Blood, Fear, Courage, War

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Dear Annie: I am writing to you from the front lines of a war. It is a terrible war with much blood and violence. That is what I think now, but until a few days a ago I had never never actually been in battle. I am a soldier in the Union Army, the army of Lincoln, a "Yankee." I volunteered to go to war, and along with my unit, I am supposed to fight the Rebels, and show the courage to stand-up to them in battle. But, that is where my problem is.

Before I had ever gone into battle, I wondered if I would ever be able to muster the courage to stay and fight. I did not just want to runaway in the middle of a battle. That is exactly what happened though. My first battle, the Rebels charged and I helped my unit beat them back. When they charged a second time, I lost my courage and fled believing that my unit could not beat back the attack (my unit did beat the charge back). I kept running, deeper and deeper into a wooded area, until I saw a rotting corpse in-front of my. This sight stopped me dead in my tracks (no pun intended) and then I turned around.

After leaving the wooded area, I joined a procession of wounded soldiers making their way away from the battlefield. This was in spite of the fact I was uninjured. In this procession a, "tattered soldier," kept asking me about my wound, and my friend died in-front of my eyes. What makes me feel worse however is when the tattered soldier continued to ask about my wound, I left him behind. He was truly wounded, and his physical condition was deteriorating. Without help he was going to die, and yet I left him, left him to die on the God forsaken road.

I will spare you the details, but after leaving the tattered soldier I was hit in the head with the butt end of a musket. This left a gaping slash across my head, bleeding and bruised. I was left for dead until a soldier, who's face I have never seen, helped me find my unit. When asked about my wound, I told my unit I had been shot.

This all happened yesterday. Here I am the next day, feeling guilty for my actions. Annie, was I right to be scared? Should I have runaway during battle, in order to preserve my own life? Was it wrong to get into the procession of the wounded soldiers? And the tattered soldier, would he have died even if I had helped him? I am very conflicted, scared, I feel guilty, and I feel more like a boy than like a man. Any advise you have would be gladly welcomed.

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-- Yankee Without Courage


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Dear Yankee: War is as terrible, brutal, bloody, and tragic event perpetrated by mankind. Wars have made men famous, but have also destroyed countless lives.

It is only natural that we as humans would be afraid of going to war. We are biologically designed with a sense of self preservation, so anything we can do to preserve ourselves we will most likely do. With that said though, we are also the most cognitively developed species on the planet, meaning we can understand our emotions and control them. Remember that you volunteered to join the Union Army, you were not drafted. You volunteered to put yourself into a situation you knew would be dangerous, where you knew you would eventually have to fight. I find it morally wrong that you fled the battle rather than to staying and fighting with the men of your unit, many of which did stay. You have a responsibility to protect their lives just a they have the responsibility to protect your's. You should never abandon your friends if they would never abandon you, especially if it is just for self preservation.

Getting into the line with the wounded soldiers was also not a wise choice. Those men were leaving the battle with real wounds and physical aliments. The only wound you appeared to have was a wounded pride. When you were clubbed in the head by a rifle, there is no reason for someone to just do that. Where you doing something that may have provoked that? Joining this line of wounded soldiers seems like a way for you to run from your fears and never face them; a cop-out.

Perhaps the tattered soldier would have died even if you had helped him, but there is no way of knowing. You should not have left this man to die alone on the side of the dirt road. You let the lie of you being "wounded," and your wounded pride get between you and doing the right thing, helping that soldier. Just because you have done wrong and are trying to conceal it does not mean that man should have suffered the repercussions. At the end of the day, who was right and who was wrong? Both of you where fighting for the same team, the same cause. It has been said, never leave a man behind.

You have the opportunity to be one of the greatest soldiers your country has. You have the chance to change the lives of those around you, and of those you have never met. However, you must be honest to yourself and others; and you must never let your fear get the better of you. There are great times ahead for you, but you have to find the courage to run out and grab those opportunities. When you do this you will no longer be a boy, you will be a man.

http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/11/Battlle-of-Chickamauga-Hero-H.jpeg

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Notes

• The U.S. Civil War, or the War Between the States, was the deadliest war in American history. Including both Union and Confederate deaths, the death toll exceeded 600,000, with millions more injured. 

• The Red Badge of Courage was made into a move in 1951. The main actor who played Henry was Audie Murphy. You can read more about this movie by going to the link I am providing below this point.
• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043961/

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Works Cited

"American Civil War." History. A+E Networks Digital, 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. 

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. New York: Avenel Books, 1985. Print. 

"The Red Badge of Courage." IMDb. Amazon.com, 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. 

Playing Poker with the Outcasts

Dear Annie: I am a gambler that once resided in the small western town of Poker Flat. I say I once resided there because, a little over a week ago, myself and several other "improper persons" as we have been called were banished from Poker Flat. Each one us, for which there where four, where banished because of our "activities." I am a gambler (and a good one too), The Duchess is a younger promiscuous woman, Mother Shipton has been described as the town bitty, and Uncle Billy is a suspected sluice-robber, but a confirmed drunkard. Because of how we lived our lives, the town had a change in its moral atmosphere and subsequently banished us. The last the town has seen of us we where riding mules toward the camp of Sandy Bar, on the other side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

http://24hourlocksmithinnyc.com/the-outcasts-of-the-poker-flat/

Once reaching the heart of the mountains, us outcasts ran into a young couple eloping to Poker Flat. There names, Tom Simson and Piney Woods. At this point, all six of us decided to spend the night in a dilapidated cabin off to the side of the trail. We started a fire and went to sleep. However, when I woke up, I found Uncle Billy gone along with our mules, and it was snowing. It snowed so deep that those of us left could not venture far from the cabin. Luckily we stored the supplies inside the cabin with us.

Its been over a week since that incident occurred, and the snow will not relent to let us continue on. Mother Shipton has died, starving herself in order that Piney may have enough food to survive. She took good care of Piney while she was alive. Since Mother Shipton's death, The Duchess has taken up the role of looking after and caring for her (she was doing some of this before Mother Shipton's death). Tom is the member of the group staying eternally optimistic that our circumstance will turn around for the better. He is always telling me (much to my annoyance) that, "the snow'll melt and we will be back together." For this reason we call him "The Innocent." As for me, I keep going over in my mind every scenario, every possibility in order that I may think of something that will help us. I don't want what happened to that Donner party a few years ago to happen to us.

That's my story, and the story of my fellow "outcasts." I have been wondering throughout this entire ordeal if this situation we are in is because of who we are, what we have done. Are we being punished? Could Poker Flat be right about us? Why does this have to happen to those young like Piney? At the time of this writing I have dispatched Tom (The Innocent) to go get help. Annie, do have incite as to why this is happening to us? Has this ordeal changed us? Is there any way to survive this? We could all use your advice before we freeze to death!

http://www.freepik.com/

-- Outcast of Poker Flat

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Dear Outcast: It is obvious through your letter that much has happened to you and your fellow "outcasts" over the past week. However, after reading your words I have come to several conclusions about you and your group.

I do not believe that your group being in this position is any way a "punishment." You are in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Large snowstorms are rather
common there, and judging by how much snow you are encountering I would guess you wrote this letter in either November or December. It is sad that a young person, such as Piney, has to be stuck in the middle of this ordeal, but nature rarely discriminates.

From what I can tell, the personal
character of you, Mother Shipton, and The Duchess have undergone a great transformation. Most likely though, the undesirable outward traits of each of your personalities have been replaced by your true characters and compassion for others. Mother Shipton is the perfect example; once the town bitty, she took to caring for, and even giving her life for Piney. The Duchess has also discarded her undesirable traits in order to also help care for Piney. I would not consider these people "improper persons" as they have been called. Rather, I think they where lost souls looking for a purpose, and now they have found it. Also, I think you sir have found a natural skill to lead, and to help bring out the best in those around you, even in the worst situations. You are levelheaded, have a realistic and logical point of view, and you are always trying to find a way to help the others. For these reasons I believe that Poker Flat was wrong for banishing the three of you. You all do what must be done for those lesser than you, which tells me all your hearts are in the right place. Uncle Billy on the other-hand is a different story, one we will save for a later time.

As for surviving your predicament, hold on! Help will come even if it takes some time for it to reach you. Keep a fire burning if possible; the heat will warm your bodies and prevent freezing. Continue to ration what food you have left, and never lose hope that you will be rescued. It would be a shame if you or someone in your group where found frozen, or had committed suicide because you struck a streak of bad luck.

http://www.ten12entertainment.com/audiobooks/

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Notes

• I read "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" online by Page by Page Books. Here is the link to the first page of this short story: 
• http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Bret_Harte/The_Outcasts_Of_Poker_Flat/The_Outcasts_Of_Poker_Flat_p1.html

• Also, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was made into two movies; one in 1937 and the other in 1952. For more information about these movies, visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and type "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" into the search bar. The link for the main website page is provided below.
• http://www.imdb.com/

• The card hand in the bottom photo is known as a "Royal Flush" in poker. It is the highest hand in the game. 

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Works Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Harte, Bret. "The Outcasts of Poker Flat." Page by Page Books. n.d. 15 Mar. 2016.

IMDb. Amazon.com, 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. 

Siemens, Beth. Personal Interview. 21 Jan. 2016

When Yellow Wallpaper is too Much

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Dear Annie: My husband, John, decided to rent a colonial mansion in the country over the summer for us to stay in. It is a beautiful home, with gardens and even an old greenhouse.

The problem I have though is why he rented the home, to help me overcome my "hysteria." I have been telling John for awhile now that I am sick, but he refuses to believe it. He is constantly telling me that I am not sick, just suffering from nervous depression, with a slight hysterical tendency. When your husband is a physician in high standing, and he is telling you that you are not sick, what is one to do?

Because he believes I am just depressed and slightly hysterical, he has put me on the rest cure. While doing the rest cure I am not supposed to do any physical work, I am cannot have many interactions with people (John won't let me see my cousins), and I am not supposed to do any writing. If John had found out I wrote this letter, he would be mad at me. When he is someone of high standing though, what is one to do?

What drives me insane the most however is the yellow wallpaper in the room where John and I sleep.  I never saw a worse paper in my life! I started to hate it the moment I saw it in our room. I have asked John to change the paper, but he doesn't see the need since the lease is only for a few months. I have asked John to let us sleep in the downstairs bedroom instead, but he says no and keeps telling me "you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not." I don't feel any better though.

Please help me. I know John loves me so, but the longer I stay around this yellow wallpaper the sicker I feel. I have begun to see a woman behind the wallpaper, and she wants so desperately to get out. The wallpaper also has a pattern to it, and I am beginning to figure-out what it means. Please give me some advice of what I can do before I find myself creeping crazily around the room!

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-- Yellow Wallpaper

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Dear Wallpaper: Are you not a grown woman? Are you not able to make your own decisions? It sounds like your husband does love you, but at the same time your husband appears controlling. Consistently not allowing you to move bedrooms, see your cousins, or write are red flags to me that your husband is trying to control as much of your life as he can. You do not have to let him consistently tell you what to do. You need to stand firm and put you foot down sometimes letting your husband know that you are allowed to make your own decisions.

Although your husband is a physician, and although he says you are not sick, that does not mean that you aren't. You know your body and mind better than anybody else. If you think that you are sick, you have the right to seek treatment on your own. The symptoms you described regarding your interactions with the yellow wallpaper suggest that you probably have a psychological disorder. It is normal for the time in which you live for men to misrepresent a serious psychological illness as nothing more than hysteria, even doctors. If I were you I would seek a out psychiatrist to evaluate you for any illness or disorder.

As for the resting cure, it was proved an unsubstantiated cure. If you like writing, visiting people, and doing physical work, like gardening, do as much of it as you want. These activities will keep you mind sharp and occupied.

Just remember, even though your husband is a person in high standing, you still need to do what you feel is best for you. If your husband truly cares, he will allow you to make your own decisions. By doing this, the woman behind the yellow wallpaper should disappear and you will not have to worry about crazily creeping around the room.

Hyperphagia. The Yellow Wallpaper. 2016. Deviant Art. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

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Work Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Julia Reidhead. 485-497. Print.