The year is 1862, during the Civil War. My name is Jack Taurance and I am eighteen years old. I am a soldier that has to fight in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. The battle is going to take place in my hometown of Manassas, Virginia. I cannot wait. It is going to be so great I have heard that the 1st Battle of Bull Run was hell, but this one won't be. It'll be great because I'm in it and I am fighting for my country and the people of Virginia. I am proud to be a part of the Confederate Army.
             August 27, 1862: Today is the first day of the battle. I'm excited beyond imagination; I cannot express my feelings right now. Robert E. Lee, the general of the Confederate Army, has told us to get in our fighting positions. I am next to older men that have fought in other battles, and they tell me not to be so excited for war is a terrible thing. Seeing as this is so new to me I shrug off their words of wisdom and continue with my merry thoughts. The men next to me tell me I need to listen to commands and stay focused at all times, or I will loose my life. We began to march towards the Union Army. On the way, I heard loud explosions all around me; the Union Army was using cannons and mines to defend themselves. The men around me began to shoot their riffles, so I did the same. There was yelling and firing all around, it seemed as though we were surrounded. The noise was so intense I felt it throughout my body.
             We were in the war; it was nothing as I expected. There was death all around me. I don't think I have ever been more scared in my life. I was not mentally prepared to see what I saw nor was I physically prepared to do what was expected of me. Still I stayed brave, I didn't let any of my emotions pour through, for if I did I would never have been able to continue.
             August 28-30, 1862: The second and third days of this war were complete hell. There was so much action during theses days. I
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