Home | The Battle of Pea Ridge Voices of the War | Volunteers in Parks | Site Map

OTHER VOICES 

The following are taken from letters written early in the war.  Although some of the authors did not participate in the Battle of Pea Ridge, their words express a sentiment common to all soldiers during the Civil War.

"Death is the common lot of all and the diferance between dyeing to day and to morrow is not much but we all prefer to morrow."

Federal Soldier

"These are the first "Cartridges" that I have ever seen, and is it possible that we are to actually to kill men? Human beings?"

Confederate Soldier

"I feel that I would like to shoot a Yankee, and yet I know that this would not be in harmony with the spirit of Christianity."

Confederate Soldier

"If I could go off somewhere and have a good cry, put on some clean clothes, get a letter from home… I would be ready to come back and die like a Christian."

Federal Sergeant

"If the settlement of the war was left to the Enlisted men of both sides we would soon go home."

Federal Soldier

"I have bin in one battle and that satisfied me with war and I would beg to be excused next time."

Confederate Soldier

"I want to be in one Battle, just for the curiosity of the thing."

Confederate Soldier

"FRIEND RICH:  Having drawn one more stamp, and fished up a sheet of paper, I thought I would drop a line, just to let you know we are all alive and well.  One of our boys received a letter from home a few days since, informing him that he and two other boys had been killed, and several wounded in a fight with the rebels.  But as they show no sign of being kilt, we await confirmation of the report."

O. J. M. Fuller, 9th Iowa Infantry

Last updated on: August 24, 2003
Written by: Interpretation Staff
http://www.nps.gov/peri/voices_others

Privacy Statement
Freedom of Information Act