Franklin County: Echoes of the Late Civil War: Letter From son to Mother Telling Her that Duty to Country Forced Him to Take Chances on the Field of Battle, by Unknown, May 7, 1920
Summary: The article contains a letter from a private citing "duty" as his reason for enlisting.
No Braver Soldier Ever Fell Upon the Field of Battle and No More Loving Mother Ever Waited in Vain His Return
The following letter is only interesting to the general public in so far as it gives an insight into the mental attitude and run of thought of those who fully realize what war means and who live under a strain of fear and hope that at times sinks almost to the depth of despair, and then again, rises to exaultation and joy, out of fear on going into battle and joy on coming out. The soldier at no time is his natural self. He is living a life that has but two meanings, life or an untimely death from which the normal man shrinks in compliance with the law of God and nature. The soldier may so far be the master of himself as to conceal all outward manifestations of fear, but deep down in his heart is the concealed evidence, which be will impart only to mother, as seen in Mr. Simon Rupley's letter.
How thankful he is to mother for the articles of ware she sent him, and why? Because they came as he says from mother. He then takes her into his confidence and tells her why he went into the army when he could have remained at home, Duty. Duty was the controling spirit of his life. Duty to country forced him to forsake home friends and personal welfare to take chances on the field of battle. The going of others was nothing to or did it excuse him. He must play his part, cost what it may, and he did, keeping in mind as he said to his mother that "I hope through a merciful God to be spared to get home." But it was otherwise decreeded and he fell mortally wounded at Chancellorsville in compliance with thy will be done.
No braver soldier ever fell upon the field of battle and no more loving mother ever waited in vain his return.
Camp Near Fredericksburg, Va.
January 30 1863.
My Dear Mother;
I have intended to write to you for a long time but have put
it off and this morning I have a little time and will write a little to you. I
received the mittens and stockings you knit for me this morning and am very much
obliged to you for them, although I was not in want of them, they were, very
thankfully received from you and I have them on now, that is the stockings, and
the mittens fits me very well. But as a general thing it is hardly worth while to send stockings to the army as we can
get as many woolen stockings from Government at twenty-six cents a pair, as we
want and that is lower than you can knit them for but they are so much better
when they come from mother. I suppose of course you are thinking of me a great
deal since I am gone and particularly while the late battle was going on and
also think that I could have staid at home. But mother
I could not have staid at home any longer and felt
like a man for I was not contented since the rebellion broke out and only went
because I felt it my duty to my country to go and if I am spared to get home at
the end of my time I have only done my duty which all should do. I know it was
hard for me to go and others could have gone with less sacrifice but that would
not have done for me, it is a question each man has to answer for himself and I
broke the tie that bound me to home and friends which was the hardest trial I
have had yet, the charge not accepted but yet I hope through a merciful God that
I will be spared to get home again and then the hardships and privations I have
enduced will appear as nothing compared with the
joy of getting home and having served my country for nine months You and Becca
will have to get along together as you have and do the best for each other you
can until I return. I will not write about the fights as I suppose you have read
my letter. I am almost well of my cold and fell very well and hope that my
health and life may be spared to return home. But the future is all uncertain
and I am in the hands of a Merciful Porvidence in
whom I put my trust knowing that a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his
permission therefore we must bow in submission and not murmur and say thy will
be done and not ours. Give my best wishes to Walters. I must close hoping that
we may all be spared to meet again if not in this world in the next. From your
effectionate son
S. W. Rupley.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Kauffman Progressive, May 7, 1920
