Question

Will fan and medal!

Answer 1

from A Letter from James Colwell to His Wife
July 4, 1861

My own dear wife Annie,

I have been more sad since my last than any time since my arrival in this place. You cannot imagine what a weight your letter of the 2nd lifted from my heart. It was handed to me today just after our arrival on the ground where the celebration took place. As soon as I could get relieved, I sought a place to sit down & devoured its contents, and oh, what joy it brought to my heart. It was like my own wife, and I cannot thank you too much for it. I hope now we understand each other & that you will scold me no more, but that rather you will forgive my many faults. I know I err frequently but it is nearly always an error of the judgment & not of the heart. It gives me pain to do anything that may bring unhappiness or even anxiety of mine to you. My whole effort in this world is to make you as happy & comfortable as, under all existing circumstances is in my power and if you will only not permit your affections to become estranged I think we will be very happy. It is not worthwhile to enquire at this late day whether I was right or wrong in entering into the present movement. It may be that I should not have done so. I did it with the best motive in the world. I have no hostility against the south, and this war is not in behalf of Lincoln or any other man, but it is to sustain the government. And if Jeff Davis had been elected president and was endeavoring to preserve this union, I would have been found aiding him with all efforts. But whether I am right or not, I do not see how I could get out of the service without bringing disgrace and dishonor on myself & my little family, and my prayer and hope is that I may be saved from any act of that kind...

Answer 2

Create a summary of the first paragraph of the passage by placing the five most important events in the correct order.

Annie's letters cause Colwell great happiness
Colwell is fighting to preserve the union.
Colwell gets attached to the 7th regiment.
Colwell does not wish to make his wife any more upset.
It is too late to retreat from his duties.
Colwell is tired but cannot take a leave.
It is pointless to debate whether he should have gone to war.