Blog 1:
My name is Jesse McGee, I come from a family farm located in Wichita, Kansas. The farm has been in my family for many years and are the grounds of our ancestry. I harbor two children both born on the same day named Marley, and Joseph. They are the pride of my life, and watching they grow has been one of my greatest joys as a father. As for what I do during the day, my mornings start at 5:00 AM, before the sun rises over the plains. My days are usually filled with hard farmwork, checking the livestock, tending to the crops, and preparing for another days long labor. I finally go to sleep at 9:00 PM. In terms of my enlistment in the Union army and my stand on slavery, I wish to fight to keep slavery where it is, so that it may not spread its corrupted roots any further into the lands in which God lives. Leaving my family is burden I must adress. I worry for the farm, for its future, and for all the nights I am gone. Yet, I believe that service to the Union is too much of a growing concern to leave un-attended any longer. Thus, I shall dedicate these next months, or however long it may take, to the fight for the Union and the suppressment of slavery. My hope is that when I return I shall be united with my family again, and that we shall stand stronger than ever before.
Blog 2:
Mr Dearest Wife, Sarah,
I pray that this letter finds you and the children well, back on the farm. These past few days have taken a toll on my mind. The shouting of rebels, and the firing of cannons will never escape my mind.
On July 21, we marched to a place called Bull Run in Virginia in hopes of a swift end to the war. We assumed the fight would be quick, yet decisive, victory was sure. In the beginning we were winning, our army was flanking the Confederates from the sides, their army seemed to topple. Each man beside me was charging with all their might. However, the battle shifted sides. Smoke filled the air, and the Confederates started a counterattack.
My vision was blurred, I could barley see five feet around me, only the men beside me were still visible. Louds sounds seemed to zip through the air all around me, with the grunting, and moaning of tormented men. Then, it came, a cannonball zipped past my face and hit the man next to me. That's when I knew to run, I turned around and bolted across the field as fast as could, only hearing the constant fire behind me, everyone else followed.
Tell the Marley and Joseph that their father is alright, and that I think of them daily. Give them my love and know that every day I persevere is with the hope that it brings me closer to the day that this war will end.
We lost the Battle of Bull Run.
Your Loving Husband,
Jesse
Blog 3
I pray that this letter find you well, my dear wife,
Recently, the Union won a battle near Washington Country, Maryland. The general of our Union army, Mclellan found the battle plans for General Robert E Lee's army. Apparently, a group of Union soldiers found the battle plan wrapped around a cigarette case and reported it up the chain of command. The battle was quick, decisive, it began in a corn field, our bayonets glistening in the sun, like fish swimming through the vast fields. However, after noon not a single stalk of corn was left standing. Every blade had been decimated by a bullet ripped through the field. The fighting then moved to a sunken road, we fired into it as much as we could, piled bodies filled the road, many were dead. Their thinking about calling it the "Bloody Lane". Later in the day Mcllelan also failed to catch up to Lee's army and we missed our opportunity to catch the Confederates for the first time. However, this battle was a sure victory, we drove the rebels out of our grounds, for now.
In best regards,
Private Jesse Mcgee.
Blog 4
Sarah,
It is with this letter I bring the greatest news that has come in this war. The union army won at Gettysburg. It was one of the most hard fought battles of the war yet, lasting 3-days, with continuous fighting., more than 7,000 fell, one of the deadliest of all time. Every day came with constant struggle, fights for advantages polluted the fields from morning to night. Cannon fire would not cease and smoke from muskets made in nearly impossible to tell an enemy or foe. The cries of the wounded could be heard from valleys, nearly miles away. By the end of the battle bodies were littered everywhere, I saw several of my comrades die fighting for our cause. Alas, after all the struggle the Union persevered and powered over the Confederates, it's expected that we take the fort of Vicksburg, taking control of the Mississippi river. Four months later the President, Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address, the Union's calling it a national cemmetary. Sarah, I feel as if the war is coming to end, we are winning.
With growing hope,
kate Mcgee
Blog 5
Dear Sarah,
I feel as if my last letter on the Vicksburg campaign was brief, providing little to no insight and how the battle went, I'll explain it in this letter.
The campaign lasted far longer than any of us expected, we marched for weeks, crossing the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg. From there we began our trek toward the fort. Along the way we faced multiple encounters with Confederate forces, each testing our determination and resilience for our cause. The biggest battle by far being the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16th. Once we reached Vicksburg, we surrounded the fort and the siege began.
The siege itself lasted a total of forty-seven days; I could hear constant bombardment of artillery during the night. We often dug trenches close to Confederate lines. As the day's past, the food became scarcer, the men trapped inside the fort were down to eating whatever they could find.
On July 4th, 1863, the Confederates finally surrendered. Over 29,000 Confederate soldiers walked out and laid their arms down, Vicksburg was finally in our hands. People say this may be one of the most important victories of the war, I believe them.
With Love,
Kate Mcgee
Promise broken, justice found
Blog 6
Dear Sarah,
At long last, the war is over.
Even now as I write this letter the words barley feel real to me.. Yesterday, Lee finally made his surrender to the Union army at the Appomattox courthouse, Virginia. It happened in Wilmer McLean's house, the same man who hosted the Confederate headquarters in the battle of Bull Run. Those who were there said they saw Lee ride in with his finest uniform and Grant with his dirties. After four years of bloodshed, misery, and a roller coaster of emotion, peace seemed to grand to admire. There were no longer any gunshots, no cannon fire, and the sound of artillery was quiet, all that remained was silence. Grant's compromises were generous, all Confederate soldiers were to give up their firearms, but, they were allowed to keep all their horses. Grant rode back, receiving generous applaud and praise from Union soldiers, however, he bid them to stop, this victory was a bittersweet one. I myself joined in the cheer and banter that followed the surrender, chatting with my long fought friends, those who I had struggled in battle with. Over 28,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered that day, and over 300,000 died in the war, yet, it's finally over.
Sarah,
I'm coming home.