courage does not halt or falter. i know how strongly american civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us, through the blood and suffering of the revolution, and i am willing, perfectly willing, to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and to pay that debt. sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with the mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break, and yet, my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield." sullivan balou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at the first battle of bull run.