Dear Future Son,

Oh, I hope you never have to live through a war. It was September 17, 1862, in Maryland, when we had to fight for our lives at Antietam. The number of deaths, oh my, I could not believe it. Nearly 22,800 of all of the soldiers died during the twelve bloody hours of the Battle of Antietam. There were so many bodies on the crimson ground. It had soaked through my worn-out boots, for when my feet came out they were crusted with blood and dirt. The Union had started the Anaconda Plan to blockade the South’s resources and people were becoming restless. Goods were more expensive but the shelves were barren. They had started to separate the Confederacy and were starting to attack Richmond, Virginia. The Union largely attacked the Confederates three times during the first seven hours. It was General Lee’s first invasion into the North. The Confederates had taken control of the bridge at around 1:00 pm, but the North ended up winning the battle when General Lee retreated. People around here say that no one won that bloody battle, and I’ve got to agree. I’m sorry I was ever a part of killing so many people that day.

Son, when you are born, I will never surrender you to the war. I will be traumatized for life because of the service I did for my country. Everyone lost someone in this terrible war, but boy, I also lost myself. You realize you will never be the same person after another one of your own kind shoots you in the arm. The nurses weren’t too good anywhere, so I laid on the ground with my arm cut off and bandaged, sitting in my own trots, until I felt well enough to fight for this country. I tell you, no soldier can say that they didn’t get the trots. We fought anyways, but all for different reasons. Some fought so the war would be over sooner, some fought for their rights, and some fought for their side. Everyone has a different war story, and when you grow up son, I’ll tell you mine. 

Sincerely,

Your Father