The path of American history is paved with letters which reveal the inner thoughts and passions of those who made up and continue to make up the citizenry and government of this land.
Take, for instance, a letter written to his wife by John Boston, a slave who safely crossed the Mason-Dixon line and became the servant of a Union officer (transcribed as originally written): "this Day i can Adress you thank God as a free man. . . . i trust the time Will Come When We Shal meet again And if We dont met on earth We Will Meet in heven Whare Jesas ranes."
Or one from Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) to the American people: "I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do recommend that Thursday, the 18th of November next, be observed as a day of thanksgiving and of praise and of prayer to Almighty God. . . ."
This book includes correspondance between husbands and wives, statesmen and their peers, military leaders and their admirers, politicians and their detractors, scientists and their followers--people who Christian witness was or is obvious, and others whom God raised up to achieve his purposes.
