Dear journal,

Today is September 19th 1863, and currently I am in my tent on the battlefield in Chattanooga. Today was one of the bloodiest battles I’ve seen in my whole life, and we the Confederates took the victory. The Union waved the white flag, and we knew we  had won. At last, one victory closer to winning this war. But once everything had settled down, I saw many of our men on the floor lifeless. Including my best friend John. The fact that he is gone saddens me, I can’t imagine what his poor wife Mary will do once she hears that he is gone.  

During the battle I was terrified. I was scared I would not go home to my family, and see their faces again. Every time I saw a man on the floor, I thought to myself that I won’t be one of them. I will go home to see my family, and this will just be a memory. Once the Union waved that white flag high, I was relieved that I had safely made it alive  in one of many battles I will fight. I’m one battle closer to going home and seeing my family again. One step closer to playing with my son in our backyard, one step closer to hugging my wife again. I know that I can only wait to do those amazing things, but first I have to protect this country and win this war. 

Being apart in this war has affected me so much, it has shown me how much I care about my family and to not take seeing people you care about for granted. I want this war to be over, and I never want to have this experience again. Hopefully by the time the war officially ends, I can come home to my family and share my story. I don’t want anyone to ever go through what I’ve experienced, seeing my best friend die, having to leave people behind if there’s no chance of them living, and having to fight for your life. One mistake and you can get shot, so you have to be insanely careful everywhere you go. Knowing that at any second you can die is terrifying, and witnessing others die is almost worse. Well it is now time for dinner, and yet again it is bread. I’ll live to tell you about another bloody day tomorrow.

From,

William Jones.