| Item: | Robert .James Orr McGown letter to sister of died soldier – November, 13, 1864 |
| L.J.T.P. Number: | 200.015 (and 200.015.01) |
| Medium: | 9 7/8 X 7 7/8 Paper |
| Creator: | R.J.O. McGown |
| Date: | November 13, 1864 |
| Place: | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Period: | Civil War America 1860 – 1865 |
| Keywords: | R.J.O. McGown, Madison |
| Citation: | McGown, R.J.O. Robert .James Orr McGown letter to sister of died soldier – November, 13, 1864. 1864. Madison. Library of John T. Pregler, Dubuque.
(Source: Library of John T. Pregler) |
Text of Letter [sic]
Madison, Wis
Nov. 13, 1864
Sister,
It was with feelings of the deepest regret that a few days ago I learned the decease of your brother, one more gone; still another sacrifice on the altar of our country.
And now I take the opportunity to express that sympathy for your bereavement which one soldier feels when a brother soldier and a friend is called upon to leave this world and march to the eternal encampment. To be sure he is but one of the many who have fallen in the same cause, but to those who knew him his loss is a greater misfortune than that of a thousand others. So of course every one feels who is called upon to part with a relative, and when we judge the sorrow of our country, using one feelings at the loss of one friend as a base, what an immense loss remains to be borne by the instigators of this murderous and causeless rebellion. We will never again answer as has been his want to the call of duty and “Rally round the Flag” will be responded to by one less of the many manly hearts to whom the nation looks with just pride & high admiration.
But great consolation is available to those whose relatives are called to eternity from “the tented field”. They who are gone have offered up their lives in defence (sic) of the perpetuation of freedom and to them have the eyes of all the liberty loving inhabitants of the world been limited, as those of the mariner do the light flashing from the vans of the life boat in its approach to the stranded & sinking vessel.
Every attempt at a purely popular government in the world has failed, and it remains for the soldiers of our country, our brothers and friends in the field, to determine whether the experiment of the United States to shall be a failure. I say it remains for them to determine whether mankind shall prove themselves capable of self government or whether we must revert to the monarchies & empires of Europe as a model for a firm and enduring commonwealth. Honored must be the man who takes part in this great struggle and respected for ever must be the memory of those whose lives are lost in their endeavor to maintain the dignity of and established permanently that model institution the “United States of America.”
Let us hope however that the necessity for these sacrifices may be of that duration and that we long those of our friends who may yet remain shall return having finished the work allotted them to do.
With well wishes and sincerest sympathy to you all in our affliction.
I remain etc.
R.J. O. McGowan