewithmightycablesthatnothingbutOmnipotencecouldbreak.Andyetmyloveofcountrycomesovermelikeastrongwindandbearsmeirresistibly,withallthesechains,tothebattlefield.ThememoryofalltheblissfulmomentsIhaveenjoyedwithyoucomecrowdingoverme,andIfeelmostdeeplygratefultoGodandyouthatIhaveenjoyedthemsolong.Andhowharditisformetogivethemupandburntoashesthehopesoffutureyearswhen,Godwilling,wemightstillhavelivedandlovedtogetherandseenoursonsgrowuptohonorablemanhoodaroundus…
IfIdonotreturn,mydearSarah,neverforgethowmuchIloveyou,northatwhenmylastbreathescapesmeonthebattlefield,itwillwhisperyourname.ForgivemymanyfaultsandthemanypainsIhavecausedyou.
Howthoughtless,howfoolishIhavesometimesbeen.But,ohSarah!Ifthedeadcancomebacktothisearthandflitunseenaroundthosetheylove,Ishallalwaysbewithyouinthebrightestdaysandinthedarkestnights.Always.Always.
Andwhenthesoftbreezefansyourcheeks,itshallbemybreath;andasthecoolairfansyourthrobbingtemple,itshallbemyspiritpassingby.
Sarah,donotmournmedead:ThinkIamgoneandwaitforme,formeshallmeetagain.